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Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A

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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.
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
Predictions are tricky business. They... -- Jeremiah 28:1-9 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Predictions are tricky business.
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
Every Thanksgiving, Royce and Mary... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Every Thanksgiving, Royce and Mary made it a point to have a needy person or a couple to dinner.
The pleasure of pride is... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
The pleasure of pride is like the pleasure of scratching.
Perhaps there has been no... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Perhaps there has been no more worthy recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize than Mother Teresa of India
There once was a man... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
There once was a man who was given the special gift of preaching by God.
Somebody had to knock down... -- Ezekiel 19:1-9, 25-29 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Somebody had to knock down this idea of a retributive justice that spans the generations.
There is a story of... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
There is a story of a proud woodpecker who was pecking away at an old, dead tree when the sky blacke
Bob Uecker has probably made... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Bob Uecker has probably made more money as a baseball broadcaster and personality in commercials tha
Famed American humorist, Odgen Nash... -- Ezekiel 18:1-9, 25-29 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Famed American humorist, Odgen Nash, quipped, "Why did the Lord give us so much quickness of motion
Our text equates a treaty... -- Isaiah 28:14-22 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Our text equates a "treaty with death" with the lies and deceit and a firm and strong foundation wit
The ultimate way was established... -- Ezekiel 18:1-9, 25-29 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
The ultimate way was established by our Lord upon the Cross.
When a people step outside... -- Isaiah 28:14-22 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
When a people step outside of their protective traditions and try to embrace others' actions and cus
I cannot vouch for the... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this particular illustration, but I know the principle it illustr
Typology is a very ancient... -- Isaiah 28:14-22 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Typology is a very ancient form of interpretation in which one takes the images that are used in the
The Proverbs are filled with... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
The Proverbs are filled with wisdom.
A backpacker had been informed... -- Isaiah 28:14-22 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
A backpacker had been informed by a local "expert" hiker, a short, thin, and gaunt old man who had h
Protocol is the name given... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Protocol is the name given to ceremony and etiquette when heads of state travel to visit another hea
Stevens Danish, chairman of the... -- Hebrews 13:1-8 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Stevens Danish, chairman of the psychology department at Virginia Commonwealth University says, "By
In the Greek Orthodox Maundy... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
In the Greek Orthodox Maundy Thursday footwashing in Jerusalem, a large crowd of worshipers fills th
In traveling about the city... -- Hebrews 13:1-8 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
In traveling about the city or countryside most of us rely, often more than we realize, upon "landma
Aesop's fable, The Fox and... -- Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Crow," illustrates the folly of human pride.
Lisa Alther's novel Original Sins... -- Hebrews 13:1-8 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A
Lisa Alther's novel Original Sins is a tiresome recital of lurid descriptions of violence and

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
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32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For September 7, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him…. (vv. 28-29)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pair of heavy gloves you might use to protect your hands when you are working or gardening.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

Schuyler Rhodes
It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
Paul E. Robinson
Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
Gary L. Carver
The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

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