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James H. Bailey

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It's Hard For God to Get Through to Us -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- James H. Bailey -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1985
Advent requires us to experience a vision from God in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, and
Burned Out -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1985
A man said to me recently, "I'm just plain 'burned-out' after Christmas.
The Happy Find -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1985
For four nights half of America suffered through four and one-half hours of commercials just to view
I'll Be Listening For My Name -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1985
Does God speak to you today just as he spoke to Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, John, Jesus, and Pau
The Moment of Decision -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 1985
Dr.
The Coming of Jesus Illuminates Humanity -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 1985
During the Advent and Christmas season we have emphasized a good deal the incarnation, that God beca
Recognizing God in Our Midst -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 1985
H. G.
Prayer: How to be Sure of Results -- Isaiah 55:10-13 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 1985
Recently a newspaper ran a list of thirteen possible sermon topics and asked the readers to select t
How to Get a Glow on Your Face -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- James H. Bailey -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1985
Last week I read a book on tne religious life of William James, the author of The Varieties of Relig
Can We Pass Inspection? -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- James H. Bailey -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1985
Morris Wood's latest novel, The Clowns of God, has one specific plot.
His Coming is to be Welcomed, Not Feared -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- James H. Bailey -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1985
One of the main objectives of the Moody Institute of Religion and Science is to relate science and t
The Happy Hour -- Micah 5:2-5a -- James H. Bailey -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1985
There is nothing lonelier than standing on the railroad track in a small town waiting for a train to
Is There Any Word From God? -- Isaiah 52:7-10 -- James H. Bailey -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1985
A young boy stationed in Vietnam wrote home, several years ago, these words:
Spiritual Growth -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- James H. Bailey -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 1985
The giant steel doors swung shut and the doctor put his big key in the lock.
The Shepherd Guards His Sheep -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- James H. Bailey -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 1985
At Christmas time, the newspapers are filled with articles by psychiatrists addressing the problem o
The Narrow Way Broadens Us -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- James H. Bailey -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1985
I grew up with the "anti-Epiphany heresy" that says being a Christian and being narrow are synonymou
The Effect of Christ's Coming -- Isaiah 61:1-4 -- James H. Bailey -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1985
After every Christmas some disappointed or cynical person will say, "Christmas came and went; nothin
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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The Immediate Word

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For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

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