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Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A

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Do you look like Jesus? -- Romans 8:28-30 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what Jesus
Stuck on Jesus -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been lost in a store from your mom or dad?
Heaven's pearls -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever been shopping with someone?

The Immediate Word

Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
William J.
NULL -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
In today's instant information culture, we can easily see how something can grow from the proverbial
At a gloomy time in... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
At a gloomy time in his life, when he was near bankruptcy after a vain attempt at
You know the old saying... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
You know the old saying, "What goes around comes around."
Pam was at a turning... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Pam was at a turning point in her life. She signed up for an in-depth Bible study at a
Geoffrey Chaucer told a marvelous... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Geoffrey Chaucer told a marvelous tale of a trickster getting tricked. Actually, he had the
A friend told me of... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
A friend told me of a perfect prayer he'd heard. His congregation was experiencing strife.
Over our fifty-plus years... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Over our fifty-plus years of marriage, my wife has prepared many great meals. She's
For many, their favorite verse... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
For many, their favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 8:28: "We know that all things
An antiques dealer is making... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
An antiques dealer is making the rounds of the garage sales, looking for merchandise.
About thirty years ago, a... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
About thirty years ago, a farmer in Xian (SHEE-on), China, was plowing his field when
Jane was running late one... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Jane was running late one afternoon for an appointment and as she drove into the church
The mustard seed, though tiny... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
The mustard seed, though tiny, produces a plant that can accommodate many birds. The
Genesis 29:15-28 At... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39, Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Genesis 29:15-28
My husband is one of... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
My husband is one of a growing number of people who collect PEZ.
Dick was nervous. His oldest... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Dick was nervous. His oldest child, 16-year-old Sarah, was going out on her first date.
Jerry lived in the inner... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Jerry lived in the inner-city area of Cleveland, Ohio.
Jesus loves me, this I... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
To have the Spirit intercede... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
To have the Spirit intercede for us when prayer becomes difficult or impossible is not altogether un
Thomas Aquinas was one of... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest theologians in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
In his book, Disciple, Juan... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
In his book, Disciple, Juan Carlos Ortiz describes the cost of becoming a Christian.
A story in the newspaper... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
A story in the newspaper in March of 1998 told of a Northern Indiana resident who lived on the shore
Jack and Irene had been... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
Jack and Irene had been married in our church in 1937, and they'd been faithful members ever since.

The Immediate Word

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

Intercession

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Constructing Community -- Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 128, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Chris Ewing -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
The shock of betrayal that Jacob experienced the morning after his wedding resonates all too easily

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Problem With Finding The Kingdom -- Matthew 13:44-52 -- William J. Carl, III -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
I don't know about you, but when I finished reading these parables of the kingdom, I wasn't so sure

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For October 5, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
What kind of poetry is written in the midst of war? Gentle poetry. Brutal poetry. Shocking poetry. Haunting poetry.

It was expected on all sides that the First World War would end quickly — but it slogged on for four long years. How many died? You’ll get as many answers as the number of sources you check, but let’s say twenty million for the sake of a number. Each one of those was a human being, each life cut short was irreplaceable, each one a cherished child of God.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
Not all suffering is equal.

We know, of course, that some pain is worse than other pain and some suffering is more difficult to endure. I have discovered, for example, that I classify some troubles as “headaches” while other troubles are “heartaches.” The “headache” type of suffering is a nuisance, no doubt, but it is not nearly so painful to me as the “heartache” type of suffering. Troubles at work are headaches; troubles at home are heartaches.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Lamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of this lesson is a phrase for everyone to remember. If you want to add a bit of interest, you could print that phrase on a card or ribbon to give to each child. For the most impact, create one for every member of the congregation and have the children hand them out after the message.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

His friends and followers said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" In our worship today let us explore faith and ask that he might increase our faith too.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I feel anxious and worried.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to believe that you will always care for me.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I envy other people because of their great faith.

Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
The little-known book of Lamentations was likely composed in the ashes of Jerusalem, following the Babylonian invasion which carried the leaders of the Jewish community off into exile. It speaks to the concerns of the Jerusalem community for their long-term survival under occupation by a foreign power. While the book's title sounds grim, and its setting is dark, the book is fundamentally life-affirming. It is a testimony to the steadfast love of God that may be discovered through renewed faith, even in troubled times.

Lee Ann Dunlap
Some records are made to be broken -- like Olympic speed skating; Cal Ripkin, Jr.'s, most consecutive baseball game appearances; and North Dakota's longest cow chip toss. Other records we'd prefer to let stand -- the world's deadliest disaster, or the most active hurricane season, for instance. Years 2004 and 2005 will probably make the books as among the most dramatic in weather history. Hurricanes pounded the southern coast of the USA. Floods and blizzards battered the midwest. Earthquakes devastated parts of central Asia.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
Ever since the sign went up on our property that our church was coming I've gotten phone calls from people asking when we'll have a church. I can be a smart aleck as some of you will attest and so I'm often quick to respond that we already have a church, we just don't have a building. "Well," they usually say, "give me a call when you get the building done; I'm not going to worship in a high school cafeteria." Before I can give my canned speech about the difference between a church and the building I realize I'm talking to a dead phone.
R. Kevin Mohr
It can be really depressing to listen to the news anymore. It doesn't matter which network you watch, everywhere you turn it's the same old bad news: natural and manmade disasters, the continuing conflicts in the Middle East and in Iraq and Afghanistan, medical miscues, entertainers gone wild and self-destructive, sports heroes disappointing us. Then there's a federal government that often seems to be, at best, incompetent or, at worst, corrupt. What makes it even more depressing is that at least 51% of us voted those currently in the White House and on Capitol Hill into office!
Gary L. Carver
You may have noticed that I read earlier from the King James Version of the Bible and not the New International Version from which I usually read. I read from a Bible that was given to me by my father which was passed on to him by his father. I read earlier from my Grandfather Carver's pulpit Bible from which he began preaching over ninety years ago and used for over forty years. Needless to say, when I accepted this Bible from my father I received it as a sacred trust.

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