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Dennis Koch

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Prayer

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The astonishing event of resurrection -- John 20:1-18 -- Dennis Koch -- Easter Day - B -- 1993
Gospel Note:
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A different sort of greatness -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Dennis Koch -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1993
Gospel Note:
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"
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
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
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
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
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 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),
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
News too good to keep -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Dennis Koch -- 1993
Gospel Note: The shepherds, having heard the angelic message, go to

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

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

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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