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Timothy F. Merrill

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Where's Jesus? -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Timothy F. Merrill, Constance Berg, Richard A. Jensen -- Easter Day - C -- 2013
Contents"Where's Jesus?" by Timothy F. Merrill
Fake Fire -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Timothy F. Merrill, Richard A. Jensen -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
Contents"Fake Fire" by Timothy Merrill
Sons From Far Away, Daughters In Nurses' Arms -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18, Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 147:12-20 -- David O. Bales, Frank Ramirez, Timothy F. Merrill -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Sons From Far Away, Daughters In Nurses' Arms -- Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 -- David O. Bales, Frank Ramirez, Timothy F. Merrill -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Translator's Preface: April, 1919 -- Luke 14:1, 7-14, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- David O. Bales, Frank R. Fisher, Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Terminally Shy -- Luke 14:25-33, Philemon 1:1-21, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Scott Dalgarno, Argile Smith, Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Terminally Shy" by Scott Dalgarno
A Thanksgiving Miracle -- John 6:25-35, Philippians 4:4-9, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 100 -- John E. Sumwalt, Fanny Lee Seville, Timothy F. Merrill -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "A Thanksgiving Miracle" by John Sumwalt
What's The Stick For? -- Luke 23:33-43, Colossians 1:11-20, Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 1:68-79 -- C. David Mckirachan, Timothy F. Merrill -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
Contents What's Up This Week "What's the Stick for?" by C. David McKirachan
Finishing Together -- Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Betty Lynn Schwab, Constance Berg, Charles Cammarata, Timothy F. Merrill -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2006
Contents What's Up This Week A Story to Live By: "Finishing Together"

SermonStudio

The Stuttering Syndrome -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Sean Lebowitz is an eighteen-year-old freshman at SUNY-Binghampton. He is also a stutterer.
A Song Of Mary -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
During the fourteenth century, the greatest pestilence swept through Europe that has ever been recor
God's Resolutions -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2003
Last year, I decided to get in better shape.
On The Transplant List -- Luke 23:1-49 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2003
In August of 1988, Shelly Arrollo was told by doctors that she had a rare disease called "polyarteri
The Re-gifting Dilemma -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
I confess.
Fake Fire -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2003
I live in Colorado, a beautiful place to live.
Cheerleading At Christmas -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Cheerleading is big -- especially in Texas and Oklahoma.
Cigarette Taxes And Toy Bears -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2003
Come July 1 of every year, new laws go into effect in many states across the country.
The Holy Land Experience -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
No one in their right mind would want to visit the Holy Land now.
The Super Cell Phone -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2003
My youngest daughter and I traveled to Hong Kong not long ago.
Bethlehem Hope -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Bethlehem in December, 1995, was a far cry from Bethlehem of 4 B.C., or even the Bethlehem of 2003.
The Success Of Failure -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2003
Not long ago, Mariah Carey, 31, was released from her contract with EMI/Virgin Records after a serie
No Saints Here! -- Luke 6:20-31 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- All Saints Day - C -- 2003
The area around Brighton, Colorado, some twenty miles northwest of Denver, has until recently been a
Driving Lessons -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2003
Consider this scenario: You're driving on the local Interstate.
Microsoft *#!@&* -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
I don't want to use profane language in these pages, so I am going to resort to euphemism.
"Will You Watch My Stuff?" -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Timothy F. Merrill -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2003
I was on the third leg of a five-part trip that had taken me from Denver to Dallas to Chicago to Cle
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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...

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For August 3, 2025:

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John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

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StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

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Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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