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Online Sermons

What is SermonSuite

SermonSuite, a division of CSS Publishing, is an online collection of professionally published lectionary and non-lectionary sermons, children's sermons, sermon illustrations, exegesis, homiletical resources, and worship resources which have been developed over the years to help pastors deliver relevant, high impact messages and worship resources.

This site's collection of professionally written, edited and published resources can be accessed online 24/7 giving pastors a versatile collection of fresh, innovative preaching and worship material for building dynamic messages that connect with your congregation and keep your pews filled.

Category  ▶ Sermons Children's
Material		 Illustrations Exegetical
Material		 Worship
Material
Subscription
▼              ▼		          
The Immediate Word Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
SermonStudio Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Emphasis     Yes Yes  
StoryShare Yes   Yes    
The Village Shepherd Yes Yes     Yes
CSSPlus   Yes      
Gospel Grams 1   Yes      
Gospel Grams 2   Yes      

Components

Click on any of the following component names to learn more...

     The Immediate Word

     SermonStudio

     Emphasis Online

     StoryShare

     The Village Shepherd

     CSS Plus

     Gospel Grams 1

     Gospel Grams 2


The Immediate Word

The Immediate Word a theological perspective on today's headlinesThe Immediate Word gives a theological perspective on today's headlines and popular culture for your sermon, children’s message, and worship service. The Immediate Word gives a theological perspective on today's headlines and popular culture.

Cutting Edge: THE IMMEDIATE WORD gives you the tools to be cutting edge ... to put you in touch with today's most critical issues and to aid you in crafting messages and presentations that will truly help your congregants understand the Gospel in the context of what is current and most important to them.

Collaborative: THE IMMEDIATE WORD is a unique collaboration of some of the sharpest, most contemporary clergy of our day in a web based service that gives you weekly information, inspiration, and presentation material.

Enabling: THE IMMEDIATE WORD will enable you to create messages about matters that your parishioners are discussing and concerned about.

Timely: THE IMMEDIATE WORD posts the topic of the week and a brief introduction on Monday and the final product on Tuesday afternoon, giving you time to digest the material and then incorporate them into your preparations for the coming Sunday service.

Satisfaction Guaranteed: THE IMMEDIATE WORD is not only guaranteed to satisfy you, we believe it will actually energize your ministry. We are so confident that you will find THE IMMEDIATE WORD to be such a great value that if you are not completely satisfied with the service we will refund the balance of your subscription payment, no questions asked.

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SermonStudio

SermonStudioSermonStudio, a flagship product of the site, is home to thousands of sermons, children’s messages, outlines, sermon illustrations, worship services, exigetical resources, dramas, prayers, preaching resources, and more.

Within this component, you will find high quality resources for all liturgical seasons from Advent/Christmas all the way through Thanksgiving. You’ll find lectionary and non-lectionary content as well as funeral and wedding homilies, communion and baptism homilies, special occasion messages and others based on Biblical and general themes.

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Emphasis Preaching Journal Commentary and illustrations based on the LectionaryEmphasis Preaching Journal provides in-depth, scripturally sound, lectionary-based commentary on weekly texts, plus thousands of illustrations to help you create riveting messages.

For each Sunday, Emphasis writers and editors delve into the heart of the four lectionary readings, providing you with several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating messages that speak powerfully to your audience. The writers look for overall themes that hold the readings together, then they home in on the themes and the specific scripture links, suggesting multiple homiletical directions. Since a single idea each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, Emphasis suggests several, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.

Emphasis is like having a dedicated, thoroughly-versed research team right in your own study to help you create messages that are truly yours, and that speak powerfully to your audience.

Archives
Emphasis gives you even greater value by putting back issues of the journal at your fingertips. This access to the Emphasis archives, combined with the ability to find commentaries and illustrations based on lectionary, scripture, or keyword, makes Emphasis an efficient, indespensible, time-saving tool for your ministry.

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StoryShare

StoryShare -- stories of faith for preaching and teachingStoryShare is a treasure trove of good stories that relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. All of the content in StoryShare is lectionary based and serves to help you illustrate the weekly readings. The stories can be used as illustrations or, in some cases, as standalone homilies. Along with new stories being added every week, a subscription to StoryShare also gives you access to the archives, so if the new stories don't catch your eye, it's likely something from the archives will work for you.

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The Village Shepherd

The Village Shepherd sermons, children's stories and liturgies, and prayers based on the lectionaryThe Village Shepherd offers sermons, children's stories and liturgies, and prayers based on the lectionary. This content is sure to touch your heart, because they reflect the simple virtues and tranquil serenity that characterize Reverend Janice Scott's English countryside pastorate. The questions "Where is God in this particular situation?" and "Where does the Gospel story cross our own human story?" are always at the heart of these meditations -- but rather than finding overt answers, instead you will be gently led to make your own connections and discover the powerful ways in which God works. Janice Scott has the unique ability to find interesting details in ordinary life that illuminate scripture, while still challenging even the most intellectual reader. And that gift is precisely what also makes her an outstanding communicator with children.

For every Sunday in all three lectionary cycles you will find:
  • A homiletical message for each Gospel, Second Reading, and First Reading.
  • Children's stories based on the Gospel for the week.
  • Children's liturgy and story based on the Gospel. (The story included with the liturgy is different from the story mentioned above.
  • A group of intercessory prayers for your worship service.
The convenient search engine enables you to quickly find exactly what you need -- all the rich content of The Village Shepherd can be searched by lectionary, scripture, or keyword.

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CSS Plus

CSSPlus - children's sermons and activities based on the LectionaryCSSPlus (Children Sermon Service) offers great children's sermons for lectionary and non-lectionary users. CSSPlus is a subscription service of children's messages that provide one new children's message per week for each Sunday of the year based on the lectionary Gospel. In addition to the children’s homilies, each week includes several different children’s activities which are perfect for use in Sunday school or at home during the week.

Lectionary users will find this component useful because every entry is referenced and searchable by lectionary.

Non-lectionary users will find CSSPlus equally useful because every entry is also referenced and searchable by scripture reference and keyword.

So, whether you are a lectionary user or a non-lectionary user, this component will provide you a vast selection of great children's messages from first-rate communicators with children, and you'll quickly find just what you are looking for.

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Gospel Grams 1

Gospel Grams - children's activities for ages 5-7 based on lectionary textsGospel Grams 1 providers lectionary-based children’s activity bulletin to communicate the Gospel for children ages 4-7. Gospel Grams 1 is an activity bulletin designed to communicate the Gospel to young children at their own level. Instead of kids drawing cars or flowers on scrap paper or the regular worship bulletin, why not give them their very own bulletin that will reinforce the Gospel message for the day in fun and interesting ways.

Geared to children ages 4-7, Gospel Grams 1 uses imaginative Bible word games and puzzles, coloring pictures, and stories to engage kids with the Gospel lesson for the day. And because it is lectionary-based, the children will be on the same "scriptural" page as the adults.

In all, there are 56 Gospel Grams per lectionary cycle. Since they are downloadable pdf files, you can print as few or as many as you need -- therefore keeping waste to a minimum.

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Gospel Grams 2

Gospel Grams 2 provides lectionary-based children’s activity bulletin to communicate the Gospel for children ages 8-10. Gospel Grams 2 is an activity bulletin designed to communicate the Gospel to young children at their own level. Instead of kids drawing cars or flowers on scrap paper or the regular worship bulletin, why not give them their very own bulletin that will reinforce the Gospel message for the day in fun and interesting ways.

Geared to children ages 8-10, Gospel Grams 2 uses imaginative Bible word games and puzzles, coloring pictures, and stories to engage kids with the Gospel lesson for the day. And because it is lectionary-based, the children will be on the same "scriptural" page as the adults.

In all, there are 56 Gospel Grams per lectionary cycle. Since they are downloadable pdf files, you can print as few or as many as you need -- therefore keeping waste to a minimum.

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Online Sermons & Sermon Illustrations

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Nazish Naseem
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
For June 28, 2026:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet (Jeremiah 28:9)."

The prophet Jeremiah may have been a little skeptical when he spoke these words about a prophet who prophesies peace, for as he said earlier in the passage, the default setting for prophesy involves war, famine, and pestilence. Nevertheless, he suggests that if the words of the peace prophets come true then the Lord has truly sent them.
Argile Smith
Craig Kelly
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Borrowed Book" by Argile Smith
"The Tie" by Craig Kelly


What's Up This Week

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Frank was against the plan from start. He hated the kids from the Baptist Sunday School, mostly because there were more of them and they always seemed to have such a good time. The Church of England Sunday School was OK, although Frank found it boring at times. But at least there were some other boys there, enough to form a reasonably good five-aside football team.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
There are some recent studies on racism that offer important information about our thinking processes for all of us no matter to what race we belong. These studies challenge the older idea that racial prejudice is something we are born with -- something inherent in our makeup. They show that even when we have a negative gut reaction to someone based on race, we can override that reaction with our rational thought processes.1
Leonard W. Mann
Abraham was an experienced listener. Perhaps once or twice he had listened too well. In the matter of Sarah's servant woman, he listened to his wife on at least two occasions when his listening created some really serious problems. But let's leave that detail right there, and go on to things of greater importance.
Wayne H. Keller
If we took this chapter seriously, we would probably wish that Matthew had never written it. Or, if he did write it, he should have eliminated the first 39 verses, and included only the last three. When we examine it carefully, or not so carefully, we discover that it turns our usual thinking about discipleship upside down.

I
Justin W. Tull
Our narrative begins with Jacob's sending his family across the Jabbok stream while staying behind to spend the night alone. Tomorrow he must face his brother, Esau, whom he has not seen since he escaped after stealing Esau's blessing and having fleeced him out of his birthright. Jacob does not know how his brother will receive him… but several possibilities have occurred to him -- none of them positive.

It should come as no surprise that Jacob got little sleep that night. Who could sleep well, knowing that one must stand in front of an angry brother and beg for forgiveness?
Larry M. Goodpaster
A misguided bird gets loose in the sanctuary and every eye in the congregation drifts toward the ceiling. Never mind that the choir is continuing to sing the anthem they have been working on for weeks just for this special occasion. The lost bird has totally interrupted the proceedings and besides, most would have to admit, its flight was much more entertaining. "I was so afraid that bird was going to land on your head -- but I'm sure the choir understands," is the comment heard from a number of people at the close of the service.
Gary L. Carver
Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina sits on property that was once a large southern plantation. The land was given to the Roman Catholic Church and they built an abbey and college on the property. The monks found a huge granite stone on that property upon which men, women, and children stood centuries ago and were sold as slaves. The monks took the stone and hollowed out a hole in the top and carried it into the abbey's chapel, where to this day it serves as a baptismal font. The engraving on it reads: "Upon this rock men were once sold into slavery.
Stephen M. Crotts
Did you hear about the farm boy who always wondered what would happen if he twisted the tail on the mule? One day he tried it. And now they say about him, he's not as pretty as he used to be, but he's a whole lot wiser.

When I was a young man, I wondered what my life would be like if I became a pastor in answer to God's call. Now, thirty years later, I'm not as pretty as I used to be, but I am a lot wiser.
William G. Carter
Earlier this week somebody asked what the sermon was about. I said, "I'm preaching about slavery." That was a good way to stop a conversation.
Thom M. Shuman
Call To Worship
One: With joy and celebration,
God welcomes us to this place.
All: How good it is to gather in God's house!
One: With joy and celebration,
we welcome one another.
All: We greet each other by name;
we are equal in God's kingdom.
One: We open our hearts, to welcome God's love;
we open our arms, to welcome God's people.
All: Here, every single one of God's children is welcome.

Prayer Of The Day
You have invited us
to this place,
Accepting God,
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Greeting Of Peace
P: From every land and nation,
every city and home,
C: whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
P: From every family,
rich and poor, small and large,
C: whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
P: From the barrios and the colonias,
from the neighborhoods of affluence,
C: whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
The children gather on the playground for a game: perhaps kickball, or basketball, or touch football. All the eligible players line up in front of the two captains, and then the great process begins: picking teams.

Perhaps some of the kids stand quietly, even shyly, waiting, hoping to be picked. Not the eager ones, though. They do not stand quietly. They raise and wave their hands! "Hey, over here! Pick me! Pick me!"
R. Craig Maccreary
Nowadays it is hard for any television viewer to avoid the reality show genre where "real people" are forced into a variety of contests against each other in order to win the grand prize. I think it would be interesting to add this approach to a group of preachers to see what would happen. Who would be kicked off the island first? Who would be cut from the team? Who does not come back to compete next week?
Wayne Brouwer
Schuyler Rhodes
Robert Maynard once told how he became a writer. The journey, he said, began when he was a young boy walking to school one morning. He came to a fresh patch of concrete in the sidewalk. Somebody had just finished troweling it smooth, and it was just waiting for him!

He bent over to write his name in the cement, when suddenly there was a hulking shadow engulfing him. Looking up in terror he saw the biggest construction mason he had ever seen in his life! The guy was holding a garbage can lid, ready to smash the first little kid who dared mess up his new sidewalk!

CSSPlus

Parents and Teachers: This morning's lesson is about rewards. Focus your attention on how young children can feel that they make a contribution to their church. In this way, they may feel that their contribution is rewarding to all members.

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In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 8 (OT 13, Pent 5)
22 – Sermons
110+ – Illustrations / Stories
22 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 (OT 14, Pent 6)
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 10 (OT 15, Pent 7)
28 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
23 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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