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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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Leaving A Trail! -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023
Object: See the notes.
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.
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
The Bee-Attitudes -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023
Object:  A jar of honey.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Transfiguration -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- John Jamison -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2023
Object: A bright flashlight.
We're Going to Need More Baskets! -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- John Jamison -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2023
Object: A handful of dried or fresh reeds, or other material used to create woven b
Show and Tell! -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John Jamison -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2023
Object: Create cards for a game of Charades.
Don't Be Afraid! -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- John Jamison -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2023
Object: This message includes a role-play instead of an object.
Tempting! -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- John Jamison -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Object:  A cookie, a trophy or award of some kind, and a pair of socks.
Bullies -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- John Jamison -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2023
Object: The object for today is a motion you will ask the children to make with you
Influencers -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- John Jamison -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2023
Object: The object for today is a cell phone or digital tablet of some kind.
Decisions! -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- John Jamison -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2023
Object: One of those “Magic Eight Balls”, or a simple coin to toss.
Listening -- John 3:1-17 -- John Jamison -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Object: A diploma.
Disagreement! -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- John Jamison -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2023
Object: A collection of simple protest signs the children can wave in the air.
Seeing -- John 4:5-42 -- John Jamison -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Object:  A pair of tinted glasses, like sunglasses. * * *
Forgiveness! -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- John Jamison -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2023
Object: This message is created as a role-playing activity.
The Bowl -- John 9:1-41 -- John Jamison -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023
Object: A small bowl made of clay or plain ceramic.
Two Kingdoms -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- John Jamison -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2023
Object: A cut-out Roman denarius.

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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

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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