David Bales was a Presbyterian pastor for 33 years. He is a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary. In addition to his ministry he also has taught college: World Religions, Ethics, Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek (lately at College of Idaho, Caldwell). He has been a freelance writer for Stephen Ministries. His sermons and articles have appeared in Interpretation, Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching the Great Texts and other publications. For a year he wrote the online column "In The Original: Insights from Greek and Hebrew for the Lectionary Passages." His books include: Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace, Toward Easter and Beyond, Scenes of Glory: Subplots of God's Long Story, and To the Cross and Beyond and Beyond: Cycle A Sermons for Lent and Easter. Dave has been a writer for the CSS online subscription, StoryShare, for five years. He can be reached at dobales.com.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 10
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 11
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 12
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
New & Featured This Week
The Immediate Word
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 28, 2024:
- Making Do With Leftovers by Dean Feldmeyer. Uh, excuse me, Lord, but the resources with which I have come to this situation are insufficient for the task that you have set before me. I could use a little help.
- Second Thoughts: Choices by Katy Stenta based on 2 Samuel 11:1-15.
- Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin and Chris Keating.
CSSPlus
John Jamison
Object: Twelve baskets. Have two of the baskets out to show everyone, but keep ten of the baskets hidden until you need them in the message.
* * *
Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!
* * *
Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!
Emphasis Preaching Journal
David Coffin
Regardless of who we are and where we live, we will all one day face some form a wilderness. A modern example is “Wendy”, amiddle-aged woman who has had to relocate from the communities she was born, raised, attended school in and worked for many years. Changing circumstance of family employment forced Wendy to relocate to unfamilarcommunities that do not align with her values. This urban community she currently resides, feels foreign to her in terms of loss of friends, family connections, different businesses. They are quite different values from the small college town she was raised in.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
2 Samuel 11:1-15
About David’s sin and sin in general, John Wesley wrote: “See how all the way to sin is downhill! When men begin, they cannot stop themselves.” (Commentary On the Bible, p.199) We are all as sinful as David, maybe more so. Martin Luther explained why:
About David’s sin and sin in general, John Wesley wrote: “See how all the way to sin is downhill! When men begin, they cannot stop themselves.” (Commentary On the Bible, p.199) We are all as sinful as David, maybe more so. Martin Luther explained why:
StoryShare
Frank Ramirez
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle…. (v. 1)
Most people, even those who don’t like Shakespeare, will recognize some of his most famous lines. Like:
“To be or not to be. That is the question.”
“Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me your ears.”
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
“To thine own and be true.”
One line they may especially recognize, even if they don’t know what play it’s from, is “My horse! My horse! My kingdom for a horse!”
Most people, even those who don’t like Shakespeare, will recognize some of his most famous lines. Like:
“To be or not to be. That is the question.”
“Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me your ears.”
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
“To thine own and be true.”
One line they may especially recognize, even if they don’t know what play it’s from, is “My horse! My horse! My kingdom for a horse!”
The Village Shepherd
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus was able to produce enough food to feed all the people, and he was able to calm the storm. In our service today let us receive his nourishment and allow him to calm any storms that we might have.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we reject the food you offer and blame our storms on you.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, sometimes we fail to trust that you always have our best interests at heart.
Christ, have mercy.
SermonStudio
John E. Sumwalt
Kai M. Mcclinton
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. (vv. 16-17)
My family is very close. We depend on one another and do all that we can for each other. When one is in trouble, we all come running to assist in any way that we can. We learned this kind of love and support from our grandmother, Elsie Burton. She was a hard working woman who loved her family and all people.
My family is very close. We depend on one another and do all that we can for each other. When one is in trouble, we all come running to assist in any way that we can. We learned this kind of love and support from our grandmother, Elsie Burton. She was a hard working woman who loved her family and all people.
Michael D. Wuchter
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.
Sue Anne Steffey Morrow
Above my desk at home is a single pine shelf that holds a row of books, books which through the years have meant a whole world to me. You may have such a collection of such treasures, too, volumes by favorite writers of poetry, prose, narrative, non-fiction. Some of my books are so old that the covers are frayed and the pages yellowing. There is a volume I read for the first time last summer that is crisp and clean. Some have markers to note a beloved section or a poem I'd like to find with dispatch. Some are helpful in a direct manner, some reflective.
Charles And Donna Cammarata
Call To Worship
A general Call To Worship.
Leader:
Call upon the Lord.
People:
God is present in the company of the righteous.
Leader:
God is our refuge,
People:
And our salvation,
Leader:
Our strength,
People:
And our song.
Leader:
Let us rejoice,
People:
And be glad!
Ephesians passage.
Leader:
Come, let us worship God.
People:
Let us kneel before the Father,
Leader:
From whom his whole family,
A general Call To Worship.
Leader:
Call upon the Lord.
People:
God is present in the company of the righteous.
Leader:
God is our refuge,
People:
And our salvation,
Leader:
Our strength,
People:
And our song.
Leader:
Let us rejoice,
People:
And be glad!
Ephesians passage.
Leader:
Come, let us worship God.
People:
Let us kneel before the Father,
Leader:
From whom his whole family,
