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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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Hunger Dreams -- Luke 24:36b-48, Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Psalm 4 -- John E. Sumwalt, Constance Berg -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents"Hunger Dreams" by John Sumwalt "Blooming" by Constance Berg
Evac -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 47 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez, Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2012
Contents"Evac" by Keith Hewitt
Jesus And Judas -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents"Evac" by Keith Hewitt
Best Of Storyshare For Pentecost Day, Cycle B -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt, Lamar Massingill, C. David Mckirachan, Frank R. Fisher, Sil Galvan -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
How The Mighty Have Fallen -- Mark 5:21-43, 1 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Psalm 130 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
Contents"How the Mighty Have Fallen" by John Sumwalt
Family -- Mark 9:38-50, Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Psalm 124 -- C. David Mckirachan, Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Contents"Family" by C. David McKirachan
Going For The Goal Line -- Mark 1:29-39, Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- C. David Mckirachan, Alex A. Gondola, Jr., John E. Sumwalt, Constance Berg -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
Contents "She Served Them" by C. David McKirachan
The God Of All Grace -- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Contents"The God of All Grace" by John Sumwalt
All Earthly Fathers -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 -- David O. Bales, Sandra Herrmann, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2011
Contents"All Earthly Fathers" by David O. Bales
Gilly, A Diligent Leader -- Matthew 16:13-20, Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Psalm 124 -- John E. Sumwalt, Sandra Herrmann, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
Contents"Gilly, a Diligent Leader" by John Sumwalt
Loving Neighbors, Killing Neighbors -- Matthew 22:34-46, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 -- John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Contents"Loving Neighbors, Killing Neighbors" by John Sumwalt
So What Is It Anyway? -- Matthew 20:1-16, Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 -- Frank Ramirez, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
Contents"So What Is It Anyway?" by Frank Ramirez
The End Of What? -- Matthew 25:14-30, Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Psalm 123 -- David O. Bales, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2011
Contents"The End of What?" by David O. Bales "The Aqueduct" by John Sumwalt
A Church For Christmas -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:46b-55 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Contents"A Church for Christmas" by John Sumwalt
Found In Darkness -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2011
Contents"Found in Darkness" by John Sumwalt "Sold Out" by Craig Kelly
What Kind Of Fool Are You? -- Matthew 5:38-48, Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Psalm 119:33-40 -- John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2011
Contents"What Kind of Fool Are You?" by John Sumwalt
Any Where But There -- John 3:1-17, Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, Psalm 121 -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Contents"Any Where but There" by C. David McKirachan
The Feud -- John 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Contents"The Feud" by Keith Hewitt "Two Mothering Pastors" by John Sumwalt
Passionate Sense -- Luke 22:14--23:56, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt, C. David Mckirachan -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Passionate Sense" by Peter Andrew Smith
Told Ya So -- John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, Psalm 30 -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Told Ya So" by C. David McKirachan
I'd Like To Thank… -- John 14:8-17 (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- C. David Mckirachan, John E. Sumwalt, Sandra Herrmann -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "I'd like to thank…" by C. David McKirachan
In Him All Things Hold Together -- Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Psalm 52 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
Contents"In Him All Things Hold Together" by John Sumwalt
Balm In Gilead -- Luke 16:1-13, Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Psalm 79:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
Contents"Balm in Gilead" by John Sumwalt
G P S -- Luke 18:9-14, Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Psalm 65 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2010
Contents"G P S" by Keith Hewitt "Growing Up" by John Sumwalt
Waiting In The Light -- Matthew 24:36-44, Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
Contents"Waiting in the Light" by Peter Andrew Smith
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wildfires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However, as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez

Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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