Login / Signup

Michael L. Ruffin

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

Sermon

SermonStudio

Anticipation -- Mark 13:32-27 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
To say that to live between the advents is to live in anticipation is really redundant.
Assurance -- Psalm 85 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
We live our lives suspended somewhere between a period and an ellipsis.
Fulfillment -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
The closer Christmas gets the more the tension builds. Can't you feel it?
Watching And Working -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
Our focus during the season of Advent is on the arrival of Jesus Christ.
Taking Advantage Of The Opportunity -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
Different people have differing perspectives on time.
Testimony -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
In the rural church where my family worshiped and served during my childhood and youth, the midweek
On Being Safe And Sound -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
The season is all about being ready when somebody comes.
Trusting God's Promises -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
Unfortunately, in our culture we have been conditioned to expect people to break their promises.
Repent! -- Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
A new beginning is a valuable thing. A fresh start is a great relief.
Worship! -- Luke 1:26-56 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
"My soul magnifies the Lord," Mary said, and I think that she meant it.
Rejoice! -- Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
I keep coming back to it time after time, so it is never going to stop being one of the most signifi
Watch! -- Mark 13:24-37, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Michael L. Ruffin -- 2005
Mark 13 speaks to those who expect too much and to those who expect too little.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Nazish Naseem
Mary Austin
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
For October 12, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 29:1,4-7

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
As he entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (vv. 12-13)

“I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. If you have enough children, you could have them play the roles of the ten lepers. However, for the most fun, I suggest planning ahead and recruiting ten adults from your congregation to play the roles.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott

Call to Worship:

Jesus healed ten sick people, but nine of them were only interested in themselves and their own condition. Just one was able to look beyond his own concerns and say thank you. In our worship today let us look beyond ourselves and see God.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are consumed by ourselves and fail to really care about other people.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we focus so intently on ourselves that we forget to say thank you.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Easter 6, Cycle A for an alternative approach to vv. 8-20.)

Schuyler Rhodes
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (v. 10). "Perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). These two powerful statements reveal for us the inadequacies of the translation process of the English language. These two juxtaposing passages reveal only a tiny fraction of the contradictions and conflicts found within our holy Word. No wonder people have trouble reading and understanding.
Scott Suskovic
"... suffer as I do" (2 Timothy 1:12).

It was in 1965 that the Rolling Stones recorded the song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." Even today, over forty years later, we are still saying the same words and feeling the same emptiness of trying and trying, but getting no satisfaction. Commercials promise it with whiter teeth and fresher breath. Wall Street promises it with higher returns. Soap operas promise it with a dynamic love life. Yet those who have conquered each of those summits come up with the same cry, "I can't get no satisfaction." Can you?

Stephen M. Crotts
Have you ever had this experience? You walk into a dark room to do something, flick on the light switch, and nothing happens. I suspect a lot of our Thanksgivings are like that. Thursday late in November rolls around and suddenly it's Thanksgiving! So everybody gives thanks! But quite often the gratitude is just not there. Like the light switch, we reach for it at the appropriate time and it won't work. It's burned out.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
Once there was a wise king who died. His son, who was young and rather brash, came to the throne and after only two months ordered a review all of his father's appointments. He called in the royal secretary, the royal treasurer, and the viceroy for interviews. He found them all to be unworthy and sent them into exile with only the shirts on their backs. Next he decided to interview the local bishop. A courier was sent to the bishop's residence with this message: "You are to report to the palace and answer the following three questions: 1) What direction does God face? 2) What am I worth?

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL