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The doctor's words rang out...

Illustration
Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
1 John 3:16-24
The doctor's words rang out like a fire alarm bell: "He needs a kidney ... soon. Otherwise, his prognosis is not good." This was his son the doctor was talking about. The son who had endured years of friends saying to him, "You know you look just like your father." The son who could regularly keep the entire family howling with a delightful laughter with his unique brand of humor. The son who had almost not made it into this world because of late complications in the pregnancy. The son who had already beaten him regularly in golf and table tennis.
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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For August 3, 2025:

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

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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.

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

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
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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.
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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.
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" '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?

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