Login / Signup

Free Access

Pentecost Sale - Save $131!

Fruits of Repentance

Illustration
Stories
“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.”

“Well, if you’re going to have one then cut me a piece too.” Molly poured a cup of coffee for herself and then topped up Stephen. He handed her a small plate and fork. “Oh, you really outdid yourself, this crust is melt-in-your mouth good.”

Stephen patted the spot on the couch next to him. “This is the dream.”

“This is good.” She put her mug on the coffee table and snuggled up next to him. “I’m glad things have gotten better.”

“Absolutely.” He toasted her with his mug and took a drink. “I wouldn’t want to go through the last two years again.”

“I’m proud of you. You’ve turned your life around.” She looked up and smiled at him. “I can’t imagine life is going to get any better than this.”

“It will get even better you know.” Stephen took a bite of pie. “Did your parents say if they were coming with us to church on Christmas Eve or are we meeting them there?”

“They haven’t decided.” Molly sat up. “What did you mean by what you said?”

“Which thing?”

“What you said right now.”

Stephen furrowed his brow. “You mean when I asked about your parents and Christmas Eve?”

“No, just before that. I told you that I can’t imagine life is going to get any better than this and you said it will get even better.” Molly narrowed her eyes. “What did you mean?”

“Oh that.” Stephen put his plate down on the table. “Remember how messed up things were when I was drinking?”

“Yeah.”

“I turned my life around when I stopped, didn’t I?”

“Yes, that is why I said I was so proud of you.” Molly frowned. “I mean you’re doing great at your job, we’ve never been better. Life is the best it can be.”

“I don’t think so.” Stephen took a drink from his mug. “Remember the reading from church this morning about John the Baptist and all the people coming to hear him?”

“I always think that is a strange lesson to hear in church leading up to Christmas.” Molly held up her hand. “Before you ask though, yes I was listening to the pastor and know it is the call for us to get our hearts and lives ready for Jesus.”

“Absolutely. When John preaches to the people he tells them to turn away from sin and to change their lives.”

“Okay.” Molly furrowed her brow. “What does that have to do with you?”

“Just give me a second I’m getting there.” Stephen smiled at her. “It’s the same thing we talk about in the addiction meetings. You get rid of the bad and then the good has a chance to enter your life. I stopped drinking and our relationship, work, and pretty much everything got better.”

“That’s why I said this is as good as it gets.”

“Ah, but John was just getting the people ready for Jesus.” Stephen said. “Remember what happens when Jesus arrives?”

“When Jesus arrived ‘all heaven breaks loose on the earth.’ See I didn’t just listen to the pastor I remembered his exact words.” Molly winked at him. “So, you’re saying that because you’ve turned away from the bad, like John called the people to do, then you’re ready for Jesus to start the good things in your life?”

“Exactly.”

“So what good think are you thinking of?”

“Well, what about starting a family?”

Molly looked at him for a few moments. “Are you serious?”

Stephen nodded. “I want the new life which God makes possible through Jesus and I know we’ve talked about it.”

“We stopped talking about having a family when you were drinking.”

“I know. So now that I’m not how about we start again talking about it again?” Stephen gathered her into his arms. “Molly, what do you say?”

“I think you know I’m all for us having children.” She kissed him and then looked at the pie and coffee sitting on the table. “But the pie is incredible you know, and I wouldn’t want to waste it.”

Stephen laughed. “I think a family conversation over pie is the best of every world.”

Molly snuggled beside him and they ate their pie, drank their coffee, and talked about the future they wanted in their lives. As they spoke Molly offered a prayer of thanks for the possibility that repentance makes and for the new life which Jesus freely offers to those who turn to him.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For July 27, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A card with Luke’s short version of the Lord’s Prayer to give to each child. Make your own card or use the one I have attached to this message.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s hear the story. But I want to begin by asking you a question.

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Luke frowned at the email he was writing. He moved a couple of words around and then hit the save button. He ran the email though the grammar checker and spell checker again. He took a deep breath and then started reading through it one more time. After he finished, he noticed the time. He had to send it soon or it would be too late for there to be a response before the deadline. He sighed and sat back in his chair. He wished he wasn’t so nervous.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85
I came across an interesting fact about how the state of Ohio deals with sealing and expunging a court record. The process for filing a court file and expunging a criminal record are combined into the same thing. If granted, the request seals the record forever, and officials are not allowed to discuss the person’s past criminal record.
David Coffin
Another mass shooting appears on the television “Breaking News!” Many people have lost count of the number of school or concert shootings in the recent years in the USA. Usually prominent are comments such as, “We hold these families up in prayer,” and “more mental health is needed.” People who work both in spiritual care and mental health have heard this all before.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.


God, the centre of my being,

When I think of you, praise spills from my lips. I wish I always acted as though you were my centre, for then perhaps your kingdom would be known here.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Advent 2, Cycle B, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 8-13.)

In 1988, Southern Baptists held their annual convention in San Antonio, Texas. It was a contentious meeting, as factions within the denomination vied for control of the various agencies and boards. Throughout the week, angry words were spoken across the aisle as various resolutions and officer elections revealed the deep schism growing within the group.

Michael D. Wuchter
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
-- Luke 11:1-4

One of the disciples said to Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Lee Ann Dunlap
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't
put Humpty Dumpty together again.


This is a nursery rhyme we learned as children, and somewhere along the line in history class we were taught that its composer, "Mother Goose," was, in fact, a political satirist. If we look between the lines of these playful rhymes we will find some kind of hidden message poking fun at royalty. (I guess you had to be there to get the joke.)
Kirk R. Webster
Do you have somebody in your world who seems to live his/her life daily on a treadmill of self-imposed rules, almost as Tarzan swings from one vine to another? These people swoop from one regulation to another rule, to another regulation, in an attempt to maintain control and safety in their lives. They travel by self-imposed boundaries that probably aren't necessary to a fulfilling life. Consider our 45-year-old suburbanite named Jim.
Julia Ross Strope
A single song is being inflected through all the colorations of the human choir.
The way to become human is to recognize the lineaments of God in all the wonderful modulations of the face [of humankind].
-- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Call To Worship (Leader)
We are in sanctuary -- together, removed from the world, secluded for a while.
We have brought with us our burdens and anxieties.
We've come here with our hopes and thanksgivings.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL