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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

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.
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
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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
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 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?
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.
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?
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
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.
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
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.
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
The Possible Dream -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15 -- Mary S. Lautensleger -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2006
Sibling rivalry. It's the pits. It has been around as long as there have been siblings around.

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.
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Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pent 10
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Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pent 11
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35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pent 13
23 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
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For August 16, 2020:
  • An Outsider’s Determined Push by Chris Keating — Jesus’ retort to the Syro-Phoenician woman catches us off guard, but will lead us to understand the depth of her great faith.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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I love Thanksgiving. I cherish the traditions, I love the quality of family reunion, and I enjoy the food. I have hundreds of fond memories of Thanksgiving holidays past, and I look forward to the Thanksgiving that is a few months away.

But it is a few months away. I may be looking forward to it, but that doesn’t mean that I am doing any grocery shopping for it yet. We all recognize that it would be premature for us to put the turkey in the oven this weekend in preparation for November’s Thanksgiving celebration.
Bonnie Bates
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Genesis 45:1-5
This is a lesson about forgiveness. Martin Luther reminds us how Joseph’s forgiving actions were functions of God’s grace:

Therefore the Holy Spirit and grace are a medicine, so to speak, for nature – a medicine by which what had been ruined or destroyed in the original corruption through sin is set to right and restored. (Luther’s Works, Vol.8, p.16)

Elsewhere he makes the point in another, related way:

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Contents
“Howling Good News For Some” by David O. Bales
“Unity” by David O. Bales


Howling Good News For Some
by David O. Bales
Genesis 45:1-15  

“Calm down. Calm down. I know what’s going on,” the chief steward said. Beside him a handful of Joseph’s Egyptian servants stood outside the royal complex looking around nervously. Joseph, already acting strange this morning, without explanation had swept his arms toward his servants and shouted, “Everyone out. Everyone out.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
In today's gospel reading, Jesus seemed reluctant to heal the Canaanite woman's daughter. He told her that he wasn't sent to help foreigners, but only his own people, the Chosen Race. The words sound unnecessarily harsh, but perhaps this is an interpretation unique to Matthew, for this story only appears in Matthew's gospel, which was written for Jews.

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
As a seminary intern in St. Louis, Missouri, I was part of a Jewish-Christian Dialogue group. We were seeking to understand one another's traditions, work together for the good of our neighborhoods, and promote tolerance and respect in society. I had been invited into the group by a member of the church at which I was serving. She grew up Jewish, and in recent years had, in her words, "completed my faith" by gaining an understanding that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the prophets of Israel.

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to eat? (let them answer) What is your favorite food? (let them answer) Do you know what a bird eats? (let them answer) Very good. They eat bugs, all kinds of bugs. Today, I brought with me this jar of bugs. They are pretty colorful, and in some ways they look almost good enough to eat. Have you ever eaten a bug? (let them answer) I wonder what a bug tastes like? Is there anyone here who is hungry enough to eat a bug? (let them answer)

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