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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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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.* * *
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.
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 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.
God's Surprise: God's Craziness! -- Mark 1:1-8 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023
Object: You need pieces of clothing to dress two children.
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.
Whose Plans? -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2023
Object: Ideally, find a big map of the Holy Land to show where Mary and Joseph trav
Who Am I? -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023
Object: A birth certificate.* * *
Training! -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- John Jamison -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2023
Object: Three eggs and three, small “Nerf” balls.
We Are Needed! -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- John Jamison -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2023
Object: Some type of “ID” card, like a driver’s license.
Old Enough! -- Luke 1:26-38 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023
Object: Some birthday candles.* * *
Do Not Be Afraid! -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- John Jamison -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2023
Object: A penny for each child.
Throw Away the Sack! -- John 1:29-42 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2023
Object: A paper sack or plastic bag.* * *
Good News! -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- John Jamison -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2023
Object: This message uses two motions instead of objects.
Try -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- John Jamison -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2023
Object: Three plastic or paper cups like those you get when you buy a soda.
Leaving A Trail! -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023
Object: See the notes.
Recognizing Jesus! -- Luke 2:22-40 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2023
Object: Seven silver coins to represent shekels.
Rest -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- John Jamison -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2023
Object: A large cardboard box with the following things inside: a rock, a large boo
Sowing Seeds -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- John Jamison -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2023
Object: A packet of seeds, a rock, a boot, a weed, a vegetable from the garden.
The Bee-Attitudes -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023
Object:  A jar of honey.
God's Garden -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- John Jamison -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2023
Object: For the most fun and impact, use a weed-eater.
A Light On the Hill! -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2023
Object: A flashlight or other light, and something to put it under.
God's Math -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2023
Object: A blank piece of poster paper, markers, and the attached list of numbers.
Being Real -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2023
Object: A disguise to put on one of the children.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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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For October 12, 2025:

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StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
As he entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (vv. 12-13)

“I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.”

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. If you have enough children, you could have them play the roles of the ten lepers. However, for the most fun, I suggest planning ahead and recruiting ten adults from your congregation to play the roles.

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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott

Call to Worship:

Jesus healed ten sick people, but nine of them were only interested in themselves and their own condition. Just one was able to look beyond his own concerns and say thank you. In our worship today let us look beyond ourselves and see God.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are consumed by ourselves and fail to really care about other people.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we focus so intently on ourselves that we forget to say thank you.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Easter 6, Cycle A for an alternative approach to vv. 8-20.)

Schuyler Rhodes
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (v. 10). "Perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). These two powerful statements reveal for us the inadequacies of the translation process of the English language. These two juxtaposing passages reveal only a tiny fraction of the contradictions and conflicts found within our holy Word. No wonder people have trouble reading and understanding.
Scott Suskovic
"... suffer as I do" (2 Timothy 1:12).

It was in 1965 that the Rolling Stones recorded the song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." Even today, over forty years later, we are still saying the same words and feeling the same emptiness of trying and trying, but getting no satisfaction. Commercials promise it with whiter teeth and fresher breath. Wall Street promises it with higher returns. Soap operas promise it with a dynamic love life. Yet those who have conquered each of those summits come up with the same cry, "I can't get no satisfaction." Can you?

Stephen M. Crotts
Have you ever had this experience? You walk into a dark room to do something, flick on the light switch, and nothing happens. I suspect a lot of our Thanksgivings are like that. Thursday late in November rolls around and suddenly it's Thanksgiving! So everybody gives thanks! But quite often the gratitude is just not there. Like the light switch, we reach for it at the appropriate time and it won't work. It's burned out.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
Once there was a wise king who died. His son, who was young and rather brash, came to the throne and after only two months ordered a review all of his father's appointments. He called in the royal secretary, the royal treasurer, and the viceroy for interviews. He found them all to be unworthy and sent them into exile with only the shirts on their backs. Next he decided to interview the local bishop. A courier was sent to the bishop's residence with this message: "You are to report to the palace and answer the following three questions: 1) What direction does God face? 2) What am I worth?

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