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Craig Kelly

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Craig Kelly -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is the parade of nations during the opening ceremo
NULL -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
There has been some controversy in recent months regarding full body scanners.
My wife's family has some German in their background... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
My wife's family has some German in their background, so after I married her I was introduced to the
NULL -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Craig Kelly -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
When reading this passage, it is saddening how much it parallels our own history.
NULL -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
When I came to this country from Canada eight years ago, the US was still reeling from the effects o
Many churches recite a creed as part of their liturgy... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Many churches recite a creed as part of their liturgy, either the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Cree
NULL -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Craig Kelly -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
One may not think that ingratitude is a problem in our society but consider this: I have worked with
NULL -- John 20:1-18 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
I remember once as a kid, my family went to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta.
I had my own preconceptions about what I would find... -- Exodus 16:12-15 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
I have to admit, when I first started looking into this, I had my own preconceptions about what I wo
It's always tough waiting for the big reveal... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
It's always tough waiting for the big reveal.
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I hated art class as a kid.
You've probably heard about deathbed conversions... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
You've probably heard about "deathbed conversions" where someone comes to faith in Christ just befor
'Are we there yet? Are we there yet?' -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" is an often-heard line on long trips.
NULL -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
History is full of inspiring speeches and inspiring orators.
We live in a society dominated by the American dream... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
We live in a society dominated by the American dream.
When I was a child, one of my favorite Disney movie... -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
When I was a child, one of my favorite Disney movies was The Sword in the Stone.
NULL -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I occasionally like to try my hand at puzzles. However, I'm notorious for not finishing them.
Impeachment is a process... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
Impeachment is a process in which a government official is removed because of unlawful activity comm
Merriam Webster's first definition of witness... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Merriam Webster's first definition of witness is "attestation of a fact or an event." It then
NULL -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Persecution of Christians is as alive and well today as it was when Peter wrote these words.
There have been many historical inspirations... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
There have been many historical inspirations for our current system of law and jurisprudence.
When reading through a book... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When reading through a book like Foxe's Book of Martyrs or DC Talk's Jesus Freaks, you
Everyone seems to want to know the future... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Everyone seems to want to know the future.
NULL -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Aurelius Augustinus was a very unruly young man.
The American tax code is often the source of headaches... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
The American tax code is often the source of headaches for many people during the first part of the

Stories

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

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John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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