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Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A

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Children's Activity

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Follow Me -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Following directions -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2007
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
Fishing for people -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Today's gospel lesson is a fun one to share with children.
Follow me -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Teachers and Parents: No parent or teacher will minimize the
Using the right bait -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Teachers or Parents: Teach the children the hymn "I Love To
Jesus Welcome Mat -- Matthew 4:12-33 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Teachers: Today's story tells how Jesus began his ministry.
Answering the call immediately -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Materials:Store-bought placemat (one per child) Sandpaper

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Bulletin (ages 8-10) -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2008

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Bulletin (ages 5-7) -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2008

Children's sermon

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Leaving A Trail! -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023
Object: See the notes.
Wanted: Best Friend -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
As Jesus calls his disciples it seems like he has a criterion for the people with which he wants to
Got A Flashlight? -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Mary Kay Eichelman -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2017
I want to tell you a story today about two guys that went hiking.  They were two teenage cousins tha
Gone Fishing -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Anna Shirey -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
First Thoughts
Who do you belong to? -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong
Follow me -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2010
Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (v. 20)
You are a Christian -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2007
What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to
Following directions -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2007
He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory
Not everyone understands -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
(Hold up the paper) Can anyone tell me what this says?
Fishing for people -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Today I am going fishing. Our lesson today is about fishing, so I'm going to do it.
Working together -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Good morning! I have a job for us to do this morning. I want
Follow me -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Good morning! How many of you have ever ridden on a big
Horse power -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Good morning! How many of you like horses? (Let them answer.)
Using the right bait -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
How many of you like to fish? (Let them answer.) What do you
Dead batteries -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some things with me
Building a complete puzzle -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to do puzzles?

The Immediate Word

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:
The United Methodist Church And Paul’s Case For Bipartisan Baptism -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
For January 26, 2020:
United In Mind And Purpose -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2014
In this week’s lectionary text from First Corinthians, Paul highlights the divisions and quarrels
The Jesus Gang -- Matthew 4:12-23, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Roger Lovette, George Reed -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2011
In the wake of the recent Arizona shootings, a great deal of attention has been focused on the tone
Who Will You Follow? -- Matthew 4:12-23, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Paul Bresnahan, Scott Suskovic, Thom M. Shuman -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2008
Every four years, the people of the United States are called upon to make their voices heard and cho

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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:
Leaving A Trail! -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- John Jamison -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2023
Object: See the notes.
The United Methodist Church And Paul’s Case For Bipartisan Baptism -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1, 4-9, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
For January 26, 2020:
Wanted: Best Friend -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2020
As Jesus calls his disciples it seems like he has a criterion for the people with which he wants to
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

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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