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Richard A. Jensen

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The Sermon On The Mount -- Matthew 5:1--7:27 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Our outline of Matthew's Gospel presented Matthew 1:1--4:16 as Part One which introduces Jesus of Na
Proper 16 -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
With the text appointed for this week we come to the climax of Part Two of Matthew's Gospel.
Proper 5 -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The Gospel text appointed for this week comes from Matthew 9.
Proper 17 -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
With this week's text we enter Part Three of Matthew's story.
Proper 20 -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We come this week to one of the most memorable stories in all of Matthew's Gospel: the parable of th
Transfiguration -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We need to say at the outset of our comments for this pericope that the transfiguration text contain
Advent 4 -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Our Matthew text for this week comes from the first chapter of Matthew.
Proper 11 -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Matthew 13 contains the parabolic ministry of Jesus as Matthew tells the story.
Proper 18 -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Matthew 18 is of crucial importance to the structure of Matthew's Gospel.
Proper 10 -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
We come to our text for this week noting that the lectionary has entirely omitted Matthew 12.
The Epiphany Of The Lord -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
The focus in Matthew 1 was on names. Name after name after name culminating in THE Name: Jesus!
Proper 19 -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
In our previous chapter we discussed the importance of Matthew 18 as a whole.
Palm/Passion Sunday -- Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 26:14--27:66, Matthew 27:11-54 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Proper 21 -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
Jesus enters the temple: Matthew 21:12.
Proper 22 -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's text has important narrative connections in Matthew's story.
Christmas 1 -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The Matthean text assigned for the First Sunday after Christmas is very difficult to dislodge from i
Proper 23 -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
"Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables...." That's how this week's appointed text begins.
Proper 24 -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
The opening words of this week's text indicate a change of venue and actor.
Proper 25 -- Matthew 22:34-36 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
This week's text includes the third and fourth controversies between Jesus and the religious leaders
Proper 26 -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
There is much material that is unique to Matthew in the final chapters of his Gospel.
Advent 1 -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1998
As we indicated in the Preface we have chosen to arrange the chapters of this work in their Matthean
Proper 23 -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
This week's familiar story of the ten lepers begins with a travel marker.
Proper 24 -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
The appointed Lukan text for this week is given to us without its context.
Proper 7 -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
This week's text concerning the exorcism which set a captive Gerasene demoniac free is the only tex
Advent 2 -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
Many commentators note that these verses are really the begin-ning of Luke's Gospel.

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God Is Faithful To Godself -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1994
His hands were surely trembling as he lifted his hammer to nail his theses to the door of the Castle
The Greatest Of These -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1994
In the midwest the summer of 1993 was the summer of the "great flood." The rains, it seemed, would n
A New Heart -- Jeremiah 31:27-34 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 1994
It was the religious program she had heard on the radio a few weeks back that sent Shawn Rose on a m
With Fire In His Eyes -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 1994
There was fire in his eyes as Dr. Yacob spoke. Dr.
Ready For Worship -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 1994
Ernie, Madge and Todd Applegate always took their place in a front pew just as the bell was ringing.
A Man Who Would Be God -- Luke 4:1-13 -- Richard A. Jensen -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
It was to be his first trip back to China. He was born in China to missionary parents in the 1930s.
''Who Can Be Saved?'' -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 1994
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he...." Many people have learned that song in
A Mother's Tears -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
Gertrude Schmidt loved being a mother.
A Vision For The Future -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1994
A few years back a west coast bishop returned home from a meeting of his denomination's bishops in K
A Modern Day Job -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
American culture is a culture of fixing blame -- fixing blame on others.
''Only Speak The Word'' -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 1994
Luke is fond of telling stories of faith.
The Lost Is Found -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
It was the biggest tragedy in Pastor Dave's life.
''A Great Prophet Has Arisen Among Us'' -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 1994
"Shunem: Site of the Prophet Elisha's Resurrection Miracle." If they had had road signs in the days
A New Thing -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1994
"I'm telling you it's just not possible that he is the Messiah. If anything he's an imposter.
Forgiven Much! -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 1994
The life of a prostitute is a hateful way of life.
When I Saw Your Face -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1994
The New Year's Eve party at the Campbells' was always a highlight of the year for Tom Stone.
The Collapsing Circle -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1994
Allan Nelson is a consultant to business operations throughout the world.
A Model For The Good Life -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 1994
We all remember Desert Storm.
He Set His Face -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1994
He had just finished feeding the 5,000 men plus women and children when he asked them the question (
''God's Gonna Trouble The Water'' -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 (15-19) -- Richard A. Jensen -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 1994
"What difference is a little water going to make anyway?" Ken Taufler thundered at his friend Jim Ka
True Repentance -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1994
"Today we're going to talk about Lent," Tanya announced at the beginning of the adult class she had
The Glory And The Pain -- Richard A. Jensen -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1994
His given name was Leslie Leonard but everyone just called him "Pete." Pete was the son of very devo
The Greater Honor -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Richard A. Jensen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1994
It was to be "Spiritual Gift" Sunday in Corinth of old.
Shy Alice -- John 16:12-15 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 1994
Alice Hawks was one of the most important members of Christ's Church in Dallas.
How The Mighty Have Fallen! -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 1994
"How the mighty have fallen." King David of old once spoke those words concerning the death of King

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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