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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 2 (Cycle B)
32 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 3 (Cycle B)
33 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
36 – Children's Sermons / Resources
28 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
36 – Children's Sermons / Resources
28 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4 (Cycle B)
31 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
36 – Children's Sermons / Resources
31 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
36 – Children's Sermons / Resources
31 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
New & Featured This Week
The Immediate Word
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Elena Delhagen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For December 10, 2023:
- Mea Culpa by Dean Feldmeyer — Advent is a good time to start preaching about repentance.
- Second Thoughts: The Season of Comfort by Katy Stenta based on Mark 1:1-8.
- Sermon illustrations by Tom Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen.
- Worship resources by George Reed.
Emphasis Preaching Journal
David Coffin
Amidst this season of Advent, where can mainline church leaders find hope amidst headlines in many churches’ magazines reporting the steady decline of church attendance and membership? In one study, church American membership has dipped below 50% in contrast to close to 70-75% in previous decades.
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 40:1-11
StoryShare
Peter Andrew Smith
“I think that was probably the best dinner we’ve ever had with your parents.” Stephen finished wiping the counter and then turned the dishwasher on. “It was really great to have them over.”
“They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves and even Dad was talkative,” Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for cooking.”
“My pleasure, I enjoyed it.” Stephen paused. “I think I could go for a bit more pie.”
Molly rolled his eyes. “Really?”
Stephen rubbed his stomach and then grinned. “Yeah, I think so.”
“They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves and even Dad was talkative,” Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for cooking.”
“My pleasure, I enjoyed it.” Stephen paused. “I think I could go for a bit more pie.”
Molly rolled his eyes. “Really?”
Stephen rubbed his stomach and then grinned. “Yeah, I think so.”
CSSPlus
John Jamison
Object: You need pieces of clothing to dress two children. One is to be dressed in nice clothes, and the other in ‘not-so-nice’ clothes. You could either dress them like they were in Jesus’ day or as they might look today. For Jesus’ day, you might dress one child in a nice robe, with a fancy hat and staff, like a king, and the other just wrapped in something like burlap with a rope belt, like John the Baptist. For today, you might dress one child in a jacket or nice suit, and the other in old, torn jeans and a baggy, ragged shirt, or sweatshirt.
The Village Shepherd
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Invitation to Confession:
With John the Baptist, in our worship today let us prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight.
Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, we are not worthy to undo the strap of your sandals.
Lord, have mercy.Jesus, we repent. Forgive our sins.
Christ, have mercy.Jesus, baptise us with your Holy Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
SermonStudio
Stan Purdum
(See Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
The voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 28 men aboard the Endurance bound for Antarctica, which began in 1914, is a story too few know but all should hear. The Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition, under Shackleton's command, was the first British Antarctic expedition after Norwegian Ronald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole in December 1911.
Thomas G. Long
Bright Lights, Big City is Jay McInerney's searingly-witty, emotion-ripping novel of one man's perilous drift down an alcohol and white-powder-polluted stream of delayed adolescence. The young man is bright, creative, and desperately lonely. His language is marked by the kind of sarcasm which forms at the intersection of keen intelligence, comic conceit, and human desolation.
Wayne Brouwer
Somewhere today a woman picks up another dirty shirt and tosses it into the laundry basket. She shakes her head and thinks, "I've got to get out of this marriage! He treats me like dirt! I deserve someone better, someone who really loves me! God knows I've put up with more than anyone needs to."
But she sees the picture of their wedding day on the dresser and stops. She remembers the promise she made that day: "...for better, for worse...." And she decides to stay and see if she can make this thing work.
But she sees the picture of their wedding day on the dresser and stops. She remembers the promise she made that day: "...for better, for worse...." And she decides to stay and see if she can make this thing work.
