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Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A

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My wife and I were... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
My wife and I were leisurely strolling somewhere between the reptile house and the exotic bird displ
As human beings we have... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
As human beings we have short memories!
I am struck by the... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
I am struck by the paradox expressed in our text and repeatedly expressed throughout the Gospel.
The consequences of the motto... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
The consequences of the motto of the seventies has proven to be most costly in the eighties.
Sir, we wish to see... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
"Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Those who really see Jesus see him on the cross.
A hobo got a few... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
A hobo got a few dollars from a pastor. As usual the story was the heart of sincerity.
There are many kinds of... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
There are many kinds of crosses in our world. All crosses hurt, many kill.
The seminarian loved his pastor... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
The seminarian loved his pastor. The pastor had guided him through many an ordeal.
Some years ago I planted... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Some years ago I planted a row of tulip bulbs, expecting them to produce beautiful blooms in the ear
What is faith?br... -- 1 Timothy 1:11-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
What is faith?
In this reading Moses proves... -- Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
In this reading Moses proves to be the good theologian when he appeals to God not about his people's
One of the greatest church... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
One of the greatest church fathers, Augustine by name, spent his entire youth and young adult life a
By the time Moses came... -- Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
By the time Moses came down from the top of Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, they had already
A young woman came to... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
A young woman came to worship one day.
One of the greatest mysteries... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
One of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith is the call of God upon a human being's life.
Like a lost coin, I... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Like a lost coin, I lay in the streets of the city.
A tractor-trailer rig was... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
A tractor-trailer rig was stuck under an underpass.
People haven't changed much in... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
People haven't changed much in 2,000 years.
I once read the following... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
I once read the following story which is helpful on this Holy Cross Day: Officer Peter O'Hanlon was
It was the final out... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
It was the final out in the last game of the season, a hard fly to right field.
Most schools have just begun... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Most schools have just begun a new season of study. The name of the game is wisdom.
To turn is a basic... -- Ezekiel 33:1-11 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
"To turn" is a basic metaphor for the human condition.
The Church of the Resurrection... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
The Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) has within it not only Mt.
The custodian who locked up... -- Ezekiel 33:1-11 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
The custodian who locked up the church at night after meetings was a trustworthy gentleman.
Someone has described us as... -- Luke 15:1-1 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Someone has described us as the throw-away generation.

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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 September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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