Login / Signup

Dennis Koch

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Prayer

SermonStudio

The birth of the Messiah -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Dennis Koch -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Our theme focuses on Mary's immediate, positive response to
The triumphant tragedy of the cross -- John 18:1Ä19:42 -- Dennis Koch -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: More than the Synoptic accounts, John consistently views the
Fumbling in the face of the fantastic -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Dennis Koch -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Mark's description of the transfiguration of Jesus, though
The blessing of the ascension -- Mark 16:15-20 -- Dennis Koch -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: This passage overlaps the selection for the Third Sunday of
Desert and devils, diversions and dangers in the Christian calling -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Dennis Koch -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Of particular interest in Mark's very succinct version of
The existential, practical Trinity -- John 3:1-17 -- Dennis Koch -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The story of Nicodemus brings together the basic elements of
Right rituals for the wrong reasons -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Dennis Koch -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: In these sayings Jesus uses three common rituals -- almsgiving,
A discipleship of crosses, not of conquests -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Dennis Koch -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: In this account of Jesus' response to Peter's confession of
Delayed hopes Ä devoutly trusted, divinely fulfilled -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Dennis Koch -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The elderly Simeon and Anna, both models of patient faith in
The subjectivity and secrecy of the first epiphany -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Dennis Koch -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Unlike the description of Jesus' baptism delivered by Matthew
Old Temple, New Body -- John 2:13-22 -- Dennis Koch -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: John's version of the cleansing of the temple is distinctive
Self-serving versus self-giving -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Dennis Koch -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Mark's juxtaposing of what were, no doubt, two independent
A different kind of King -- John 18:33-37 -- Dennis Koch -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The conversation about kingship between Pilate and Jesus
Lovers of darkness, lovers of light -- John 3:14-21 -- Dennis Koch -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The challenge here is to set a most familiar and beloved New
A different sort of greatness -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Dennis Koch -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1993
Gospel Note:
Reasonable doubt, irrefutable evidence -- John 20:19-31 -- Dennis Koch -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: In a narrative that intentionally describes appearances of the
The fruit of life from the seed of death -- John 12:20-33 -- Dennis Koch -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: This passage, in which John signals the "beginning of the end"
Jesus is the incarnate Word -- John 1:1-18 -- Dennis Koch -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The Word is God in his pre-Jesus existence and his coming
Reading the scriptures with open minds -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Dennis Koch -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Luke uses here a post-resurrection appearance story that, in
A New Covenant -- John 13:1-15 -- Dennis Koch -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The disciples meet with Jesus in the Upper Room. There he
God's Word in fullness and flesh -- John 1:1-14 -- Dennis Koch -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: John's reworking of this pre-Christmas hymn implies an irony:
The self-sacrifice of the Good Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Dennis Koch -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: The focus of this passage is not the image of "sheep," which
The thrill of victory in the agony of defeat -- Mark 14:1Ä15:47 -- Dennis Koch -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: Mark's version of the Passion contained here (15:20-39),
News too good to keep -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Dennis Koch -- 1993
Gospel Note: The shepherds, having heard the angelic message, go to
The invisible God made visible in love -- John 15:1-8 -- Dennis Koch -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: This exhortation to love grounds human love in God's prior

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For September 7, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him…. (vv. 28-29)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pair of heavy gloves you might use to protect your hands when you are working or gardening.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

Schuyler Rhodes
It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
Paul E. Robinson
Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
Gary L. Carver
The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL