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John A. Stroman

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Biblical Studies

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Why Is Happiness Always Somewhere Else? -- Luke 15:11-12 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
Confused, Alone, And Lost -- Luke 15:13-15 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
Homesickness -- Luke 15:17-19 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
The Turning Point -- Luke 15:18-19 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
Homecoming -- Luke 15:20-21 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
Celebration -- Luke 15:22-24 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
A Stranger In One's Own House -- Luke 15:29-32 -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Commentary
A Story That Never Ends -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
This story of two lost sons and a loving father is one of rebellion, disrespect, selfishness, and gr
The Parable Of The Prodigal Son -- John A. Stroman -- 2004
Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons.

Sermon

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Symbols Of Hope And Reality -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- John A. Stroman -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1999
We are about to embark on Holy Week.
The Friend Of Sinners -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John A. Stroman -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1999
Jesus' critics complained that "this fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2).
The Right Person For The Job -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- John A. Stroman -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
Consideration is being given today to the teaching sermon.
Amazing Grace -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- John A. Stroman -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
Keith Miller, a well-known author and Episcopal churchman, arrived in Bloomington, Illinois, for a s
The Scandal Of The Cross -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- John A. Stroman -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
The preaching of the cross in the first century world was repulsive and odious.
Promises -- Promises -- Romans 4:13-25 -- John A. Stroman -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
In Romans 4, the apostle turns his attention to Abraham, and rightly so for obvious reasons.
The Cross Reminds Us Who Jesus Is -- Who We Are -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- John A. Stroman -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
The writer of Hebrews has been building up to this moment.
Life -- And Then Some -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- John A. Stroman -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
The words of the text express clearly the central theme of 1 John.
A Victorious Faith -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- John A. Stroman -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
The theme of the text is: anyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God and by this faith o
Love's Expectations -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- John A. Stroman -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Our text expresses the heart of the Gospel: God's love for the world is revealed in the life of Jesu
Making Love Visible -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- John A. Stroman -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
How do you like being addressed as "little children"?
Pass It On -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- John A. Stroman -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
James Stewart tells the story of two men who had been business partners for over twenty years who me
Hear The Good News! -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- John A. Stroman -- Easter Day - B -- 1999
Throughout the world today great masses of Christians will gather for worship.
Heaven And Hope -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- John A. Stroman -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
The theme of 1 John all along has been the love of God.
Once And For All -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- John A. Stroman -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
We approach this first Sunday of Lent with mixed feelings.
Celebrating The Absence Of The Presence -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John A. Stroman -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1999
We find it easy to celebrate Jesus' coming at Christmas, but Ascension Day goes by mostly unnoticed.
Beginning The Journey To Calvary -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- John A. Stroman -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1999
For centuries Christians have gathered on Ash Wednesday to begin the Lenten journey to Calvary.
With All The Saints -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- John A. Stroman -- All Saints Day - B -- 1999
Isaiah 25 is a remarkable passage for All Saints' Sunday.
What's So Great About Jesus? -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- John A. Stroman -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1999
Today is the festival of Christ the King.
Taking The Good With The Bad -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- John A. Stroman -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1999
Once upon a time in the land of Uz there was a man whose name was Job.
Making Our Feelings Known -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- John A. Stroman -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1999
In our text Job makes his lament to God loud and clear, "Today also my complaint is bitter." The wo
Out Of The Whirlwind -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- John A. Stroman -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1999
God answers Job out of the whirlwind.
Confession -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- John A. Stroman -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1999
Job got what he wanted. He got a chance to present his case before God and to hear God's response.
The Tale Of Three Women -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- John A. Stroman -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1999
Ruth, what a remarkable book.
God Remembers -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- John A. Stroman -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1999
On these opening pages of 1 Samuel we are introduced to a family drama.

Stories

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Then Peter -- John 10:11-18, Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, Psalm 23 -- Lamar Massingill, John A. Stroman -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents"Then Peter" by Lamar Massingill
The Two Churches -- Mark 12:38-44, Hebrews 9:24-28, Psalm 127 -- Charles Cammarata, Constance Berg, John A. Stroman -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Worship Resources
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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5 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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