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Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A

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Children's Activity

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One pearl -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
The kingdom -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
An image of God's kingdom -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
During our sermon time we discussed the lesson for today using dot-to-dot image.
The kingdom of Heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus gave many illustrations about the
The kingdom of heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus used many similes -- especially
"Going fishing" and "A treasure hunt" -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Parents and Teachers: Here are two games geared to different age groups.
Heaven's pearls -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Materials:

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Bulletin (ages 8-10) -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Bulletin (ages 5-7) -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A

Children's sermon

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God's Math -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2023
Object: A blank piece of poster paper, markers, and the attached list of numbers.
Our Rising Faith -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2020
“He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
The Kingdom Of Surprises -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Arley K. Fadness -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2017
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the
Guide to Heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
The Point: Jesus wants us to know what the kingdom of heaven is like.
One pearl -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of
How far? -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor
Close to Jesus -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
The kingdom -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in
Nothing can separate us -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Welcome back! Today we're going to talk about how close to us God is. Can anyone tell me?
An image of God's kingdom -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Hello again! (hold up the poster) Have any of you ever drawn dot-to-dot pictures? They're fun.
Inseparable! -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning! How many of you were here in church last
The kingdom of Heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning! I want to ask you a question this morning.
It fits! -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning! Who can tell me what this is? (Let them answer.)
The kingdom of heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Jesus often used object lessons like we do here this morning.
Help for my weakness -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you love to watch
God's hidden treasure -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. You've probably heard stories

The Immediate Word

The Kingdom of Heaven is Hot -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 119:129-136, 1 Kings 3:5-12 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2023
For July 30, 2023:
Hear the Voices of Peoples Long Silenced -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39 -- Thomas Willadsen, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2020
For July 26, 2020:
Secrets And Lies -- Genesis 29:15-28, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39 -- Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed, Beth Herrinton-Hodge -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2017
We all have secrets -- things that we would rather keep hidden from others...
What We Fail To Mention -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39 -- Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2014
The opening section of Psalm 105 -- the lectionary’s primary psalm selection for this coming week
The Treat In The Trick -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
This week our lectionary passage from Genesis brings us the strange story of Jacob being tricked by
The Good News Is Always Present -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39, Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC, Scott Suskovic -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Bad news seems to be inevitable these days, and in a world of media saturation, it is difficult, if

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The Kingdom of Heaven is Hot -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 119:129-136, 1 Kings 3:5-12 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, George Reed, Quantisha Mason-Doll, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2023
For July 30, 2023:
God's Math -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2023
Object: A blank piece of poster paper, markers, and the attached list of numbers.
Our Rising Faith -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2020
“He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
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:

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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.

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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.

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