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John M. Braaten

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Marital Horticulture -- John M. Braaten -- 1997
____________ and ____________ we have gathered together this afternoon just for you.
One Husband's Counsel -- John M. Braaten -- 1997
____________ and ____________, what a marvelous day this is for us!
The Beauty Of Marriage -- John M. Braaten -- 1997
____________ and ____________, this is a very special day in your lives.
The Story Of The Scandalized Neighbors -- Luke 15:11-24 -- John M. Braaten -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
I don't know what this world is coming to.
Two R-Rated Stories -- John 8:1-11 -- John M. Braaten -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
We are going to look at two R-rated stories from the life of Christ this morning.
That's Our God For You! -- Luke 19:28-40 -- John M. Braaten -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1991
Palm Sunday is an event in Christ's life that many people, particularly young people, enjoy.
Portrait Of A Powerful Servant -- John 13:1-15 -- John M. Braaten -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1991
Jesus loved to paint portraits for the soul. He did it through his actions as well as his words.
The King Who Came To Die -- John 19:l6b-22 -- John M. Braaten -- Good Friday - C -- 1991
"The King of the Jews." That was the title which Pilate nailed above the cross where Jesus hung.
Beyond Togetherness -- John 17:20-26 -- John M. Braaten -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
There's a story which many of you have heard and it is a fitting introduction for our text.
Safe With The Shepherd -- John 10:22-30 -- John M. Braaten -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Listening to a television talk-show one night I heard the cartoonist Jules Pfeiffer discussing a com
A Farewell Gift -- John 14:23-29 -- John M. Braaten -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
I have never liked saying "goodbye," it always elicits feelings of finality.
The Pitfalls Of Practicing Piety -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John M. Braaten -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1991
I have never liked the word "beware." It always seems to be written in intimidating block letters wh
Good News From A Graveyard -- John 20:1-18 -- John M. Braaten -- Easter Day - C -- 1991
If wild applause was ever in order in the church, Easter is the time.
A Word For All Reasons -- John 20:19-31 -- John M. Braaten -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Easter has happened.
Act III, Scene 2 -- John 21:1-14 -- John M. Braaten -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
Each year we in the church are involved in a great drama.
A Strange Kind Of Glory -- John 13:31-35 -- John M. Braaten -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1991
It is often difficult for Christians to get past the idea that those who have given themselves to th
The Greatest Wonder Of All! -- John 20:19-23 -- John M. Braaten -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1991
The celebration of Pentecost, with its mighty demonstration of power by the Holy Spirit, is a good t
Our Christian I.D. -- Luke 4:1-13 -- John M. Braaten -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
Given that you and I are reasonably good people, it probably does not amaze you to read that Jesus w
Finding Our Roots -- Luke 9:28-36 -- John M. Braaten -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
Ever since Alex Haley’s novel, Roots, hit the bookstands in the mid-70s, there has been an increasin
Planted For A Purpose -- Luke 13:1-13 -- John M. Braaten -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1991
A hole is blown open in the cargo area of a 747 jumbo jet, and nine people are sucked out and killed
Except We Become Like Children Death of a Twelve-year-old Boy -- Matthew 18:1-5 -- John M. Braaten, Anthology -- 1989
Preached at the funeral of a twelve-year-old boy who died of a congenital heart defect.
Never Separated Death of an Alzheimer's Victim -- Romans 8:31-39 -- John M. Braaten, Anthology -- 1989
Who shall separate us from the love of God?
Marital Horticulture -- John M. Braaten -- 1987
(Name) and (name) we have gathered together this afternoon just for you.
An Offer from God -- John M. Braaten -- 1987
(Name) and (name), you haven't exactly had what would be called a whirlwind romance.

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The Pitfalls Of Practicing Piety -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- John M. Braaten -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1991
I have never liked the word "beware." It always seems to be written in intimidating block letters wh
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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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