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Children's sermon

Empathy and Encouragement -- Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Psalm 149 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2023

For September 10, 2023:

You Want Too Much, Jesus -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35, Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 114, Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2023

For September 17, 2023:

Obedient to Dreams -- Matthew 2:13-23, Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Psalm 148 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2023

For January 1, 2023:

Mission: Control -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 19, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46, Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2023

For October 8, 2023:

Immersed in Righteousness -- Matthew 3:13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 29 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2023

For January 8, 2023:

The Wild and Crazy Wedding Feast -- Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Exodus 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Isaiah 25:1-9, Psalm 23 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2023

For October 15, 2023:

What Are You Really, Really Looking For? -- Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2023

For January 15, 2023:

We Are the Holders of Hands -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22, Psalm 9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2023

For October 22, 2023:

At Home in Capernaum -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023

For January 22, 2023:

Dare We Hope For Peace? -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17, Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2023

For October 29, 2023:

Beyond the Rule -- Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2023

For January 29, 2023:

Jesus Gives the Job Description -- Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12, Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A, All Saints Day - A -- 2023

For November 1/5, 2023:

Jesus' Feedback Sandwich -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), Psalm 112:1-9 (10), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2023

For February 5, 2023:

The Door is Closed -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13, Amos 5:18-24, Psalm 70 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2023

For November 12, 2023:

Team Everybody -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Matthew 5:21-37, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Psalm 119:1-8 -- Mary Austin, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Katy Stenta -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2023

For February 12, 2023:

Awakened by Hope -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 3, 2023:

God Makes Room For Us -- Matthew 17:1-9, Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Psalm 2, Psalm 99 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2023

For February 19, 2023:

Mea Culpa -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 10, 2023:

Lead Us Not into Relevance -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 32 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For February 26, 2023:

The World Turned Upside Down -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2023

For December 17, 2023:

Who Do You Trust? -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17, Matthew 17:1-9, Psalm 121 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For March 5, 2023:

All Means All -- Psalm 96, Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Luke 1:26-38 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B, The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2023

For December 24/25, 2023:

Tapping Into Unlimited (Living) Water -- John 4:5-42, Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Elena Delhagen -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For March 12, 2023:

Who Can See? -- John 9:1-41, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, Psalm 23 -- Mary Austin, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For March 19, 2023:

You Want Me to Do What? -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11, Psalm 138 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2022

For February 6, 2022:

Illustration

The Immediate Word

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Brave Thomas? -- John 11:1-45, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, Psalm 130 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Elena Delhagen -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2023

For March 26, 2023:

A Tale of Two Kings -- Matthew 26:14--27:66, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 31:9-16, Matthew 27:11-54, Matthew 21:1-11 -- Elena Delhagen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2023

For April 2, 2023:

Resurrection Tears -- John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10, Colossians 3:1-4, Acts 10:34-43, Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Christopher Keating, Katy Stenta, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Elena Delhagen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Easter Day - A -- 2023

For April 9, 2023:

Herders Of Ducks -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen, Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For March 6, 2022:

Gatekeepers and Humility -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14, Psalm 81:1, 10-16, Proverbs 25:6-7, Psalm 112 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2022

For August 28, 2022:

God Calls Back -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35, Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Katy Stenta, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For March 13, 2022:

But What About Meeeee? -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2022

For September 4, 2022:

Hungering and Thirsting for God's Peace -- Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For March 20, 2022:

Should We Let Jesus Off the Hook Here? -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13, Psalm 85, Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2022

For July 20, 2025:

Joy In the Midst of Sadness -- John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2022

For April 3, 2022:

Somehow It All Works Out -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13, Amos 8:4-7, Psalm 113 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Thomas Willadsen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2022

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Liturgy

Preaching

The Immediate Word

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To Judge Is Human, To Forgive Divine -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38, Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 -- Katy Stenta, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2022

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Sermon

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Worship

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23

30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...

Christ the King Sunday

29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...

Thanksgiving

34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...

Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Shaking the Stones

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem

For November 16, 2025:

Shaking the Stones by Mary Austin based on Luke 21:5-19.
Second Thoughts: Planting Seeds for the New Creation by Katy Stenta based on Isaiah 65:17-25.
Sermon illustrations by Dean Feldmeyer, Chris Keating, Nazish Naseem.
Worship resources by George Reed.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

What Kind of Community?

David Coffin

Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wildfires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However, as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.

Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2025)

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez

Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

Toby Keith Made a Saving Difference

John E. Sumwalt

“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

Wasting A Good Worry!

John Jamison

Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Ever-Present God

Janice B. Scott

Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints

These responses may be used:

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

SermonStudio

Proper 28 / Pentecost 23 / Ordinary Time 33

Stephen P. McCutchan

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

The End Of Time

John W. Clarke

No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

No Work, No Food!

Scott Suskovic

Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

A Vision Of Freedom

Mark Ellingson

Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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Mary AustinChristopher KeatingDean FeldmeyerThomas WilladsenGeorge ReedKaty StentaNazish Naseem

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This Week’s Scriptures

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez