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First Sunday in Lent - A

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Good medicine -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought a bottle of (name of
From sin to salvation -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Let's see how well you remember your Bible stories.
Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have ever met the devil face to face?

The Immediate Word

Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Power In The Wilderness -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
As we enter into Lent, the focus for many of our people will turn inward as they engage in small act
You Will Be Like God -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Barbara Jurgensen, Thom M. Shuman -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Humanity as a whole has shown a tendency for desiring power, whether it is power to conquer a nation

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Among the Romans' pithy sayings... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Among the Romans' pithy sayings was, "Work conquers all." Many Americans hold that
Some question the historical authenticity... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Some question the historical authenticity of the "garden" story, but many things
The man gave names ... to... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
"The man gave names ... to every animal of the field." Now it is quiz time. What names
There is an old story... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
There is an old story about a young boy who consistently disobeyed his parents, coming
Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point, gives a number of examples
Greg tells of his summer... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Greg tells of his summer experience with "Open Air Containers." Open Air Containers is
It is estimated that over... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
It is estimated that over 25 million people died in Europe between 1347 and 1352. The
Lloyd flew to the Oregon... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Lloyd flew to the Oregon coast to interview for a call as pastor. From the airport, he was
How do we prepare ourselves... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
How do we prepare ourselves and others to withstand temptation? There's no one "cure-
Greek mythology has a fascinating... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Greek mythology has a fascinating story about the power of temptation. Certain areas
Jimmy, Mark and Sarah could... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Jimmy, Mark and Sarah could be the best children anyone ever saw.
The new youth director was... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The new youth director was adamant.
Some years ago, there was... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Some years ago, there was a medical missionary who served in Egypt.
While God accepts us as... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
While God accepts us as we are, it is not God's intent to keep us wallowing in our sin.
Jesus' successful resistance of temptation... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Jesus' successful resistance of temptation sets a pattern for disciples, including those who seeming
A man once went to... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
A man once went to his priest to confess. "Yes, I did it," he admitted.
Will the test be very... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
"Will the test be very hard?" Jake asked his teacher.
The child asked, Why did... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The child asked, "Why did God let Jesus be tempted and why three times?
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was a dynamic speaker. His long-
In the book of Romans... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells us the basic Christian truths as he saw them.
One person can make all... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
One person can make all the difference in the world -- for good or for evil.
FREE GIFT! splashed in big... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
FREE GIFT! splashed in big red letters across the envelope or the computer screen.
Paul is speaking of the... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Paul is speaking of the gracious life of grace made possible through Christ.

Intercession

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The Immediate Word

Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill

The Village Shepherd

The Sin Of Adam -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
It always strikes me as strange that St Paul puts so much emphasis on Adam's sin, but that t
Hooked On Sin? -- Genesis 2:15-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
We in the West have an interesting culture in which we quite like to be shocked.
Fasting And Temptation -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
I once fasted for five days.

SermonStudio

Tempted In The Strong Places Of Life -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Albert G. Butzer, III -- First Sunday in Lent - A
In his best--selling book called First You Have To Row a Little Boat, Richard Bode writes abo

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For September 14, 2025:

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John Jamison
Object: A sheep stuffy or toy.

* * *

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

Did you know that Jesus traveled around and hunted for people who were doing something illegal and breaking the laws? (Let them respond.) He really did.And when he found someone who was doing something illegal, do you know what he did with them? (Let them respond.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Our text tells us that we are skilled in doing evil (v.22). An anonymous late medieval treatise titled German Theology tells us why:

It is the nature and property of the creature to seek itself and its own things, and this and that, here and there, and in all that it does and leaves undone as desire is to its own advantage and benefit. (Varieties of Mystic Experience, p.162)

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers an alternative to this vision:
David Coffin
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people. This is despite their resistance to repent or simple straying from the community of faith. We can observe family and loved ones at various points of their faith journey through the lens of each of these texts. Jeremiah 4 informs the people their neglect of honoring their covenant with God is about to result in disastrous consequences. Paul recalls in 1 Timothy 1 how he thought he was falling God’s will until he had his literal come to Jesus moment!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (vv. 6-7)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

The psalm writer has an interesting perspective on the origin of injustice in our world. He begins this psalm with the assertion that those who do not believe in God are "fools." He goes on to accuse them of corruption and of being incapable of doing good. Later on he writes, "Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord?" (v. 4).

Elizabeth Achtemeier
"Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them" (v. 12). Ours is a society that does not accept that as the Word of God. Many people do not believe that God judges anyone. Rather, the Lord is a forgiving God, a kindly deity who overlooks all wrong. As in the Gospel lesson for the morning, the Lord searches for the one lost sheep and returns it gently to the fold, or he hunts for the one lost coin until he finds it. God accepts the lost as they are, we think, overlooking Jesus' teaching about repentance and transformation of life.
Scott Suskovic
We usually don't spend too much time thinking about our own sinfulness. On occasion, of course, our feelings of guilt overwhelm us. We can't stop thinking about our sinfulness. If we are in that situation, we may need to talk that out with someone. Apart from times like that, we don't think much about our own sinfulness. We have ways of getting around that.

R. Robert Cueni
Back before the ways of the Taliban became common knowledge, there was a fascinating little article about how they jailed barbers when they didn't do culturally correct haircuts.1 The newspaper reported that young men in Kabul, Afghanistan, have started wearing their hair the way the actor Leonardo DiCaprio wears his. Long, not only on the sides, but so long in the front that hair can drop over the eyes. They call the style, "the Titanic," named for the blockbuster movie starring DiCaprio about the 1912 sinking of the cruise ship by that name.

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