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Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A

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Back in the 1960s, Fuzzy... -- Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Back in the 1960s, Fuzzy Thurston, a Valparaiso University graduate, was playing left guard for Vinc
In the book by Paul... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
In the book by Paul Reps, entitled Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, an example of wisdom is given
Some fears are healthy and... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Some fears are healthy and lifesaving such as the fear of snakes or fear of walking on an interstate
The baseball great Yogi Berra... -- Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
The baseball great Yogi Berra is reputed to have said, "You can observe a lot just by watching."
Chapter 1, verse 7 and... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Chapter 1, verse 7 and chapter 9, verse 10 begin the first section of Proverbs on the same note: "Th
The author of Wisdom felt... -- Wisdom 9:13-18 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
The author of Wisdom felt deep respect for the "counsel of God." He speaks reverently of the divine
The calculations of mortals are... -- Wisdom 9:13-18 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
The calculations of mortals are indeed timid and frequently wrong.
Growing up always poses certain... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Growing up always poses certain challenges.
During the recess of a... -- Philemon 1-21 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
During the recess of a trial, the defense attorney looked up to discover his client, the defendant i
As a member of the... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
As a member of the area ministerial association, Pastor Dan was asked to preach at the local nursing
The grade school children last... -- Philemon 9-10, 12-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
The grade school children last year presented a puppet show for the public.
Little Tommy liked to play... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Little Tommy liked to play with mud.
David Dellinger said: We cannot... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
David Dellinger said: "We cannot say no to war without simultaneously saying yes to love and laughte
At least one of the... -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
At least one of the significant things about the story of the runaway slave, Onesimus, is his name.
Love does no wrong to... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Obviously, it depends on who we think our neighbors really are.
In the poem, Freedom Train... -- Philemon 9-10, 12-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
In the poem, Freedom Train, Langston Hughes wrote, "...
There is an old story... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
There is an old story about a man who desired peace in his life, so he went into a bar and loudly de
Family fights are awful. Mary... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Family fights are awful. Mary and her brother, Josh, had been very close growing up.
Forgive others seventy times seven... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Forgive others seventy times seven: it seems to be an impossibly high standard.
Every institution and company has... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Every institution and company has a grievance policy, a way to address problems that arise between c
There comes a point in... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
There comes a point in the Passover Haggadah that the story of the first Passover in Egypt is retold

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Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
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

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For September 28, 2025:
  • Money! Money! Money! by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. “This is the even-handed dealing of the world! There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind. He had a very healthy self-image and wasn’t concerned about how people might take him. At one of the graduation ceremonies, he stood at the podium, looked out over the huge crowd of people, shook his head, and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course), “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The lesson makes clear that God is present in the world of business, in our daily work.  John Wesley offered thoughtful reflections on the nature of work; he noted:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (vv. 14-15)

One morning last October, Bruce Klemm got up and sang a song to his wife, Virginia, as he has done every morning of the 42 years they have been married. Little did he know that within a few hours, he would be calling her to say goodbye.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar to illustrate the way in which we fail to notice those who are poor. In our worship today let us remember the poor and ask God to teach us a real concern for them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail notice some people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we deliberately leave people out.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we care only about ourselves.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Lent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 9-16.)

The writer of this psalm deftly employs a striking image, that at once offers us hope in times of trouble -- but at the same time, redefines for us what it means to be a human being in the world.

Schuyler Rhodes
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
It always amazes me when I read about a sports figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. I heard one player say to a reporter on Sports Center, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

Chrysanne Timm
As we conclude several weeks of readings in the book of the prophet Jeremiah and next week look at the companion text from the book of Lamentations, a common thread begins to emerge. It is the thread of grief. Jeremiah has been called by God to a truly thankless job -- that of accompanying the people of his homeland into a time of loss and grief. Because of decades of idolatry and treaties with neighboring nations, the people of Judah will lose the land God once graciously gave to their ancestors.
R. Robert Cueni
The lesson for today continues the discussion on the proper use of material possessions by describing what happens when a person tries to "serve both God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Today's Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus leaves us repulsed by the gory details, puzzled by the literal description of eternal life, and hopeful that the Lord didn't really mean all those terrible things about the punishment due us "Haves" for our treatment of the "Have Nots."

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Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some coins with me this morning. (Show the coins.) How many of these coins would it take to be rich? (Let them respond.) I think it would take millions of these coins before you would really be rich. How many of you would like to be rich? (Wait for show of hands.) I think most of us would like to be rich. What would you think if you had a wish that everything you touched turned to gold? (Let them respond.) You would soon have lots and lots of gold and you would quickly be very, very rich. There's a famous story about a man who had

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