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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is a retired United Methodist pastor and the author of nine books for CSS Publishing Company, including How to Preach the Miracles and the Vision Stories series. He and his wife, Joanne Perry-Sumwalt, were the original editors of StoryShare. John is an acclaimed storyteller. He writes a weekly spiritual column for several Wisconsin newspapers.
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StoryShare

Communion in the Barn -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my
Seeing Through Easter Eyes -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Easter Day - C -- 2025
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know tha
Vision of Heaven -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatu
Who Wipes Your Tears? -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
Great Souls Are World Shakers -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[
Finding Holy Spirit in Nature -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Clone of Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
I Need Jesus People -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2025
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for
A Picky Church Visitor -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2025
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Eve
God Saves Humans And Animals -- Psalm 36:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2025
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
Beyond the Sunset -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2025
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those
A Transfiguring Dream -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2025
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror
Surviving Clergy Sexual Abuse -- Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Because you have made the Lord your refuge    the Most High your dwelling place,
Longing for Assurance -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Incline your ear, and come to me;    listen, so that you may live…
Extravagant Jesus Super Bowl Ads -- John 12:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Infidelities R Us -- John 15:9-17 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Eternity Was In the Room -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
…God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. (v. 11b)
Who Goes to Heaven? -- John 3:1-17 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2024
Indeed, God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world
Look At What Cannot Be Seen -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2024
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all m

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Communion in the Barn -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my
Great Souls Are World Shakers -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[
Finding Holy Spirit in Nature -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
God Saves Humans And Animals -- Psalm 36:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2025
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Surviving Clergy Sexual Abuse -- Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Because you have made the Lord your refuge    the Most High your dwelling place,

Sermon

SermonStudio

Now I See -- John 9:1-41 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
Healing Tears -- John 11:1-45 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
When we came up out of the tomb of Lazarus, the other half of our touring group, who were waiting th
While It Was Still Dark -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
March 7, 1961, was by all appearances an ordinary day.
The Best Send Off Ever -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
In the summer of 2004, I had the joy of traveling with Rosmarie Trapp on a five-day, whirlwind story
Pentecost Diaries -- Acts 2:1-21 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
The last time I spoke to Ken was on the phone a few weeks before he died.
Foreign Territory -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
I grew up "poor" -- or so I thought.
Dreaming Joseph -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
Storm Walker -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
The call came on a Sunday after church just as we were sitting down to lunch.
How To Stretch A Meal -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
My mother's people, the Longs of Longfield House, County Tipperary, came from Ireland to southwest W

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Storm Walker -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
The call came on a Sunday after church just as we were sitting down to lunch.

Stories

StoryShare

God Saves Humans And Animals -- Psalm 36:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2025
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
A Picky Church Visitor -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2025
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Eve
Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
Beyond the Sunset -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2025
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those
A Transfiguring Dream -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2025
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror
Surviving Clergy Sexual Abuse -- Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Because you have made the Lord your refuge    the Most High your dwelling place,
Longing for Assurance -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Incline your ear, and come to me;    listen, so that you may live…
Extravagant Jesus Super Bowl Ads -- John 12:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Communion in the Barn -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my
Seeing Through Easter Eyes -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Easter Day - C -- 2025
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know tha
Vision of Heaven -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatu
Who Wipes Your Tears? -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
Great Souls Are World Shakers -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[
Finding Holy Spirit in Nature -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Clone of Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
I Need Jesus People -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2025
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for
Casting Out Demons in Ohio -- Mark 1:29-39 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2024
And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demo
If I Should Wake Before I Die -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2024
As we work together with him, we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he
We Live By Faith -- Romans 4:13-25 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants th
Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio? -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were de

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God Saves Humans And Animals -- Psalm 36:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2025
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Surviving Clergy Sexual Abuse -- Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Because you have made the Lord your refuge    the Most High your dwelling place,
Communion in the Barn -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my
Great Souls Are World Shakers -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[
Finding Holy Spirit in Nature -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

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The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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