Login / Signup

Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - 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

Michael Kirwan, a 52-year... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1999
Michael Kirwan, a 52-year-old Washington, D.C., man, has given his life to befriending and helping t
I, Nathan, take you, Katherine... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
"I, Nathan, take you, Katherine, to be my wife. And I promise ...
That's a really fine quilt... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
"That's a really fine quilt!" Mitzy exclaimed to Susan as they entered Diane's home for the educatio
Back in pioneer days, houses... -- Romans 11:33-36 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
Back in pioneer days, houses and hotels were few and far between.
Young children are often amazed... -- Romans 11:33-36 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
Young children are often amazed at their parents' knowledge.
For many chapters Saint Paul... -- Romans 11:33-36 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
For many chapters Saint Paul has built his theology one brick at a time.
As I visited with a... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
As I visited with a woman in the hospital, she remarked about her illness, "I guess we all have our
A pastor friend told me... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
A pastor friend told me of an experience he had with a member of his choir.
A deeply committed Christian minister... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
A deeply committed Christian minister wanted to be active in carrying out Christ's statement to any
As he approached the homeless... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
As he approached the homeless shelter in the center city, Terry was apprehensive.
The Hispanic community around Bensenville... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
The Hispanic community around Bensenville, Illinois, found out that the Ku Klux Klan was planning a
Years ago a newspaperman visited... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
Years ago a newspaperman visited the Oakland Raiders training camp at Santa Rosa, California, to int
I once saw a saying... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
I once saw a saying on a church bulletin board that read: "Character is not made in crisis, it is on
A teenager once asked an... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
A teenager once asked an older Christian who had the glow of a saint, "I'd give the world to have an
It is human nature to... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1996
It is human nature to fight back. We do not like to be forced to take anything off anyone.
One cannot read of blessing... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
One cannot read of blessing those who persecute you, without recalling the life of Maximilian Kolbe
A father had to continually... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
A father had to continually discipline his small sons for fighting.
A young man was involved... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
A young man was involved in a serious car accident. He suffered a brain injury.
Jake and Larry were having... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Jake and Larry were having a disagreement and Jake was laying out the facts to Larry.
There is nothing like the... -- Jeremiah 28:1-9 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
There is nothing like the truth to pave the way for a secure future.
Take up your cross and... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
"Take up your cross and follow me."
Stories about false prophets abound... -- Jeremiah 28:1-9 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Stories about false prophets abound.
The greatest danger facing people... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
The greatest danger facing people of faith, and the institution of the church which houses their his
Silence is the perfectest herald... -- Jeremiah 28:1-9 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
"Silence is the perfectest herald of joy," Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing.
What does it profit us... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
What does it profit us to gain the world and lose our lives, or to gain great fame and power, only t

Intercession

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
110+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Ascension
25 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
22 – Children's Sermons / Resources
18 – Worship Resources
23 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
29 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
28 – Worship Resources
32 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Trinity Sunday
27 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
For May 9, 2021:
  • One Nation Under God? by Tom Willadsen — What would the United States look like if we truly were “one nation under God?” What would it be like to live in a place where everyone was treated as one who has been “born of God?”
  • Dying Is Easy by Dean Feldmeyer — Dying is easy; living the gospel is hard.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
“Waking Up to Racism” by John Sumwalt
“Twists and Turns” by Frank Ramirez

 
Waking Up to Racism
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 98

Let the floods clap their hands;
    let the hills sing together for joy
 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity. (vv. 8-9)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the mid-1960s, a popular song declared, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of.”1 It was an era of both national and international unrest. And the American landscape was reeling from the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and opposition to both. Amidst headlines so marked by unrest and division, therefore, the sentiment of the song struck a chord with an American audience. 
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48
Prejudice is always wrong. Nat King Cole is a well-known artist who was the first African American to host his own national television program. In 1948, he purchased a beautiful home in an exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood. When the local neighborhood association confronted him and informed him it didn’t want any undesirables to move in, Cole responded, “Neither do I. If I see any coming in here, I’ll be the first to complain.” He lived in that house until his death in 1965.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (vv. 9-12)

Hi, everyone! (Let them respond.)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus gave up his life for us. In our worship today let us explore how to love one another as he has loved us.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our love for each other is thin and pale.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we pretend to love but fail to care.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we don't know how to love.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jo Perry-sumwalt
One evening, when I was 26 years old, beleagered by guilt for acknowledged sins, I was deep into an hour-long prayer of repentance. In despair, I grieved that I had broken the commandments and that I was not worthy of God's love.

Near me lay the Bible, unused and unfamiliar. I had never, ever read from the Bible. Yet my hands reached out and took the Bible to open it. I knew not where, nor why. But my hands knew the way. They opened to John 15:9-11 and as my eyes began to read, my mind knew the meaning with clarity. My eyes read verse 10 first:
Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
God's love brings us together.

Collect of the Day
It is noted that God has prepared great joy for those who love Him. Petitions are then offered that such love may be poured into the hearts of the faithful so that they may obtain these promises. Justification as a reward for our deeds (love) is communicated by this prayer.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 98
Stan Purdum
(See Christmas Day, Cycles A and B, for alternative approaches.)

Richard E. Gribble
Once upon a time a great and powerful king ruled over a vast territory. There was something very strange about this kingdom, however -- everything was the same. The people ate the same food, drank the same drink, wore the same clothes, and lived in the same type of homes. The people even did all the same work. There was another oddity about this place. Everything was gray -- the food, the drink, the clothes, the houses; there were no other colors.

Special Occasion