Login / Signup

B

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

Children's Activity

Commentary

Children's bulletin

Children's Liturgy and Story

Children's sermon

Children's Story

Communicating God's Love

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The following scene is familiar... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
The following scene is familiar to most parents who have survived those difficult few times they lea
Death had visited their home... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Death had visited their home.
There is an old story... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
There is an old story about a magician who had great powers.
Enshrined in the Church of... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Enshrined in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is Calvary, the place where Jesus died on
A man put a note... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
A man put a note on a dollar bill and asked all who spent it to write down what it was spent for.
It had been a long... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
It had been a long, cold night. Now, in the wee hours of morning, he approached the welcoming fire.
Then Andrew found his brother... -- John 1:35-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
"Then Andrew found his brother Simon and told him, 'We have found the Messiah' ...
Did you ever notice that... -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
Did you ever notice that it's easier to break a commandment than a habit? Why is that?- Mosley
Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote the... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote the book Who Needs God? in which he makes this observation.
The movie JFK sparked a... -- 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
The movie JFK sparked a renewed interest in former President John F. Kennedy.
A drill sergeant has to... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
A drill sergeant has to take a group of very different people and mold them into a unit that can act
A young seminary student from... -- 2 Kings 4:18-21, 32-37 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
A young seminary student from India who had been under the ministry of the great missionary E.
Mother Teresa speaks constantly of... -- Zechariah 9:9-10 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Mother Teresa speaks constantly of the need for humility, both in thought and lifestyle.
Two ads were placed in... -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Two ads were placed in a newspaper by the same ad agency for two different, if similar clients: J
In one of her many... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
In one of her many poems about death, poet Emily Dickinson used the phrase "awful leisure" to charac
At a youth retreat, the... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
At a youth retreat, the young people were gathered around a large cross that stood on a hill at a ch
She reckoned they'd have corn... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
She reckoned they'd have corn cakes for supper.
Not long ago, a farmer... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Not long ago, a farmer was dreading his annual winter visit with his banker.
Several years ago there was... -- Romans 7:13-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Several years ago there was a promising young major leaguer who was touted as one of the next genera
The next time you watch... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
The next time you watch a baseball game and some mighty slugger swaggers up to the plate, ask yourse
As the story of the... -- 2 Kings 4:18-21, 32-37 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
As the story of the Shunammite's son illustrates, God's power to grant life and blessing often aris
Some still call him the... -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
Some still call him the King.
The story of Jonah seems... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
The story of Jonah seems to contrast God's attitude toward the world and our own.
Faith and works go together... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
Faith and works go together.
Cynthia was recovering from a... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
Cynthia was recovering from a lengthy and debilitating illness which required powerful medications t

Intercession

Poems

Political Pulpit

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

The Political Pulpit

Worship

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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: An orange and a lemon that are about the same size and shape, a knife, a cutting board, orange and yellow paint, and some paper towels. Prepare the fruit by painting the lemon orange, and the orange, yellow. The more alike they look, the better.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For May 11, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
Tinkerbell is the delightful sprite in Peter Pan who drifts between the world of senses and the world of magic. She sprinkles “fairy dust” to make children fly; she sparkles around Peter Pan as a comrade adventurer.

Once, in one episode of a televised version of Peter Pan, Tin­kerbell ingested some poison. There was nothing to be seen of her, tiny thing that she was, other than the brightness of her little light. But with the poison, her light began to fade. Before our very eyes she grew dimmer, pulsing with a weakening glow.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 9:36-43
Cryonics is an interesting and, if I’m honest, disturbing practice. You might be wondering, what is cryonics? The aim of cryonics, according to Dennis Kowalski, the president of the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, is to “keep bodies in a stable, preserved state until the necessary medical technology arrives.” As of June 1, 2024, there were about five hundred people who have tried to keep themselves preserved for future medical advances to revive.

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hello, Peter. Come on in to the office,” Pastor Carl held open the door for him. “Oh, don’t worry about your shoes.”

“They’re muddy and I really should take them off,” Peter said. “Besides if I don’t, I’ll be hearing my mother’s voice telling me to take them off before coming into your office.”

Pastor Carl smiled. “Fair enough.”

After a few moments, Peter took the offered seat across from Pastor Carl.

“So how are you finding our church?” Pastor Carl asked. “I know you mentioned we’re a bit more casual and smaller than you are used to.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:


Jesus said that he gives eternal life to those who follow him. As we worship God today, let us believe in his words so that we too may enjoy the Life that he offers.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we leave you out of our lives.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are disappointed because you don't answer prayers in the way that we wish.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we refuse to believe that you still act in our lives today.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
Women have always been uniquely important in the life of the church, whether or not men want to admit it. It started with Mary. Women were accorded special status during Jesus' ministry; in fact, it was probably women who were major financial supporters of the itinerant rabbi and his friends. Women were the first witnesses to the resurrection. This is not a feminist statement but a factual statement: from the first day to this day, if it were not for the women, there would be no church. It is that simple.

Donald Charles Lacy
History shows that people are invariably looking for Messiahs or Christs. There is that special person who is to come among them and, in a sense, do for them what they cannot do for themselves. Even for years after our Lord arose from the dead and ascended -- yes, and still at this moment -- people are looking.

Henry F. Woodruff
Now you can't even trust the police. When I was a child growing up in Texas, everyone knew how to spot the police cars: they were big old Ford Crown Victorias, painted black with white doors, sporting black wall tires with little moon hubcaps -- or, if they really wanted to be sneaky and fool you, they were big old Ford Crown Victorias painted gray, with whip antennas and license plates that read "City" on them. You could bet the farm on it. Now all that has changed. Police cars are all different makes and models and colors.
Clyde W. Wentzell
1. O my Good Shepherd, O Lord of my soul,
Keep me forever beneath your control.
In right paths lead me for your name’s sake.
All the best choices, Lord, help me to make.

2. When through dark valleys my walk is severe,
Keep me from evil, Lord, ever be near.
Your rod and staff, my discipline be,
O my Good Shepherd, keep watch over me.

3. You spread a table of bountiful store.
Rich are your mercies and love evermore.
Oil on the head, anointing most pure,
Flows in abundance as your love is sure.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL