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The Immediate Word

The Two Towers And The Prince Of Peace And Light -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carlos Wilton, Carter Shelley, Charles Cammarata -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for December 29, 2002)
Can We 'let Heaven And Nature Sing'? -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- George L. Murphy, Carter Shelley, Terry Cain -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2002
(Originally published for January 1, 2006)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Televisions today are all solid... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - B -- 2000
Televisions today are all solid state. They don't have any tubes, except the picture tube.
One time a couple asked... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
One time a couple asked me, as their pastor, to speak to their son.
How quickly we discover what... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2000
How quickly we discover what we do not know when we have to explain it to someone else, especially w
Missionaries going overseas often end... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2000
Missionaries going overseas often end up in places with little communication access.
He had only moved 45... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
He had only moved 45 miles, but to Tim the distance seemed endless.
Abraham Lincoln appreciated humor in... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2000
Abraham Lincoln appreciated humor in his life.
The church consultant was clearly... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2000
The church consultant was clearly getting frustrated.
Pope John XXIII said to... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2000
Pope John XXIII said to himself each night after his prayers, "But who governs the church, you or t
Life can be so surprising... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2000
Life can be so surprising.
When the Magi came from... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
When the Magi came from the East to find the Christ Child, they were following a quest toward someth
The story is told of... -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2000
The story is told of an artist who set himself to paint the Last Supper.
Those of us who live... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2000
Those of us who live under the cross can afford to be generous with one another, given the magnanimi
A university professor used to... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2000
A university professor used to say that the reason he taught was to learn.
Karl Rahner's theology is one... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
Karl Rahner's theology is one that challenges Christians to make the most of their lives and see eac
Dr. Harry Hutchison and his... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2000
Dr. Harry Hutchison and his wife were Christians committed to the mission field.
Brandy is a twelve-year... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
Brandy is a twelve-year-old girl who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The story of Francis' life... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2000
The story of Francis' life, it seemed to him, was just a long series of wrong choices and missed opp
One of the objections that... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2000
One of the objections that the young Martin Luther made over having the Book of Revelation at all is
Doug had gotten to the... -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2000
Doug had gotten to the point where he almost hated going to work.
It is the power and... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2000
It is the power and authority of God that enables us for godly living and all earthy achievement.
Linking the rescue of Noah... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
Linking the rescue of Noah with the sacrament of baptism might seem inappropriate.
John the Baptist, in preparing... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2000
John the Baptist, in preparing the way for Jesus, preached a message in the desert that told Jewish
Religious faith is not only... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
Religious faith is not only a private matter.

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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...

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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.

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