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Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B

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When I was a child... -- 2 Samuel 12:1-14 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
When I was a child, I enjoyed watching a cartoonist on television.
The unity of the Spirit... -- Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
"... The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ..." Not uniformity, unity.
During the 1930s, a popular... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
During the 1930s, a popular Scottish student, known for his oratorical ability, was accepted as mini
A young man was very... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
A young man was very disappointed when the will of his wealthy uncle was read.
David H. C. Read, until... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
David H. C.
Passing the torch. Laying the... -- 2 Kings 2:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Passing the torch. Laying the mantle on a successor.
Earl Nightingale tells us of... -- 2 Kings 2:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Earl Nightingale tells us of a meeting in Berlin between a great English physiologist and a great Ge
A few years ago, there... -- 2 Kings 2:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
A few years ago, there was the film called The Natural based on Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel.
If you have not recently... -- 2 Kings 2:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
If you have not recently seen the Academy Award winning film, Chariots of Fire, the passage in 2 Kin
I give you my word... -- 2 Kings 4:42-44 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
"I give you my word of honor," one businesswoman said to another.
Recently I attended a conference... -- 2 Kings 4:42-44 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Recently I attended a conference that concluded with a communion service.
Elijah feeds 100 men with... -- 2 Kings 4:42-44 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Elijah feeds 100 men with a meager 20 barley loaves and some fresh ripe ears of corn.
Elisha had only 20 loaves... -- 2 Kings 4:42-44 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Elisha had only 20 loaves of bread and some heads of grain.
One of the stewardship programs... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
One of the stewardship programs making the rounds in churches is called Consecration Day.
Shortly after the battle began... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Shortly after the battle began, Matthew and Mike seemed to be at a distinct disadvantage in the snow
Some years ago a retired... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Some years ago a retired member of the congregation began the hobby of gem-cutting and stone-polishi
All that the Lord has... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
"All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." It is easy to promise, more diff
Often, Christians want what they... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Often, Christians want what they already have. Give me some experience of power.
The mid-watch is difficult... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
The "mid-watch" is difficult under any circumstances whether you are standing it as a hospital nurse
Mark Twain and his wife... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Mark Twain and his wife visited the Holy Land.
Even when in prayer Jesus... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Even when in prayer Jesus was looking out for his friends.
On the northwest shores of... -- John 6:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
On the northwest shores of the Sea of Galilee there is a grassy bit of land that juts out into the w
Elie Wiesel once told the... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Elie Wiesel once told the story of a man who is in a boat, out on the open sea. There are
The amazing thing about Richard... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
The amazing thing about Richard Nixon was the inner conflict he suffered with his
It started off innocently enough... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
It started off innocently enough, like any new hobby. Ed began "chatting" with people

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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
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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