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Mary S. Lautensleger

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- John 6:1-21, Ephesians 3:14-21, 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- David O. Bales, Dennis A. Becker, Mary S. Lautensleger, Timothy Smith, Leah Thompson, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2009
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | OT 22 (2009) -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, James 1:17-27, Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- David O. Bales, Dennis A. Becker, Mary S. Lautensleger, Timothy Smith, Leah Thompson, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2009
1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 15 | OT 20 (2009) -- John 6:51-58, Ephesians 5:15-20, 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- David O. Bales, Dennis A. Becker, Mary S. Lautensleger, Timothy Smith, Leah Thompson, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2009
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | OT 21 (2009) -- John 6:56-69, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Leah Thompson, Carlos Wilton, David O. Bales, Dennis A. Becker, Mary S. Lautensleger, Timothy Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2009
1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2009) -- John 6:35, 41-51, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2 -- Leah Thompson, Carlos Wilton, David O. Bales, Dennis A. Becker, Mary S. Lautensleger, Timothy Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2009
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2009) -- John 6:24-35, Ephesians 4:1-16, 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Mary S. Lautensleger, Leah Thompson, Carlos Wilton, David O. Bales, Dennis A. Becker, Timothy Smith -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2009
2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a

Sermon

SermonStudio

Legacies Of Power -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2007
Power is one of the marks of public success in today's world.
Lifestyles Of The Rich And Faithful -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2007
When a carnival came to town, the strong man was one of the most popular attractions.
The World According To Paul -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2007
Book clubs have become quite popular in recent years, largely due to Oprah Winfrey and her outstandi
Tomb It May Concern -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2007
One of the first things Pastor Susan heard about when she moved from Ohio to the mountains of North
How, Then, Shall We Live? -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2007
I saw on America's Funniest Videos recently a little girl, about five or six years old, in a
Reasons For Rejoicing -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2007
We Christians can disagree over some of the smallest, most ordinary things.
Leaders Worthy Of Imitation -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2007
"Repent! Be saved!
A Spiritual Re-formation -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2007
Elizabeth Strout's novel, Abide with Me, is set in a small town in Maine in the 1950s,
All In The Family -- 1 John 3:1-31 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- All Saints Day - A -- 2007
"Surprise!
Mentoring Matters -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2007
A man, a woman, a house, and a pitchfork.
Called By A New Name -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
Two or three generations ago, the only women who did not take their husbands' names after marrying w
Risky Business -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- 2006
Su Xueling (pronounced ZOO-ling) is a different breed of entrepreneur, delivering instant noodles on
Like A Tree Planted -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
You have probably never thought seriously about tiptoeing through the treetops, but there is a place
Sowing Eternal Seeds -- Isaiah 55:10-13 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 2006
Who among us has not been stunned by the splendor of a summer sunset, the sparkling spring waters of
An Invitation To Joy -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Stan Freberg has written a musical farce parodying the commercialization of the Advent season, appro
What's In A Name? -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
"What's in a name? A rose by any other name smells as sweet."Or does it?
Home At Last -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2006
One of the more colorful eras of our country's past is the old Wild West.
Who Will Go? -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Ken had not realized there was a shoplifter in the supermarket.
The Light Of Christ -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
Isn't it wonderful to be part of a candlelight Christmas Eve worship service?
Shoots Of Tomorrow -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
In the parable of The Giving Tree, a young boy would gather his favorite tree's leaves on mil
Preparing The Way -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Preparing the way can become an all-consuming endeavor.
A Little Town Of Great Renown -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The name Johann Sebastian Bach has been familiar in church music circles for many years.
The Boy Grows Up -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Each of us faces the choice of who and what we will become.
Walking In The Light -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Walking in the dark is difficult, even in the familiarity of your own home.

The Village Shepherd

The Possible Dream -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2006
Note: This is a substitute for missing content from The Village Shepherd.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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

Mary Austin
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Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For October 5, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
What kind of poetry is written in the midst of war? Gentle poetry. Brutal poetry. Shocking poetry. Haunting poetry.

It was expected on all sides that the First World War would end quickly — but it slogged on for four long years. How many died? You’ll get as many answers as the number of sources you check, but let’s say twenty million for the sake of a number. Each one of those was a human being, each life cut short was irreplaceable, each one a cherished child of God.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
Not all suffering is equal.

We know, of course, that some pain is worse than other pain and some suffering is more difficult to endure. I have discovered, for example, that I classify some troubles as “headaches” while other troubles are “heartaches.” The “headache” type of suffering is a nuisance, no doubt, but it is not nearly so painful to me as the “heartache” type of suffering. Troubles at work are headaches; troubles at home are heartaches.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Lamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of this lesson is a phrase for everyone to remember. If you want to add a bit of interest, you could print that phrase on a card or ribbon to give to each child. For the most impact, create one for every member of the congregation and have the children hand them out after the message.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

His friends and followers said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" In our worship today let us explore faith and ask that he might increase our faith too.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I feel anxious and worried.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to believe that you will always care for me.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I envy other people because of their great faith.

Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
The little-known book of Lamentations was likely composed in the ashes of Jerusalem, following the Babylonian invasion which carried the leaders of the Jewish community off into exile. It speaks to the concerns of the Jerusalem community for their long-term survival under occupation by a foreign power. While the book's title sounds grim, and its setting is dark, the book is fundamentally life-affirming. It is a testimony to the steadfast love of God that may be discovered through renewed faith, even in troubled times.

Lee Ann Dunlap
Some records are made to be broken -- like Olympic speed skating; Cal Ripkin, Jr.'s, most consecutive baseball game appearances; and North Dakota's longest cow chip toss. Other records we'd prefer to let stand -- the world's deadliest disaster, or the most active hurricane season, for instance. Years 2004 and 2005 will probably make the books as among the most dramatic in weather history. Hurricanes pounded the southern coast of the USA. Floods and blizzards battered the midwest. Earthquakes devastated parts of central Asia.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
Ever since the sign went up on our property that our church was coming I've gotten phone calls from people asking when we'll have a church. I can be a smart aleck as some of you will attest and so I'm often quick to respond that we already have a church, we just don't have a building. "Well," they usually say, "give me a call when you get the building done; I'm not going to worship in a high school cafeteria." Before I can give my canned speech about the difference between a church and the building I realize I'm talking to a dead phone.
R. Kevin Mohr
It can be really depressing to listen to the news anymore. It doesn't matter which network you watch, everywhere you turn it's the same old bad news: natural and manmade disasters, the continuing conflicts in the Middle East and in Iraq and Afghanistan, medical miscues, entertainers gone wild and self-destructive, sports heroes disappointing us. Then there's a federal government that often seems to be, at best, incompetent or, at worst, corrupt. What makes it even more depressing is that at least 51% of us voted those currently in the White House and on Capitol Hill into office!
Gary L. Carver
You may have noticed that I read earlier from the King James Version of the Bible and not the New International Version from which I usually read. I read from a Bible that was given to me by my father which was passed on to him by his father. I read earlier from my Grandfather Carver's pulpit Bible from which he began preaching over ninety years ago and used for over forty years. Needless to say, when I accepted this Bible from my father I received it as a sacred trust.

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