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John Jamison

John B. Jamison served as a pastor of United Methodist churches in Illinois for over twenty years. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as well as a masters and a Ph.D. in Education. John spent extended time studying in the Holy Land and uses that experience as a source for his sermons and children's sermons. John has written for radio and television, has authored three novels, and is an award-winning children’s book author. When he is not writing, John enjoys painting, gardening, playing the guitar, and spending time with his wife Patricia, their adult daughter, Tricia, and two grandchildren, Ben and Emily.

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Children's sermon

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The Year of The Lord! -- Luke 4:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2025
Object: A 2025 calendar.* * *
Seeing Jesus! -- John 20:19-31 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Object: This message is a role-play for your children and requires no additional ob
The Greatest And The Least! -- Luke 4:21-30 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Object: A sign that says, “The Home of Jesus!” (
Do You Love Me? -- John 21:1-19 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Object: A sheep or lamb stuffed animal.
One More Time -- Luke 5:1-11 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2025
Object: This message is a role play about Jesus and the fishermen.
The Works I Do! -- John 10:22-30 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Object: An orange and a lemon that are about the same size and shape, a knife, a cu
Backward Jesus -- Luke 6:17-26 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2025
Object: A mirror.
As I Have Loved! -- John 13:31-35 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Object: An old, worn-out shoe and an old banana.* * *
Little Boxes -- Luke 6:27-38 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2025
Object: Two small containers or boxes and several pieces of paper.
The Mat! -- John 14:23-29 -- John Jamison -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.
The Jesus Shirt -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- John Jamison -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2025
Object: A Jesus shirt.
Power! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John Jamison -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
Object: This message includes movements to reinforce the lesson.
Be Quiet! -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2025
Object: A phone with a camera, a candy bar, and all kinds of noisemakers.
No Tickets Please! -- John 17:20-26 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Object: Tickets to give the children.
Temptation -- Luke 4:1-13 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Object: Two pairs of headphones.
It's That Simple! -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
Object: A job description.
Lion or Fox! -- Luke 13:31-35 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Object: Two stuffed animals: a lion and a fox.* * *
To Tell The Truth -- John 16:12-15 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2025
Object: The lying game.
The Fig Trees! -- Luke 13:1-9 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Object: Two garden plants. One plant is healthy and looks great.
Two Sons -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Object: A rock about the size of a tennis ball, baseball, or even a softball.
The Smell of Money -- John 12:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Object: A small pillow or cushion, a bowl, and a jar.
Being Young -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2025
Object: The object for this message is an activity for your children.
The End? -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - C -- 2025
Object: A box of Kleenex?* * *
The Beginning! -- Luke 24:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Easter Day - C -- 2025
Activity: The Easter Game. See the note. 
If You Do Them! -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
Object: A bowl and a towel.* * *

Illustration

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Child Sacrifice -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Sandra Herrmann, John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2011
Contents "Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)

Sermon

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Actors -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2015
Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
Simple Faith? -- Mark 1:9-15 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
It all sounds so simple. It’s just so nice, so easy, and so straightforward; almost comfortable.
The Bethsaida Boys -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
After Jesus was baptized by John, he went to spend time in the desert lands east of the Jordan River
Zeal! -- John 2:13-22 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Have you ever had one of those times when you had just had enough?
Rebirth -- John 3:14-21 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
The city of Jerusalem was packed with strangers during the Passover feast, so you could walk a long
Some Greeks -- John 12:20-33 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2015
Jesus was back in Jerusalem for another Passover.
The Week -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Where It Ends -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- John Jamison -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2015
All of the plans and preparation had been completed and they were all gathering together in the room
Out of Control -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Have You Ever Screwed Up? -- John 20:1-18 -- John Jamison -- Easter Day - B -- 2015
Have you ever screwed up? I mean, really, really screwed up?
Uncertain Certainties -- John 20:19-31 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
It was Sunday evening.
Fish Tales -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever had to sell an idea or a concept or a belief?
The Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
He woke up just as the sun was peeking over the top of the mountains to the east, just as he had don
Tangled Up in the Vines -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This passage from John is one that has created great comfort for many people, and at the same time h
What a Friend -- John 15:9-17 -- John Jamison -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
In your mind, I’d like you to picture a good friend.
Travel Arrangements -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John Jamison -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2015
It was an amazing moment. Everything that had happened before now seemed to lead up to this.
Making Sense -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with?
The Dream -- Galatians 1:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2006
It was an October Monday morning.
My Earlier Life -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- John Jamison -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2006
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism.
The Prodigal Father -- Romans 8:14-17 -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2006
It wasn't their first fight. Like most fathers and sons they had their disagreements.
Boast Of That! -- Romans 5:1-5 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2006
He had been looking forward to Sunday afternoon all week.
The Difference Between Knowing And Doing -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2006
It is difficult to be the church. What we have been asked to do here is not easy.

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The Week -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- John Jamison -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
Making Sense -- John 17:6-19 -- John Jamison -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with?
Tangled Up in the Vines -- John 15:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This passage from John is one that has created great comfort for many people, and at the same time h

Stories

StoryShare

Child Sacrifice -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Sandra Herrmann, John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2011
Contents "Child Sacrifice" by Sandra Herrmann (Micah 6:1-8)
The Reason For The Season -- Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 -- David E. Leininger, John Jamison -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "The Reason for the Season" by David Leininger
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
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...

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John Jamison
Object: The lying game. You have probably played this game but called it something else. The idea is that you will ask a child a question, have them either answer truthfully or with a lie, and then have everyone else try to guess if they are telling the truth or not. After everyone has guessed, ask the child if they told the truth or not so everyone knows if they were right and then either congratulation the child for tricking everyone, or congratulate the others for guessing correctly.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For June 15, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
When Ryan Barbarisi was in fifth grade at Grace Community Christian School in Tempe, Arizona, his teacher asked each member of his class to finish this sentence — “I would be rich if . . . ” — and then to draw a picture of what he or she was thinking about. Here is what Ryan wrote: “I would be rich if I had enough money to buy a mansion and a red Ferrari. I would like to have these things because if I had a mansion, I would have a good life. If I had a Ferrari, I would burn up the streets.”
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8

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Frank Ramirez
A little while, and you will no longer see me…. (v. 12)

As the autumn of 1796 approached George Washington, who was nearing the end of his second term as President of the United States, set about to accomplish what many considered unthinkable — write a farewell letter to the nation he’d led in battles both military and political for 45 years.

The Village Shepherd

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



These responses may be used:




Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.

Almighty God our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Trinity Sunday, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)

John Jamison
He had been looking forward to Sunday afternoon all week. As a pastor, Sunday afternoons were usually as busy as any time, with youth groups and then preparing for Sunday evening services. But this week, there was no youth group meeting. And this week, there were no Sunday evening services. He had been very careful to protect the calendar so that nothing got scheduled in place of these things, and he would have a full Sunday afternoon, and evening, all to himself -- or at least with the family. Who knows? Maybe he would read a book. Or maybe go for a walk.
Stephen P. McCutchan
If I mentioned Sophia to you, what memories would it evoke? Would you think of a movie called Sophie's Choice? Or perhaps you know of someone whose name is Sophia. Some of you might think of a controversy stirred up several years ago at a women's conference that was exploring feminine images for God. Some who objected to their ideas accused them of pagan worship when they used Sophia to refer to the feminine side of God.
Glenn E. Ludwig
Probably most of us are familiar with the phrase that serves as the title for my sermon this day -- on a need-to-know basis. Some of you who work in government jobs or on highly classified positions where national security is involved certainly know what it means. When I first came to this church I made the mistake of asking someone where he worked and when he told me of the famous government agency whose headquarters are near here I made the mistake of asking him what he did there. The response was: "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." Okay. I learned a big lesson on that one.
One of the Apollo 17 astronauts said that, as he looked back upon the earth from the moon, the earth, spinning slowly against the vast, black background of space, looked like "a big, blue marble." Think about how beautiful, but fragile and precious, irreplaceable and unique, the earth is. Consider the earth.

From Psalm 8, our First Reading:

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