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First Sunday in Lent - A

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During the 1992-1995 war in... -- John 11:1-45 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
During the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the city of Sarajevo came under siege by the Bos
A young pastor wept. He... -- John 11:1-45 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
A young pastor wept.
Dr. Jerome Groopman, of the... -- John 11:1-45 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Dr.
We call it our faith... -- John 11:1-45 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
We call it our "faith journey" and rightly so. Pastors deal with the term all the time.
In the early 1990s, the... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the early 1990s, the Washington Post published an article pointing out how students from o
Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, kept strict and demanding rules at his
For me, Jimmy, in this... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
For me, Jimmy, in this story, represents the Christ-figure.
Holy GiftThe journey... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Holy GiftThe journey lies behind me, yet before me,
From time to time I... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
From time to time I am called upon to explain the doctrine of original sin.
A man had felt himself... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
A man had felt himself to be badly wronged.
One does not live by... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
"One does not live by bread alone." We find those words sandwiched in the middle of the Gospel of Ma
The woman tells her daughter... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
The woman tells her daughter about the joys of parenting -- and the difficulties of an unwanted preg
The serpent's success with Eve... -- Genesis 2:15-27; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
The serpent's success with Eve is a classic story of seduction.
Free gifts ... most free gifts... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Free gifts ... most free gifts come with some attachment.
It was a scene that... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
It was a scene that could very well have happened in any big department store in our land, in these
We don't like to be... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
We don't like to be called sinners.
There is an old story... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
There is an old story about a man from Texas who died and went to heaven.
Daily bread is a gift... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Daily bread is a gift to be received, not a temptation with which to be seduced.
When we look at the... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
When we look at the temptations of Jesus and how he withstood them, we are advised to think in terms
A pastor in Ohio tells... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
A pastor in Ohio tells this story:
In January of 2001, the... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
In January of 2001, the FOX network premiered the reality TV show Temptation Island.
Our children always think they... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Our children always think they are smarter than we are.
A young woman stopped into... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
A young woman stopped into a coffee shop.
The theme of all great... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
The theme of all great creation stories, including ours, goes like this summary version of Haiku:

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

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Lent 2
33 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Lent 3
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140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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Lent 4
31 – Sermons
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28 – Worship Resources
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Lent 5
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me... (v. 34)

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
George Reed
For February 28, 2021:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
Oscar Wilde penned a powerful story about behaviors and definitions and justice called The Picture of Dorian Gray. Dorian was a handsome young man, a model of physical beauty and moral virtue. People complimented him on his good graces. Parents pointed to him as an example to their youth. One artist even painted an exquisite portrait of him.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
“Breaking Jesus’ Heart” by John Sumwalt
“Wade In the Water” by Frank Ramirez


Breaking Jesus’ Heart
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 22:23-31

For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I cried to him. (Psalm 22:24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
"Have you seen it?" whispered the Barbie doll to her next door neighbour.

The next Barbie doll in line was instantly alert. There were five different Barbie dolls, who lived jumbled together in the toy cupboard but who were so jealous of each other that they rarely spoke. "Seen what?" asked the second Barbie doll, blue eyes darting all round the room.

"The Princess," replied the first Barbie with glee. "Caitlin's done her hair and it looks terrible!"

SermonStudio

Russell F. Anderson
Theme For The Day: The road to God's kingdom is the way of obedience, suffering and death, the way of the cross. Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow him.


BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 17:1--7, 15--16 (C)
John W. Clarke
These verses from Mark's gospel are a call to commitment, a call to sacrifice, and a call to give up everything of earthly value in life. To say these are difficult verses is truly an understatement. It is pretty clear that the disciples are not at all ready for what Jesus is saying. They are not ready for Jesus to die and they certainly are not ready to die themselves.

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