Login / Signup

Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C

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

George Hunter tells the story... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
George Hunter tells the story of a young mother who went to see a counselor.
Recently the public was invited... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Recently the public was invited to send financial contributions to the President of the United State
The candidates had granted four... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
The candidates had granted four interviews while touring three different industrial sites during a b
After the end of the... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
After the end of the Falkland Islands war, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher asked Robert Run
On September 20, 1986, well... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
On September 20, 1986, well-known jockey Bill Shoemaker rode "Spectacular Bid" in the Woodward Stake
A gentleman had a rather... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
A gentleman had a rather simple operation but the wound refused to heal.
Who, given a chance, would... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Who, given a chance, would not be a monarch and "stand in the place of the great?" But, dreaming asi
Harry Chapin wrote a song... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Harry Chapin wrote a song in the 1970s called "The Rock" about a huge rock that sat high above the t
Semantitheraphy, that specialized school of... -- Proverbs 25:6-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Semantitheraphy, that specialized school of counseling which puts extra emphasis on the inner-relate
My friend sat with tears... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
My friend sat with tears in her eyes as she explained her experience in Rwanda.
HarvestInvitation is... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
HarvestInvitation is extended to participate,to join the feast already spread.
Thomas Wesu's story in some... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Thomas Wesu's story in some ways parallels Jesus' parable about the unrighteous steward, using quest
God never forgets anything? Even... -- Amos 8:4-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
God never forgets anything?
Jamie, fifteen, had never been... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Jamie, fifteen, had never been partnered with 58-year-old Mr.
What does it mean to... -- Amos 8:4-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
What does it mean to break the Sabbath law?
The Hungarian novelist, Ferenc Molnar... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
The Hungarian novelist, Ferenc Molnar, allowed his love of money to rob him of the joys of generosit
In one of the most... -- Amos 8:4-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
In one of the most trenchant insights into the nature of prophetic protest, Walter Brueggemann chara
There's a story of Henry... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
There's a story of Henry Ford, inventor of the automobile, that's strikingly similar to this tale of
Abraham Lincoln told this story... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Abraham Lincoln told this story about a king who wanted to go hunting.
When Sarge, the dog of... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
When Sarge, the dog of Kathleen Eickwort of Ocala, Florida, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma
The local Roman Catholic priest... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
The local Roman Catholic priest of the largest parish in the county tells that for several years his
Nearly a century ago, in... -- Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Nearly a century ago, in a mental institution outside Boston, a young girl known as "Little Annie" w
The missionary was prepared to... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
The missionary was prepared to baptize the class of converts into the faith.
True mediators are of rare... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
True mediators are of rare noe in the world.
Like Israel in captivity, African... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
Like Israel in captivity, African-Americans felt crushed, a people crying out in a strange land.

Intercession

Prayer

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 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture -the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response – to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL