Login / Signup

Frank Ramirez

Frank Ramirez is a native of Southern California and is the senior pastor of the Union Center Church of the Brethren near Nappanee, Indiana. Frank has served congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jennie share three adult children, all married, and three grandchildren. He enjoys writing, reading, exercise, and theater.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 (2017) -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2017
Isaiah 49:1-7
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 3 (2017) -- Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2017
Isaiah 9:1-4
Sermon Illustrations for New Year's Day (2017) -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Revelation 21:1-6a, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2017
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 4 | Ot 4 (2017) -- Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2017
Micah 6:1-8
Sermon Illustrations For Day Of Pentecost (2017) -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23 -- Bill Thomas, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2017
Acts 2:1-21
Sermon Illustrations For Trinity Sunday (2017) -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2017
Genesis 1:1--2:4a
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 6 | Ot 11 (2017) -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2017
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7)
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 (2017) -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39 -- Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2017
Genesis 21:8-21
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2017) -- Exodus 17:1-17, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2017
Exodus 17:1-7
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 (2017) -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2017
Genesis 22:1-14
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 (2017) -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2017
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 (2017) -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2017
Genesis 25:19-34
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 (2017) -- Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2017
Genesis 28:10-19a
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 (2017) -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2017
Genesis 29:15-28
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 (2017) -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2017
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 7 (2017) -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Acts 1:6-14
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 6 | OT 11 | Pentecost 4 (2016) -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Galatians 2:15-21, Luke 7:36--8:3 -- R. Robert Cueni, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2016
1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12 (2016) -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 8:26-39 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, R. Robert Cueni, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2016
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | OT 13 (2016) -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62 -- R. Robert Cueni, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2016
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

StoryShare

Make a Way Through the Desert -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8 -- Frank Ramirez, Peter Andrew Smith -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
Contents "Make a Way Through the Desert" by Frank Ramirez

Free Access

Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2017) -- Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28 -- Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2017
Exodus 3:1-15
Sermons Illustrations For Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2017) -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2017
Exodus 12:1-14
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 1 (2017) -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- Bob Ove, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2017
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Free Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2017) -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2017
Exodus 32:1-14
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 (2017) -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2017
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Prayer

Sermon

Stories

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

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For September 28, 2025:
  • Money! Money! Money! by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. “This is the even-handed dealing of the world! There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind. He had a very healthy self-image and wasn’t concerned about how people might take him. At one of the graduation ceremonies, he stood at the podium, looked out over the huge crowd of people, shook his head, and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course), “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The lesson makes clear that God is present in the world of business, in our daily work.  John Wesley offered thoughtful reflections on the nature of work; he noted:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (vv. 14-15)

One morning last October, Bruce Klemm got up and sang a song to his wife, Virginia, as he has done every morning of the 42 years they have been married. Little did he know that within a few hours, he would be calling her to say goodbye.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar to illustrate the way in which we fail to notice those who are poor. In our worship today let us remember the poor and ask God to teach us a real concern for them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail notice some people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we deliberately leave people out.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we care only about ourselves.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Lent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 9-16.)

The writer of this psalm deftly employs a striking image, that at once offers us hope in times of trouble -- but at the same time, redefines for us what it means to be a human being in the world.

Schuyler Rhodes
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
It always amazes me when I read about a sports figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. I heard one player say to a reporter on Sports Center, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

Chrysanne Timm
As we conclude several weeks of readings in the book of the prophet Jeremiah and next week look at the companion text from the book of Lamentations, a common thread begins to emerge. It is the thread of grief. Jeremiah has been called by God to a truly thankless job -- that of accompanying the people of his homeland into a time of loss and grief. Because of decades of idolatry and treaties with neighboring nations, the people of Judah will lose the land God once graciously gave to their ancestors.
R. Robert Cueni
The lesson for today continues the discussion on the proper use of material possessions by describing what happens when a person tries to "serve both God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Today's Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus leaves us repulsed by the gory details, puzzled by the literal description of eternal life, and hopeful that the Lord didn't really mean all those terrible things about the punishment due us "Haves" for our treatment of the "Have Nots."

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some coins with me this morning. (Show the coins.) How many of these coins would it take to be rich? (Let them respond.) I think it would take millions of these coins before you would really be rich. How many of you would like to be rich? (Wait for show of hands.) I think most of us would like to be rich. What would you think if you had a wish that everything you touched turned to gold? (Let them respond.) You would soon have lots and lots of gold and you would quickly be very, very rich. There's a famous story about a man who had

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL