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Wesley T. Runk

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A Greater Baptism -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Wesley T. Runk -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2018
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Time with God -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2018
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went of
Respecting God's House -- John 2:13-22 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at
How Much is Your Soul Worth? -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2017
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Who's In Charge? -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2017
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the e
Who's The Greatest? -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Wesley T. Runk -- All Saints Day - A -- 2017
The greatest among you will be your servant.
When will it be time? -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Wesley T. Runk -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but on

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A Greater Baptism -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Wesley T. Runk -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2018
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Who's The Greatest? -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Wesley T. Runk -- All Saints Day - A -- 2017
The greatest among you will be your servant.
When will it be time? -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Wesley T. Runk -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but on

The Immediate Word

The Risk Of Being A Peacemaker -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," Jesus tells us in the Beatit

SermonStudio

Growing Up In God -- Wesley T. Runk -- 2005
Growing Up In God
Celebrating Jesus' Birth -- Wesley T. Runk -- 2005
Celebrating Jesus' Birth
The Spear -- John 19:31-35 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object:A spear
The Empty Tomb -- Matthew 28:2-6 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object:A picture of an empty tomb
The Ladder And The Sponge -- Matthew 27:45-49 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object:A ladder and a sponge
The Dice And The Robe -- John 19:23-24 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object:Dice and a robe
The Crown Of Thorns -- Matthew 27:26b-30 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object:A crown of thorns
The Rope -- John 18:12-13 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object:A rope
The Lantern -- John 18:3 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1995
Object: A lantern
LET JESUS FORGIVE YOU! -- Romans 3:21-28 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1976
Object:a magnifying glass, a piece of wood, and some wood filler.
MUSTARD ON MASHED POTATOES? -- Galatians 5:16-24 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1976
Object:salt, vinegar, and mustard.
God's Thermometer -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1976
Good morning, boys and girls.
DO THE TOUGH THINGS FIRST -- Romans 8:18-23 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1976
(For use on the Sunday nearest July 4)Object:a shovel and a bucket.
1,943 CANDLES ON THE BIRTHDAY CAKE! -- Acts 2:1-11 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1976
Object: candles for each child and anything else that will help to make this a birthday party.

Illustration

The Immediate Word

The Risk Of Being A Peacemaker -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," Jesus tells us in the Beatit
All Trees Are Christmas Trees -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- George L. Murphy, Larry Hard, Wesley T. Runk -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Nothing Hid From Its Heat -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Psalm 19 -- Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carter Shelley, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
It's the nature of the news business that gripping human interest stories and immediate crises domin
Speaking Of Peace -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24 -- Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
It's not news that many places in the world are torn apart by war -- nevertheless, recent headlines
It Is Evening... -- Mark 4:35-41, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- Thom M. Shuman, Stephen P. McCutchan, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
When the first storm of the 2006 hurricane season posed a threat to Florida last week, many media st

Political Pulpit

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Moderate Islam needs to take a stand -- Wesley T. Runk -- 2011
When the news broke concerning Juan Williams being fired for his comment on the O'Reiley Factor

Preaching

The Immediate Word

The Risk Of Being A Peacemaker -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," Jesus tells us in the Beatit
All Trees Are Christmas Trees -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- George L. Murphy, Larry Hard, Wesley T. Runk -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Nothing Hid From Its Heat -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Psalm 19 -- Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carter Shelley, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
It's the nature of the news business that gripping human interest stories and immediate crises domin
Speaking Of Peace -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24 -- Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
It's not news that many places in the world are torn apart by war -- nevertheless, recent headlines
It Is Evening... -- Mark 4:35-41, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- Thom M. Shuman, Stephen P. McCutchan, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
When the first storm of the 2006 hurricane season posed a threat to Florida last week, many media st

Sermon

The Immediate Word

The Risk Of Being A Peacemaker -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," Jesus tells us in the Beatit
All Trees Are Christmas Trees -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- George L. Murphy, Larry Hard, Wesley T. Runk -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Nothing Hid From Its Heat -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Psalm 19 -- Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carter Shelley, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
It's the nature of the news business that gripping human interest stories and immediate crises domin
Speaking Of Peace -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24 -- Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
It's not news that many places in the world are torn apart by war -- nevertheless, recent headlines
It Is Evening... -- Mark 4:35-41, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- Thom M. Shuman, Stephen P. McCutchan, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
When the first storm of the 2006 hurricane season posed a threat to Florida last week, many media st

SermonStudio

Service For The Fiftieth Anniversary -- Michael B. Goldner, Wesley T. Runk -- 1997
Order Of ServiceOrgan Prelude Music "Sinfonia" - J.S. Bach
The Nail Of Pride -- Mark 12:38-40 -- Wesley T. Runk, Thomas W. Lentz -- 1993
One Sunday morning following the divine worship, the pastor
The Nail Of Infidelity -- Matthew 26:47-56 -- Wesley T. Runk, Thomas W. Lentz -- 1993
Friendship is an ancient virtue, highly valued among
The Nail Of Envy -- Matthew 27:18 -- Wesley T. Runk, Thomas W. Lentz -- 1993
When the grand hall was being built in Florence, the committee
The Nail Of Indecision -- Matthew 27:15-26 -- Wesley T. Runk, Thomas W. Lentz -- 1993
Pilate was caught: he wanted to make the best of two worlds.
The Nail Of Hatred -- Luke 6:22, 32-35 -- Wesley T. Runk, Thomas W. Lentz -- 1993
Hatred rings out in the world like the shrill clash of metal
The Nail Of Cruelty -- Isaiah 53:4-5 -- Wesley T. Runk, Thomas W. Lentz -- 1993
I don't know of any time in my life when I have sought more

Stories

SermonStudio

EBENEEZER: The Satisfied Pig -- Luke 15:11-32 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
Have you ever felt greedy?
JASON: One of God's Signs -- Exodus 8:2 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
How many children like to keep the promises that they make?
HERMON: The Camel Who Was Humbled -- Matthew 19:24 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
Do you know what it means to be humble?
REUBEN:The Rooster With a Reminder -- Matthew 26:34 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
How many boys and girls know what I mean when I talk about reminders?
REHOBOAM: The Lion Who Learned About God -- Daniel 6:21-23 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
Who are you supposed to listen to?
ISHMAEL - The Lost Sheep -- Matthew 18:12-14 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
How many boys and girls have ever been lost? Were you afraid? It's awful to be lost and I know it.
BENJAMIN: The Little Peoples Friend -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Wesley T. Runk -- 1971
How many people here this morning wish that they were older than they are?

The Political Pulpit

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Our call for freedom -- Wesley T. Runk -- 2008
Click here
Are the candidates really concerned? -- Wesley T. Runk -- 2008
If there is one issue that confronts every American it is our health. We are dismayed to
The health-care crisis: Are the candidates really concerned? -- Wesley T. Runk -- 2008
If there is one issue that confronts every American it is our health.

Worship

The Immediate Word

The Risk Of Being A Peacemaker -- John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10, Numbers 21:4-9 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Carlos Wilton, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," Jesus tells us in the Beatit
All Trees Are Christmas Trees -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- George L. Murphy, Larry Hard, Wesley T. Runk -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Nothing Hid From Its Heat -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Psalm 19 -- Carlos Wilton, George L. Murphy, Stephen P. McCutchan, Carter Shelley, Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
It's the nature of the news business that gripping human interest stories and immediate crises domin
Speaking Of Peace -- Mark 6:14-29, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24 -- Thom M. Shuman, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
It's not news that many places in the world are torn apart by war -- nevertheless, recent headlines
It Is Evening... -- Mark 4:35-41, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, Psalm 9:9-20 -- Thom M. Shuman, Stephen P. McCutchan, Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
When the first storm of the 2006 hurricane season posed a threat to Florida last week, many media st
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...
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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

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John Jamison
Object: A sheep or lamb stuffed animal.

Note: For the best experience, when you ask the questions, take the time to draw the children out a bit and help them come up with answers. Make it more of a conversation if you can.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started! (Hold the sheep in your lap as you continue.)

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
For May 4, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice… (vv. 11-12a)

Phillip Hasheider is a retired Wisconsin beef farmer and an award-winning author who was dead for six minutes and came back to tell about it. If you have ever thought about dying and wondered what it would be like, then Hasheider’s Six Minutes in Eternity is a book you will want to read.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
A medical worker is working long, hard, stress filled hours in an urban hospital setting. One day he or she is called into the administrator’s office to be terminated due to angering professionals in the upper echelon. The worker protests that it is, “My word against their word, why am I to be the scapegoat?” The administrator pulls rank! The worker is asked to turn in their badge and do not come into the premises again unless as a patient. The now unemployed medical worker still feels the calling to be a healer. So, they get a job at an alternative/natural health medicine store.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)
Martin Luther believed that the story of Paul’s conversion demonstrates that there is no need for special revelation. The reformer commented:

Our Lord God does not purpose some special thing for each individual person, but gives to the whole world — one person like the next — his baptism and gospel. (Complete Sermons, Vol.7, p.271)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
I've recently spent several hours by the lakeside, for I've been in retreat this past week in the little village of Hemingford Grey, in Huntingdonshire. A great delight for me was to walk to the flooded gravel pits, sit on a bench in glorious sunshine, and watch the water birds. For me, that's a wonderful way to become very aware of the presence of God through the beauty of his created world. And sitting like that for several hours, doing nothing but watching and waiting, I can't help but absorb the peace which passes all understanding.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Beth was a teenager, she lived on the streets. She smoked cigarettes and drank beer and her parents had said that she had to choose: her friends or her family. Beth chose her friends and lived from house to house and eventually in homeless shelters. She barely avoided being raped at one point. About six months of shelter-hopping was all she could take, and she found a shelter that sponsored her until she took the GED. They told her she was brilliant: she was just bored and dissatisfied with the status quo. The shelter supervisors suggested she look into community college.
James Evans
(For alternative approaches, see Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B; and Proper 9/Pentecost 7/Ordinary Time 14, Cycle C.)

The main theme of this psalm is captured profoundly in the movement within a single verse: "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with morning" (v. 5). Casting life experiences between light and dark is not unique or novel, of course, but the poet's treatment of these themes offers some fertile ground for reflection.

Elizabeth Achtemeier
We have three different accounts of the conversion of Saul in the Gospel according to Luke (9:1-20; 22:6-16; 26:12-18). They differ in a few minor details, but essentially they are the same. In addition, Paul writes of his conversion in Galatians 1:11-16, and in 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 15:8-9, stating that at the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus, he saw the Lord. For Paul, that made him an apostle, equal to the twelve. An apostle, in Paul's thought, was one who had seen the risen Christ and had been sent to announce that good news.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
Once in a far-off land, there was a great king whose dominion extended far and wide. His power and authority were absolute. One day, as events would happen, a young man, a commoner, committed a grave offense against the king. In response, the king and his counselors gathered together to determine what should be done. They decided that since the offense was so grave and had been committed by a commoner against someone so august as the king, the only punishment that would satisfy justice was death.

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