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Good Friday - B

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Children's Activity

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Bitter medicine -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B
Teachers or Parents: The "bitter cup" Jesus had to take goes against our sense of fairness.

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Activity Bulletin: John 18:1--19:42 -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - B

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Activity Bulletin: John 19:17-30 -- John 19:17-30 -- Good Friday - B

Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Good Friday Gifts -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
All of today’s texts have a gift for our spiritual journey on this day.
Faces at a Funeral -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Today is Good Friday. Or Death Day. Or the day of tragedy.
The tomb was sealed and the men went home -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
As we come to Good Friday, I am reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Climbing in the light -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Cathy Venkatesh -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
The story of God's love in the Bible focuses on Jesus. But Jesus did not appear in a vacuum.
It's all about Jesus -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
The story of God's love in the Bible focuses on Jesus. But Jesus did not appear in a vacuum.
The way up is down -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2000
The shroud of death covers our world. The sanctuary is dark, and the Table bare.
The triumph of the cross -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
Imagine this scenario: a small religious group in America catches the headlines with their novel bel
Good? -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 1991
What is good about Good Friday?
Suffering -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B
It is clear that the writers of the New Testament accept the suffering role of God's Messiah and wri

Free Access

Faces at a Funeral -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Today is Good Friday. Or Death Day. Or the day of tragedy.

Children's bulletin

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Activity Bulletin: John 18:1--19:42 -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - B

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Activity Bulletin: John 19:17-30 -- John 19:17-30 -- Good Friday - B

Children's sermon

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It Is Over! -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
Object: A big rock.* * *
What’s So Good About It? -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They
Finished! -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' Then he bowed his head and gav
When Friends Betray Us -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Anna Shirey -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is probably one of the darkest lessons we will have to teach our childre
Written down! -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B
God says that a day is coming when he will put his laws in
Bitter medicine -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B
Peter and the other followers of Jesus didn't want Jesus to suffer.

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2024) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2021) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2018) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Frank Ramirez, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
Isaiah 52:13-55:12
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2015) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Frank Ramirez, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2012) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Ken and Carol Dorushka went to Safeway that morning... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
Ken and Carol Dorushka went to Safeway that morning to get a few items for lunch and to greet their
From the early years of the church... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
From the early years of the church people of faith have been responding to the call of the writer of
I love going to concerts... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
I love going to concerts. It always thrills me to hear bands I love playing my favorite songs live.
There seems each year that there is a doomsayer... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
There seems each year that there is a doomsayer who is predicting the end of the world.
Isaiah 52:13--53:12... -- John 18:1--19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25, Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Ronald Dahl wrote a short... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
Ronald Dahl wrote a short story called "Lamb to the Slaughter," about a woman who killed her husband
Two movies have been made... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
Two movies have been made adapting Elleston Trevor's novel The Flight of the Phoenix. In a sa
The prophet Isaiah offers a... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
The prophet Isaiah offers a glimmer of hope, assuring the people of Israel that salvation and a new
Once there was a priest... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
Once there was a priest who struggled with forgiveness. He lived in the Philippines.
By Good Friday morning the... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
By Good Friday morning the disciples might very well have asked themselves, "How could everything go
She had a way about... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
She had a way about her, there was no doubting that.
Part of the reason this... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
Part of the reason this Good Friday gospel speaks to us is because of the way it is told.
When we were children, my... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
When we were children, my neighbor and I went hunting with our fathers.
Tonight we stand at the... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
Tonight we stand at the foot of the cross.
As a symbol, the cross... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
As a symbol, the cross has shown up in a number of surprising places, but as far as we know, it was
Years ago, some island missionaries... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
Years ago, some island missionaries brought the gospel to places it had never been before.
In the unforgettable musical, Man... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
In the unforgettable musical, Man of La Mancha, we meet Aldonza, a waitress by day and a harlot by n
Czeslaw Milosz, U. S. winner... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
Czeslaw Milosz, U. S.

StoryShare

Deliverance from Hell -- 1 Peter 4:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
For this is reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been jud
Not Forsaken -- John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Contents“Not Forsaken” by John Sumwalt

Poems

SermonStudio

Good Friday -- John 19:17-30 -- Andrew Daughters -- Good Friday - B -- 1990
Is it nothing to you that He hung on the cross?Is it nothing to you who pass by,

Prayer

SermonStudio

The triumphant tragedy of the cross -- John 18:1Ä19:42 -- Dennis Koch -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
Gospel Note: More than the Synoptic accounts, John consistently views the

Preaching

SermonStudio

Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - B -- 2011
Theme of the DayA vulnerable God struggles to overcome our sin.
Psalm 22 -- Psalm 22 -- Schuyler Rhodes -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
The opening words of this psalm are etched in the minds of millions of people.
Good Friday -- Psalm 22 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Good Friday - B -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see Good Friday, Cycle A; Lent 2, Cycle B; and Pro
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Carlos Wilton -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Revised Common Isaiah 52:13--53:12 Hebrews 10:16-25 John 18:1--19:42
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Good Friday - B -- 2001
We might call this reading from Second Isaiah "The Great Reversal," because that is what it is about
Good Friday -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Isaiah 52:13„53:12 (C, RC, E)
Healing and eternal life through the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Good Friday - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: Healing and eternal life through the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, God's
Good Friday -- Psalm 22:1-18 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me,
Good Friday -- John 18:1-19:42, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- George M. Bass -- Good Friday - B -- 1990
The readings:John 18:1--19:42
Good Friday -- John 18:1-19:42, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- George M. Bass -- Good Friday - B -- 1990
The readings:John 18:1--19:42
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Good Friday - B
Seasonal Theme

Sermon

SermonStudio

Out of Control -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John Jamison -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Note to the preacher:
From the Courtroom to the Cross -- A King's Journey -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John W. Clarke -- Good Friday - B -- 2011
John records more details of the crucial events of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus than any other
God's Incredible Gift -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- David H. Webb -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
The servant song in our Old Testament lesson from Isaiah has been the traditional Old Testament read
A Death On A Long Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ken Lentz -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
After dying in a car crash, three friends went to heaven for orientation.
Silence And Darkness -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John S. Smylie -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
How Do We Make Sense Of This? -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Nancy Kraft -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
Good Friday is a hard day. It's depressing and it's confusing.
It's All About Jesus -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ron Lavin -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
It's All About Jesus
Dave, Tell Me About The Cross -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- John T. Ball -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Dave, having just finished seminary, and before leaving for doctoral studies on the west coast, drov
Where Are You From? -- John 18:1--19:42 -- David T. Ball -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Whenever we travel, we come into contact with new people.
Cross Connections -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Good Friday - B -- 2002
Good Friday is not an easy day on which to preach, nor is what happened on Good Friday easy to expla
Stop The Offerings! -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Paul E. Robinson -- Good Friday - B -- 2002
Go with me to the year 1968, to the basement of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Silver Spri
The Cross Reminds Us Who Jesus Is -- Who We Are -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- John A. Stroman -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
The writer of Hebrews has been building up to this moment.
Held In His Arms -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Paul W. Kummer -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for collec
Junk Food And Holy Tables Or The Cup Of Good Friday -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Donna E. Schaper -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Bread and wine go with communion the way turkey goes with Thanksgiving. They belong to each other.
The Sadness Of God -- Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel tells a haunting story from the concentration camps.
The Spice Of Death -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Good Friday - B -- 1996
Good Friday draws us to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ that we might concentrate and meditate on
Mr. Sandman -- John 18:1Ä19:42 -- Charles Michael Mills -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
Mr. Sandman cowers in craven fear near a blazing fire before
All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Durwood L. Buchheim -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
In the middle 1960s, a seminary student interned in a Lutheran
In Turning to God -- John 18:2-3; 25-27 -- Edward R. Mangelsdorf -- Good Friday - B -- 1975
Picture in your mindOur Lord and His disciples at the Last Supper.
Death Leads To Life -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Richard E. Gribble -- Good Friday - B
Long ago on a high mountaintop three trees were speaking about their future dreams.

Free Access

Silence And Darkness -- John 18:1--19:42 -- John S. Smylie -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Stories

StoryShare

Deliverance from Hell -- 1 Peter 4:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Good Friday - B -- 2024
For this is reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been jud
Not Forsaken -- John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- John E. Sumwalt, Frank Ramirez -- Good Friday - B -- 2021
Contents“Not Forsaken” by John Sumwalt
For Our Sakes -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Psalm 22, John 18:1--19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Good Friday - B -- 2018
Contents “For Our Sakes” by Peter Andrew Smith
The Bitter End -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Psalm 22 -- Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Good Friday - B -- 2015
Contents "The Bitter End" by Keith Hewitt
Incarnation -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, Psalm 22 -- C. David Mckirachan, Sandra Herrmann, Frank Ramirez, Keith Hewitt -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
Contents"Regrets" by Keith Hewitt "Incarnation" by C. David McKirachan
The Lamb -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, Psalm 22 -- Keith Hewitt, David O. Bales, Larry Winebrenner, Peter Andrew Smith, Sandra Herrmann -- Good Friday - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat’s Up This Week "The Lamb" by Keith Hewitt

SermonStudio

Sunday's Comin' -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- David E. Leininger -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast." "Where there's life, there's hope." You might have heard
He Took It All Back -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
He Took It All Back
An Hour To Think -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Constance Berg -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Tim wanted to get home. It would be so good to see Meg and the children again.
The Power Of The Cross -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- John E. Sumwalt, Wendy Wosoba -- Good Friday - B
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws

Worship

SermonStudio

The Darkness Sweeps Around Me -- Psalm 22 -- Clyde W. Wentzell -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
1. The darkness sweeps around me; Anguish on me descends;
Theme: Believe It Or Not! -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25) One:
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Good Friday - B -- 2005
Call To WorshipSelected verses from Psalm 22. Leader:
The Suffering Servant -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Good Friday - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: He was despised and rejected by others.
By A Perversion Of Justice -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, John 18:1-19:42 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Call To WorshipLeader: He was wounded for our transgressions.
The Last Days -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
The events surrounding the last hours of Jesus' life. -- John 18:1-19:42, John 19:17-30 -- Good Friday - B -- 1990
Again, use an order of worship different from your usual order.Suggestion:
The Last Hours of Jesus' Life -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Wayne H. Keller -- Good Friday - B
To prepare for Good Friday, reread the material for Ash Wednesday.

Free Access

The Darkness Sweeps Around Me -- Psalm 22 -- Clyde W. Wentzell -- Good Friday - B -- 2008
1. The darkness sweeps around me; Anguish on me descends;
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For November 2, 2025:
Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For November 2, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message involves roleplay. You will need a chair for Zach to stand on, unless it is ok for him to stand on a front pew. For the best fun, you will also want to have an adult volunteer play the role of Jesus and walk in when it is time. Whether he is in costume is up to you.

* * *
John Jamison
Object: You will need one or more pictures of people recognized as saints. You may find some pictures by Googling “public domain pictures of saints” and printing images from the results.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144
Walter Elwell in the Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook notes of righteousness that it is, “Right standing, specifically before God. Among the Greeks, righteousness was an ethical virtue. Among the Hebrews it was a legal concept; the righteous man was the one who got the verdict of acceptability when tried at the bar of God’s justice.” God is a righteous God, even when is people are not righteous.
Frank Ramirez
One of the features of Synagogue worship is the Shema. The Hebrew word is “Hear!” and is the opening for Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” God’s people are commanded to “hear” these words. They come from the Lord. And these three scriptures invite us to hear God and each other, something that is lacking in our society today.
Wayne Brouwer
Fred Craddock tells of a vacation encounter in the Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee years ago that moved him deeply. He and his wife took supper one evening in a place called the Black Bear Inn. One side of the building was all glass, open to a magnificent mountain view. Glad to be alone, the Craddocks were a bit annoyed when an elderly man ambled over and struck up a nosey conversation: “Are you on vacation?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do?”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 and Psalm 149

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. (vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.
Frank Ramirez
Call them the good old days. Call it the Golden Age. It’s not unusual for people to look back in their youth, or to the youth of their country, as somehow more perfect, honorable, or simpler. C.S. Lewis was always skeptical about claims that chocolate was better in one’s youth. It wasn’t better. Our taste buds were stronger and more receptive.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
The Roman Catholic Church's canonisation of Edith Stein some years ago, fuelled considerable controversy. Edith Stein was born and bred into a Jewish family, becoming a Roman Catholic Christian at the age of 31. She was also a leading German intellectual in the early thirties, during the run-up to World War 2, although she gave up that career in order to become a Carmelite nun. But she didn't deny her Jewish roots, for in 1933 she petitioned the Pope, Pious XI to write an encyclical in defence of the Jews.
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus didn't reject anyone, even those who were liars and cheats. By a simple act of friendship Jesus turned Zaccheus' life around. In our worship today let us consider friendship and all that it means.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, there are some people I don't like.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I reject.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I keep out of my circle of friends.
Lord, have mercy.


Reading:

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Theme For The Day
The world offers many blessings, but none of these things will save us: only the blessing of God in Jesus Christ can do that.

Old Testament Lesson
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Daniel's Apocalyptic Dream
Perry H. Biddle, Jr.
Comments on the Lessons
John W. Clarke
This chapter of Luke brings us ever closer to the end of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus enters Jericho, just fifteen miles or so from the holy city of Jerusalem. It is here that Jesus transforms the life of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. This is one of the few stories that is peculiar to Luke and is a wonderful human-interest story. The fact that Zacchaeus is willing to climb a tree to see Jesus is a clear indication that he really wanted to see and meet the carpenter from Nazareth. His eagerness to see Jesus is rewarded in a very special way.
Scott A. Bryte
Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
Mark Ellingson
This is a story written for people who had been or were about to be persecuted, if not enslaved. (The book of Daniel was probably written in the mid-second century B.C. during a period of Seleucid [Syrian] domination in Palestine.) It tells them and us how their ancestors had once faced a similar slavery under the oppression of the Babylonians centuries earlier. The implication was that if these ancestors could endure and overcome such bondage, so could they and so can we.
Gary L. Carver
Ulysses S. Grant fought many significant battles as commander of the Union forces in the War Between the States. He also served as President of the United States where he probably engaged in as many battles as he did while he was a general. Toward the end of his life he fought his toughest battle -- with cancer and death.

Special Occasion

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