Login / Signup

Keith Wagner

Advent Sale Save $131
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.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Stories

StoryShare

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 -- 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

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
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
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...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Advent 2, C
29 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
25 – Children's Sermons / Resources
27 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 3, C
27 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
17 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4, C
29 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
20 – 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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. (vv. 1-2)

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Quantisha Mason-Doll
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
George Reed
Dean Feldmeyer
For December 5, 2021:
  • Advent Roadwork by Chris Keating — Our repentance clears the ground so that the foundations of grace and reconciliation can be set. These are the first steps to be undertaken before the massive rebuilding can occur.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
We knew it all along, but it takes good messengers if we are to hear it again.

Baruch 5:1-9
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Baruch 5:1-9
Referring to this lesson, the ancient theologian Irenaeus wrote:

... the prophet has pointed out, that as many believers as God has prepared for this purpose, to multiply those left upon earth, should both be under the rule of the saints to minister to this Jerusalem.  (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1, p.565)

The text is about the fresh start God affords us in Christ.  The coming son is like a bridge to this new reality.  About Christ’s role in this way, the medieval mystic Catherine of Siena once wrote:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
John E. Sumwalt
Contents
“The Real Messenger” by Frank Ramirez
“The Unforgiving Manure Spreader” by John Sumwalt


The Real Messenger
by Frank Ramirez
Malachi 3:1-4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me…. (Malachi 3:1)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Roly lay down with his head on his paws and felt lonely. But he wasn't lonely for long, for lots of people came to the entrance to the maze and petted him and patted him and stroked him and spoke to him. Roly perked up, and wondered for the hundredth time what went on in a maze. Still, the family had told him very firmly to stay at the entrance in case he got lost in the maze, or worse, because he was so small, tripped people up by darting between their legs.

SermonStudio

Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Have you ever noticed that many people seem to feel they either have "too much" Christmas or "not enough" Christmas? Television commentator Andy Rooney is one who thinks he has had "too much" Christmas. Andy Rooney, in fact, has proposed a "Christmas Holidays Limitations Act." These are some of the provisions of that Act:

1. Capital punishment would be mandatory for anyone caught selling Christmas ornaments before Thanksgiving.
Cynthia E. Cowen
Every Sunday, a church broadcasts a one-hour service over the waves of 1450 WMIQ, the local radio station. It begins with this announcement, "From the shores of beautiful Crystal Lake, we bring you Our Saviour's morning service."

One Advent season, the pastor had selected an "in the sandals" sermon series. The first biblical character to be heard from was John the Baptist. As John entered clothed in the prophet's clothing, a reader announced: "Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight" (Luke 3:4b).
J. Will Ormond
The setting and shape of this sermon are obvious. It was preached at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the founding of that congregation.

The church was officially organized on January 30, 1949. I was the first pastor. I remained pastor until May, 1964.
Robert S. Jarboe
Second Sunday In Advent

For Luke 1:68-79

(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)

Date:
Reader A:
Reader B:

Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)

Litany
Reader A:
Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
If we keep our minds steadfast and trust in God,
we will be kept in perfect peace.

Special Occasion