Login / Signup

Steve Swanson

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

Sermon

SermonStudio

Life From Water: The Ark -- Genesis 6:11-22 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
Water is the very stuff of life.
Escape Through Water: The Red Sea -- Genesis 14:10-14 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
Many thousands of people left Egypt.
Washed By Water: The Jordan -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
When a priest in the medieval Christian church stood before the altar of God and raised the bread of
Wine from Water: The Wedding -- John 2:1-11 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
Wouldn't you think that when early man and woman learned to make wine they thought it a miracle - or
Saved From Water: The Storm -- Luke 8:22-25 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
Jesus performed many miracles during his ministry.
Saved By Water: The Well -- John 4:7-29 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
The legend of Noah and the flood, and Jesus' miraculous stilling of the storm, are both stories of f
Serving With Water: The Washing -- John 13:3-15 -- Steve Swanson -- 1986
You have heard it said, "Clothes make the man." Or perhaps it was put this way: "You are what you we
Bread From Earth -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
And to Adam God said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tr
Bread From Heaven -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of S
Bread From A Stone -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Bread For The Many -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
Lifting up his eyes then and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How a
Bread For The Few -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
So they drew near to the village to which they were going [Emmaus].
Bread For The Soul -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but becaus
Bread For The Body -- Steve Swanson -- 1984
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and he sa
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL