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Timothy B. Cargal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Tumbling towers -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022
Note: This installment was originally published in 2004.
Lines in the sand -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50, Psalm 124 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2021
Note: Originally published in 2003.
Foolish wisdom -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
I'm not that old, but I am still old enough to remember "Blue Laws" from my adolescence in northwest
Returning from exile -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2004
Recent biblical scholarship has placed tremendous emphasis on the ways that the scriptural tradition
Even apostles hate passing the hat -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 130 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
If you are like most pastors, then you probably dread preaching the annual stewardship sermon or (ga
Dust in the wind -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Sometimes a song gets so deep inside your head that it can never be uprooted.
The church triumphant -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- All Saints Day - A -- 2002
A little knowledge can be a dangerous (or at least a humorous) thing.
Night of light -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20, Psalm 96 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2002
One of the great cultural traditions of modern American Christmas observance is the use of lights.
A share of the Spirit -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62, Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
"Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it." Now there is a bit of sage advice tha
Etiquette for God's realm -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
It has happened to me often enough in my ministry that I must conclude that it is a common experienc

Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Too Good To Be True? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,
The Blessing And Bane Of Witnesses -- Luke 24:1-12, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Easter Day - C
The lectionary's Easter texts for this year give us a good opportunity to comment on the nature of w

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Too Good To Be True? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,
The Blessing And Bane Of Witnesses -- Luke 24:1-12, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Easter Day - C
The lectionary's Easter texts for this year give us a good opportunity to comment on the nature of w

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Too Good To Be True? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,
The Blessing And Bane Of Witnesses -- Luke 24:1-12, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Easter Day - C
The lectionary's Easter texts for this year give us a good opportunity to comment on the nature of w

Sermon

The Immediate Word

Too Good To Be True? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,
The Blessing And Bane Of Witnesses -- Luke 24:1-12, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Easter Day - C
The lectionary's Easter texts for this year give us a good opportunity to comment on the nature of w

Worship

The Immediate Word

Too Good To Be True? -- Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Dear Fellow Preacher,
The Blessing And Bane Of Witnesses -- Luke 24:1-12, Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Easter Day - C
The lectionary's Easter texts for this year give us a good opportunity to comment on the nature of w
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
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29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 31, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
When one of our children was young, she pretended to throw something at me from close range, and then she cheerfully declared, “Ha! Made you flinch!” I remember from my own elementary years that that was always regarded as something of an achievement — to make someone blink or to make someone flinch. In reality, of course, it is little more than a test of one’s reflexes. It’s my reflex to blink or to brace when I think something is coming at me, and the reflex is a good one.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 2:4-13
Regarding verses 6-7 of the lesson John Calvin observes:

… there is nothing more common than for the ungodly when they are proved guilty, to have recourse to this subterfuge, that they acted with good intention, when they gave themselves up to their own superstitions. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.IX/1, p.78)

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (v. 2)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children. You will want a container of some kind of treat to give to all of the children.

Note: This is a fairly brief message as presented, but that may help keep an emphasis on the simplicity of the message if you stress it.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus knew the importance of humility and used a banquet to teach people about it. As we feast on him today, let us make sure we come to him with unassuming spirits.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are unaware of our own arrogance.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we spot other people's haughtiness but fail to recognise it in ourselves.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are so humble that we become victims of inverted pride.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
-- Hebrews 13:1-2

James Evans
The writer of Psalm 81 employs a most interesting mixed metaphor. It is not mixed, however, because the psalmist was careless and neglected his subject matter. On the contrary, it is because of an important insight into human nature that the psalmist has us "eating with our ears."

Verse 10 rehearses what was, and is, the most basic confession of faith for followers of the Lord. God speaks and says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it."

Ron Lavin
There are three words I hope you will take home from church today. The words are "Only The Lonely." As you think about these words, the assurances of God's Word will comfort and strengthen you. But I'm getting ahead of my story. Before we get to these three words, we need to look at the full text of Luke 14:1, 7-14. That involves looking at three other words: humility, hospitality, and hope.

Humility
Chrysanne Timm
It is never a pleasant prospect to deal with someone who has a complaint with you. As a new pastor, and a very young one at that, one of the things I struggled with most was the experience of conflict with members. I remember as if it were yesterday a significant misunderstanding that developed between the congregation's "matriarch" and me very early in my time there. I prayed about the difficulty we were having, and I knew that I needed to go to her home and ask for the opportunity to talk things out.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
In this be confident: that the grace of God is active enough to forgive, and the love of God is powerful enough to transform.

Pastoral Prayer

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