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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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Understanding -- Mark 4:26-34 -- John Jamison -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2024
Object: A packet of mustard seeds, or a packet of the smallest seeds you can find.
Treasure! -- Luke 2:41-52 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2024
Object: A painting, a book, and a rock.* * *
The Other Side! -- Mark 4:35-41 -- John Jamison -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2024
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving th
Just Believe! -- Mark 5:21-43 -- John Jamison -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2024
Object: This is a roleplay message.
Dusty Feet! -- Mark 6:1-13 -- John Jamison -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2024
Dusty Feet!
The Blame Game! -- Mark 6:14-29 -- John Jamison -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2024
Object: A pointing finger.
Quiet Time -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- John Jamison -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2024
Object: A hard-boiled egg, a teaspoon, and a bowl.
Be Careful! -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2023
Object: A Bible. I begin with it in a paper sack.
Whatever You Ask! -- John 14:1-14 -- John Jamison -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023
Object: A whole, raw potato and a sack.* * *
God's Surprises! -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- John Jamison -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2023
Object: If you have an old oil lamp, you can use that and modify the text a bit.
If You Love Me! -- John 14:15-21 -- John Jamison -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2023
Object: A box of chocolate, and a single red rose.
God's Treasure! -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- John Jamison -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2023
Object: Create fifteen (15) small bags by tying the tops of little pieces of cloth
We Have a Choice! -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John Jamison -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2023
Object: A coin to flip.* * *
Thanks! -- Luke 17:11-19 -- John Jamison -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2023
Object: For this role-play activity, use a piece of poster board or paper to create
Thirsty! -- John 7:37-39 -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2023
Object: A bottle of water.* * *
Getting Even! -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2023
Object: We want something to represent a club to give to each child.
God's Disguises -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- John Jamison -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2023
Object: A poster board with pictures on both sides.
God's Surprise: Being Careful! -- Mark 13:24-37 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023
Object: A sign with the word “CAREFUL” printed on it in big letters.
Take Off the Gloves! -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- John Jamison -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2023
Object: A pair of medical gloves for each child.

Free Access

Who Am I? -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- John Jamison -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2024
Object: A copy of a birth certificate.* * *
Me! Me! Me! -- Mark 8:31-38 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2024
Object: One piece of clear glass and one mirror.
The Chain! -- Mark 1:14-20 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2024
Object: A length of chain.
Truth! -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- John Jamison -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2024
Object: Today’s message will include a role-play.
The Promise of Christmas - Level and Smooth! -- Luke 3:1-6 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2024
Object: A shovel, rake, or hoe, or all three.* * *
God Does Not Carry A Garbage Bag! -- John 3:1-17 -- John Jamison -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2024
Object: An empty trash bag.

Illustration

Sermon

Stories

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role play. You can do this with only two children playing the parts of the two women, but if you have more children, you could have two more playing the parts of the children, another playing the part of the synagogue leader, and another playing the part of the country’s leader. You can also add any other roles you might want to add to make it interesting. Also, I have created places for your characters to speak, but you can add more of those to make it all more fun and memorable.

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The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For August 24, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
C. Knight Aldrich, a medical doctor and the first chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago (1955-1964), was a keen analyst of the motivations for our behaviors. He worked with the social services agencies of Chicago for a time, particularly spending hours with teenagers who had been arrested for shoplifting or other theft. Aldrich interviewed them to find out how they had come to this. He also talked with the parents, attempting to discover how they had handled the problem from the first time they knew about it.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 77:1-6

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“We have questions about your conduct as our pastor,” Carl announced as soon as Pastor John sat down at the hastily called board meeting. “We have received complaints about you from the congregation.”

“Complaints?” Pastor John frowned. “From whom and about what?”

“Mrs. Finnigan saw you coming out of what she politely described as ‘A Gentleman’s Club’ last Thursday night when she was driving downtown.” Bruce scowled. “Do you deny this?”

“Not at all,” Pastor John said. “I did have to go to that place on Thursday evening.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus was aware of people's deepest needs and what prompted their actions. In our worship today let us consider how we can discover people's deepest needs and the motives for their actions.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we see only the surface and condemn without real understanding.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are afraid to get sufficiently close to other people to see their inner needs.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

The old saying, "experience is the best teacher," could serve as a subtitle for this psalm. Written as a prayer for help in a time of distress or oppression, the psalm subtly hints at a recognition and awareness that only comes with time. There is a track record, so to speak, that the psalmist is aware of: God's record of dependability. Based on God's proven record of saving power and grace, the psalmist is able to pray for salvation, but at the same time celebrate the certainty of its arrival.
Lee Ann Dunlap
Carrie's1 high school guidance counselor noticed she had been acting out a bit in school recently. She had appeared depressed and had been having some authority issues over rules and such. The guidance counselor set Carrie up with a local pastor who had been volunteering a few hours each Friday after a teen suicide a few months before. Most of the other students who came to see the pastor just needed someone to listen to their usual teen issues and heartaches. But, shortly into their time together, Carrie began to open up about some real grown-up problems.
Kirk R. Webster
It's a typical Sunday morning at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. The people file in and sit down in plush pews. Their attention is drawn to the chancel where they see choir members calmly seated, robed in dark blue and white. The mahogany altar table is draped with a silk parament. Two bronze candleholders stand guard at the table edges.
R. Robert Cueni
As was his custom, Jesus went that Sabbath morning to the synagogue for worship. As he was preaching and teaching, he happened to glance toward the fringe of the crowd where he saw a very crippled woman. She was bent over and was unable to stand up straight. When he inquired, Jesus was told the woman had been that way for eighteen years.
John H. Will
Call to Worship
Indeed, this is a day of rest and gladness.
This is God's Sabbath, created for our reflection and renewal.
Let us then not profane it, but keep it holy.
We do this as we honor God and commit ourselves to the well--being of God's creation.
Each of us individually needs a personal rejuvenation of spirit.
Together we seek a strengthening of community, a community that continues to build itself in love.
So do we come as one people to worship God, our Maker and our Sustainer.

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