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Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A

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Children's Activity

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Good works -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME
Actions are important -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The authority for Christians -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Materials Heavy construction paper or poster board Markers Glue
"Lip service is not enough" -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Teachers or Parents: Promises need to be kept. God always
Saying or doing? -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Teachers or Parents: Today's theme is about hypocrisy --
The puzzle of two sons -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Teachers: This week's Bible story is about a father and two

Gospel Grams 2

Children's Activity Bulletin: Matthew 21:23-32 -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A

Gospel Grams 1

Children's Activity Bulletin: Matthew 21:23-32 -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A

Children's sermon

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Two Sons -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- John Jamison -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2023
Object: This message will include a simple role-play activity.
Two Sons! -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- John Jamison -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2020
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (v. 31)
Who's In Charge? -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Wesley T. Runk -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2017
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the e
Actions Reflect Our Words -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
The Point: Words alone are not enough. Action is needed.
Rise -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Good works -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
"Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly
Special gifts -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for
Actions are important -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
He answered, "I will not"; but later he changed his mind and went. The father
Knee-bending faith -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you brought a friend today?
The authority for Christians -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Today, I brought with me a big book. Does anyone know what is in it?
It needs power -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Good morning! Can any of you tell me what this is? (Show the
Lip service is not enough -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Good morning! In the Gospel reading today, we heard Jesus
A nice tune -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Good morning! How many of you like to play a musical
Saying or doing? -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
A girl named Sara told her mother she would clean her room.
Think thoughts of Jesus -- Philipians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
(Editor's note: This is a continuation of the theme used in the second lesson from Proper 20.)
Do as you say -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Do any of you have invisible

The Immediate Word

Not-So-Happy Campers -- Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-13, Exodus 17:1-7, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16, Psalm 25:1-9 -- Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Bethany Peerbolte, Ron Love, Mary Austin, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2020
For September 27, 2020:
A Blueprint for Unity -- Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-13, Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16, Psalm 25:1-9 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Beth Herrington-Hodge -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2017
In this week’s lectionary epistle passage, Paul invokes the example of Jesus as model of behavior fo
By What Authority? -- Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-13, Exodus 17:1-7 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Ron Love, Mary Austin, Leah Lonsbury, George Reed -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
As if the NFL didn’t already have enough on its hands dealing with the uproar over the video clip
Power Grab -- Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
Judging by events in Washington, the French proverb seems more true than ever: "The more things chan
Dead Or Alive -- Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 -- George L. Murphy -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Dear fellow preachers,
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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