Login / Signup

Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Children's Activity

Commentary

Children's bulletin

Children's Liturgy and Story

Children's sermon

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Urban ministry, a friend once... -- 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Urban ministry, a friend once explained, is done on a 500 to 1000 year plan.
Robert Heilbroner's book, An Inquiry... -- 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Robert Heilbroner's book, An Inquiry into the Human Prospect, begins with the chilling senten
I suspect that often we... -- Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14) -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
I suspect that often we may be standing in the presence of the living God and not realize it.
Two poems about spring seem... -- Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14) -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Two poems about spring seem to capture the sense of transition found in this biblical story.
The bishop was visiting in... -- Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14) -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
The bishop was visiting in a church one Sunday and delivering the sermon.
In Victor Hugo's novel, Les... -- Genesis 18:1-14 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
In Victor Hugo's novel, Les Miserables, Jean Vaijean, a convict who had spent nineteen years
Jane Addams, a social worker... -- Colossians 1:21-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Jane Addams, a social worker in the Chicago slums, did more to reduce crime among youth than any oth
We speak today often of... -- Colossians 1:21-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
We speak today often of healing as the restoring of wholeness in place of brokenness.
Watch an inexperienced hiker move... -- Colossians 1:21-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Watch an inexperienced hiker move along a new path and at some point you are bound to see it.
A tourist was visiting Africa... -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
A tourist was visiting Africa.
It is queer how it... -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
It is queer how it is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.
When Jacob got a promise... -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
When Jacob got a promise of God's presence and protection, he could not have known how much he'd nee
Dave and Mary could not... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Dave and Mary could not have any children.
It took 300 years, but... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
It took 300 years, but the Black Plague finally reached the quaint village of Eyam, England.
Sam Sharpe, a Creole slave... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Sam Sharpe, a Creole slave born in Jamaica in 1801, was the spark that lit the slave rebellion in Ja
Beginning golfers can be fun... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Beginning golfers can be fun to watch especially when there is a large group of people watching them
God is patient with the... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
God is patient with the unjust. Their just desserts may be delayed.
Wheat and tares, good and... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Wheat and tares, good and bad, lovable and unlovable, are all to grow and stay together.
A young man had just... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
A young man had just asked a young girl out on a date but was turned down.
In many families, but certainly... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
In many families, but certainly not all, there is an agreement in effect that the men of the house d
We are climbing Jacob's ladder... -- Genesis 28:10-19a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
We are climbing Jacob's ladder and every rung goes higher, higher.

Intercession

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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 July 6, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL