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John A. Stroman

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Biblical Studies

SermonStudio

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

SermonStudio

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

StoryShare

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
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

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