Login / Signup

John T. Ball

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Sermon

SermonStudio

Advent: The Call To Holiness -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- John T. Ball -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Anytime we center on First Thessalonians in our devotional reading or in a study group or read a pas
Advent: A Wider Context -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- John T. Ball -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The congregation at the Macedonian city of Philippi was the first church established by Paul in Euro
Advent: An Irrational Sense Of Peace -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- John T. Ball -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
We are always touched by newspaper or media stories of people who have come through some terrible ex
Advent: Jesus, The Suffering Savior -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- John T. Ball -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
This is our final Sunday in Advent.
Christmas Eve/Day In A Minor Key -- Titus 2:11-14 -- John T. Ball -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
One of the best things in the modern church is the creation of our Common Lectionary.
Our Christmas Gift -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- John T. Ball -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Since the 1600s, in a historical period called the "Enlightenment," scholars have been studying the
Two For The Price Of One -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Today is an important day in the life of the world and the life of the church.
Getting The Complete Understanding Experience -- Acts 8:14-17 -- John T. Ball -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Many times we settle for lives and experiences that are limited and incomplete.
You Can't Whistle The Finale From Beethoven's Fifth Symphony! -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
Halford Luccock, onetime professor of homiletics at Yale Divinity School, told of going to a childre
Who's Going To Play Second Horn? -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2006
I know someone who achieved a modest excellence in playing the French horn in his high school days.
When They Are Gathered At The Chancel -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
We have all witnessed this scene: the bride and groom are standing at the altar of the church surrou
The Good News Of Christ -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news....
You Can't Undo Appomattox -- So Let's Get On With It! -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
There are some things that once begun, cannot be undone.
When Arlington National Cemetery Is Full -- 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2006
The honored dead from our fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq have created a problem for Arlington Nati
When Truth Comes Via An Invalid Argument -- 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 -- John T. Ball -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 2006
Sometimes truth comes to us by way of an invalid argument or perspective.
We're On Our Way, Baby -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:3 -- John T. Ball -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Today is the Sunday when we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus, a moment in his ministry when up
Palm/Passion Sunday And Today's Faith -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- John T. Ball -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2005
In the slaughter of World War I, 1914-1918, a whole generation of European men went to their deaths.
The Word Behind The Text -- John 6:1-21 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2005
Entering her office, the Reverend Ashley Baker-Campbell noticed her secretary was paging her: "Sally
Finding Jesus -- John 6:24-35 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2005
Martin Hanford is the author of several popular children's books featuring "Waldo," a dapper little
Jesus -- The Bread Guy -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2005
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is often the "Bread Guy." Here he is different from the Jesus of Matthe
Resisting Jesus -- John 6:51-58 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2005
Sometimes people have difficulty understanding Jesus, or say they do.
The Unsuccessful Jesus -- John 6:56-69 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2005
John 6:56-69 is a great passage from John's Gospel.
Time For A Minimalist Faith -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2005
Some years ago, a San Francisco author who often worked as a stevedore on the city's docks, wrote,
A Healing Ministry For The Modern Church -- Mark 7:24-37 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2005
The mission and ministry of Jesus was preaching, teaching, and healing.
Generosity As The Clue To Life -- Mark 8:27-38 -- John T. Ball -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2005
All the great founders of our religious traditions offer secrets to the good life.

Stories

StoryShare

Reading Past The Semicolon -- John 1:29-42, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11 -- C. David Mckirachan, John T. Ball -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2008
Contents What's Up This Week "Reading Past the Semicolon" by John Ball
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pent 19
27 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
17 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pent 20
23 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pent 21
22 – Sermons
110+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
All Saints Day
22 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Ron Love
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
For October 25, 2020:
  • The Law of the Lord and the Law of the Land by Mary Austin — It's clear that Amy Coney Barrett is serious about living “the law of the Lord” in her own life. It’s less clear how that might shape the law of the land if she serves on the Supreme Court.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Ron Love
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18; Psalm 1
David Coffin
In the 2010 dystopian movie entitled Book of Eli (starring Denzel Washington), the main character “Eli” is a drifter in a post-apocalyptic American desolate, violent wasteland. He finds comfort and solace in a unique book which he guards very closely. While scavenging food and other supplies, Eli reaches a village ruled by a mobster named “Carnegie.” A girl named “Solara” sees the precious book, which Eli carries that bears a Christian cross on the cover. Carnegie finds out about it, and desperately seeks to possess it.

StoryShare

C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
“Rules” by C. David McKirachan
“Accepting Reality” by C. David McKirachan
“Not Guilty” by Frank Ramirez


Rules
by C. David McKirachan
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 and Psalm 1

Children are highly overrated. Sometimes I wonder why my parents didn’t send me to boarding school. One such moment was when I asked why we had rules. If they invariably led to trouble, what good were they?

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (vv. 34-36)

Hi everyone! Today’s story is another one about Jesus and the Pharisees. Do you remember the Pharisees? (Let them answer.) They were the people who tried to trick Jesus about paying taxes because they wanted to make him look bad. Well, they are trying to do it again!

SermonStudio

Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
It's what God does, not what we do, that counts!

Collect of the Day
Addressing God the holy lawgiver and the salvation of His people, petitions are raised by the faithful to be renewed in His covenant of love and trained to care tenderly for all neighbors. Justification and Sanctification are emphasized.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
• A prayer for deliverance from national adversity, in the genre of a group lament.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Dominic Owl lived in a big, old oak tree, right in the middle of the wood. He hadn't lived there very long, because he was only a baby owl. He loved that big old oak tree, and best all he loved to perch on its broadest branch and watch his mother as she skimmed silently over the tree tops searching the ground for Dominic's next meal.

Special Occasion