Login / Signup

Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - 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

Doctors, lawyers, and theologians... -- Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Doctors, lawyers, and theologians, as well as ordinary men and women, are facing one of the mo
How strange the completely opposite... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
How strange the completely opposite perceptions we may have about a person!
There is an old myth... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
There is an old myth that says when the end times come a golden thread will be drawn across a valley
One of the loveliest unspoiled... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
One of the loveliest unspoiled holy sites in modern Israel is a national park at Banyas, where one o
There is only one gospel... -- Galatians 1:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
There is only one gospel of Christ but in its proclamation through the centuries the good news is ex
Part of what this dramatic... -- 1 Kings 19:9-14 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Part of what this dramatic story of Elijah teaches us is that there are often circumstances in life
Many Christians today are nonplussed... -- Galatians 1:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Many Christians today are nonplussed by the society to which they should address the gospel.
When a very important message... -- 1 Kings 19:9-14 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
When a very important message comes to us, it does not have to be shouted or presented in large prin
In the life of every... -- Galatians 1:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
In the life of every Christian there comes a time when she or he will try to revise the gospel in an
The Lord promises to pour... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The Lord promises to pour out upon his people the "spirit of compassion and supplication." Sometimes
When the equipment at the... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
When the equipment at the photo lab was working properly, the job almost became monotonous as the pr
Pat is a Methodist from... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Pat is a Methodist from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who went to a Lutheran University in Columbus, Ohio, w
The Christian Church (Disciples of... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) recently changed its procedures for the election of a gen
Homes of famous people, which... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Homes of famous people, which are open to the public, draw numerous visitors each year.
There is an old legend... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
There is an old legend, of mysterious origin.
It is the hardest thing... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is the hardest thing in the world to have good news turn into bad news.
Although the fulfillment of Zechariah's... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Although the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy is evidently for the future, his words reveal an et
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once sent a telegram to the exclusive Friar's Club in Hollywood, to w
Could it be that we... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Could it be that we have placed the wrong emphasis by spending much time and effort in "getting righ
A time of public mourning... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
A time of public mourning becomes fixed in the minds of those who experience it.
Lawyers have a reputation for... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Lawyers have a reputation for being wordy.
From the hellish scenes of... -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
From the hellish scenes of World War II in Poland comes the story of Yitzak, a Jewish physician who,
Their ears were pierced. His... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Their ears were pierced.
A child under the age... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
A child under the age of 18 is a minor.
In my fourth year of... -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
In my fourth year of theology I was blessed to have a gifted teacher who was able to draw out of us

Intercession

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

Stories

Worship

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

CSSPlus

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
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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL