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Keith Wagner

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Rev. Dr. Keith Wagner is the pastor of St. John's UCC in Troy, Ohio. He has served churches in Southwest Ohio for over three decades. He is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and has an M.Div. from Methodist Theological School, Delaware, Ohio, and a D.Min. from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has also been an adjunct professor at Edison Community College, Piqua, Ohio. He and his wife, Lin, live in Springfield, Ohio.
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Walking Through Fire -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Acts 8:14-17, Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2019
Contents “Walking Through Fire” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Challenge to be Humble -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19 -- Keith Wagner -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Challenge to be Humble” by Keith Wagner
Holy Self-Defense -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Psalm 51:1-17 -- Keith Wagner -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2019
Contents “Holy Self-Defense” by Keith Wagner
Something Worthy -- Luke 13:1-9, Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2019
Contents “Something Worthy” by Peter Andrew Smith
Love Conquers All -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Keith Wagner -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2019
Contents "Love Conquers All" by Keith Wagner
Witness to These Things -- John 20:19-31, Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
Contents "Witness to These Things" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Nurturing Trait of Faith -- Acts 16:9-15, Psalm 67 -- Keith Wagner -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2019
Contents “The Nurturing Trait of Faith” by Keith Wagner
When the Spririt Moves -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2019
Contents “When the Spririt Moves” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Uplifting Power of God -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 66:1-9 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Uplifting Power of God” by Keith Wagner
Is that a Knock at the Door? -- Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2019
Contents “Is that a Knock at the Door?” by Keith Wagner
The Gift of Grace -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Gift of Grace” by Keith Wagner
In Our Hearts -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2019
Contents “In Our Hearts” by Peter Andrew Smith
Letting Go -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, Psalm 111 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2019
Contents “Letting Go” by Keith Wagner
Let There Be Light! -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- All Saints Day - C -- 2019
Contents “Let There Be Light!” by Keith Wanger
Counting on God -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 46 -- Keith Wagner -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2019
Contents “Counting on God” by Keith Wagner
Shining in the Darkness -- Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 1:68-79 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2018
Contents “Shining in the Darkness” by Peter Andrew Smith
Yielding to God -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Psalm 148 -- Keith Wagner -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2018
Contents “The Challenges of Serving the Lord” by Keith Wagner
New Beginnings -- Mark 1:4-11, Psalm 29 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2018
Contents "New Beginnings" by Peter Andrew Smith
A New Strength -- Mark 1:29-39, Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c -- Keith Wagner, John Fitzgerald -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2018
Contents "A New Strength" by Keith Wagner
Looking for the Rainbow -- Mark 1:9-15, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Genesis 9:8-17 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Contents "Looking for the Rainbow" by Peter Andrew Smith
A God of Second Chances -- John 12:20-33, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Keith Wagner, John Fitzgerald -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Contents “A God of Second Chances” by Keith Wagner
For Our Sakes -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Psalm 22, John 18:1--19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
Contents “For Our Sakes” by Peter Andrew Smith
Living Without Fear -- Acts 4:5-12, John 10:11-18, 1 John 3:16-24, Psalm 23 -- Keith Wagner, John Fitzgerald -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Contents “Living Without Fear” by Keith Wagner

Free Access

Walking Through Fire -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, Acts 8:14-17, Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2019
Contents “Walking Through Fire” by Peter Andrew Smith
Is that a Knock at the Door? -- Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2019
Contents “Is that a Knock at the Door?” by Keith Wagner
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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...

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The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For July 27, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A card with Luke’s short version of the Lord’s Prayer to give to each child. Make your own card or use the one I have attached to this message.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s hear the story. But I want to begin by asking you a question.

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Luke frowned at the email he was writing. He moved a couple of words around and then hit the save button. He ran the email though the grammar checker and spell checker again. He took a deep breath and then started reading through it one more time. After he finished, he noticed the time. He had to send it soon or it would be too late for there to be a response before the deadline. He sighed and sat back in his chair. He wished he wasn’t so nervous.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85
I came across an interesting fact about how the state of Ohio deals with sealing and expunging a court record. The process for filing a court file and expunging a criminal record are combined into the same thing. If granted, the request seals the record forever, and officials are not allowed to discuss the person’s past criminal record.
David Coffin
Another mass shooting appears on the television “Breaking News!” Many people have lost count of the number of school or concert shootings in the recent years in the USA. Usually prominent are comments such as, “We hold these families up in prayer,” and “more mental health is needed.” People who work both in spiritual care and mental health have heard this all before.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.


God, the centre of my being,

When I think of you, praise spills from my lips. I wish I always acted as though you were my centre, for then perhaps your kingdom would be known here.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Advent 2, Cycle B, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 8-13.)

In 1988, Southern Baptists held their annual convention in San Antonio, Texas. It was a contentious meeting, as factions within the denomination vied for control of the various agencies and boards. Throughout the week, angry words were spoken across the aisle as various resolutions and officer elections revealed the deep schism growing within the group.

Michael D. Wuchter
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
-- Luke 11:1-4

One of the disciples said to Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Lee Ann Dunlap
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't
put Humpty Dumpty together again.


This is a nursery rhyme we learned as children, and somewhere along the line in history class we were taught that its composer, "Mother Goose," was, in fact, a political satirist. If we look between the lines of these playful rhymes we will find some kind of hidden message poking fun at royalty. (I guess you had to be there to get the joke.)
Kirk R. Webster
Do you have somebody in your world who seems to live his/her life daily on a treadmill of self-imposed rules, almost as Tarzan swings from one vine to another? These people swoop from one regulation to another rule, to another regulation, in an attempt to maintain control and safety in their lives. They travel by self-imposed boundaries that probably aren't necessary to a fulfilling life. Consider our 45-year-old suburbanite named Jim.
Julia Ross Strope
A single song is being inflected through all the colorations of the human choir.
The way to become human is to recognize the lineaments of God in all the wonderful modulations of the face [of humankind].
-- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Call To Worship (Leader)
We are in sanctuary -- together, removed from the world, secluded for a while.
We have brought with us our burdens and anxieties.
We've come here with our hopes and thanksgivings.

Special Occasion

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