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Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Listen Carefully -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Today’s scriptures call upon us to listen carefully — to Jesus, through his words in the New Testame
How the Ways of God Make Christians Counter Cultural -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
God does not abandon us -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Transpiring in the week when the Festival of Jesus’ Ascension is commemorated, it is not surprising
Word of new life -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- David Coffin -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
This is one of the final weeks of the Easter season, which entails new life in some form.
Walking the hall -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- David Kalas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Some sports teams have great heritages -- traditions that go way back, and legendary names and event
Can I fall? Can I rise again? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Anselm once observed that "when one escapes from the will that commands, one does but rush under the
New directions -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Note: Charting The Course and illustrations are provided for both Ascension Day/Sunday and Easter 7.

Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

The Church of Jesus Christ Continues -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B, Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2024
For May 12, 2024:
Whatever Happened to Justus? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Katy Stenta -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
For May 16, 2021:
Delighting in the law -- Psalm 1, John 17:6-19, 1 John 5:9-13, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018

Devotional

SermonStudio

Easter 7 -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2008
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2024) -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Sermon Illustrations for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2021) -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Sermon Illustrations for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2018) -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Sermon Illustrations for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2015) -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Sermon Illustrations for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (2012) -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
When Judas had to be replaced by a new apostle... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Ron Love -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
When Judas had to be replaced by a new apostle, the Christian community was scrutinized for the two
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26... -- John 17:6-19, 1 John 5:9-13, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
What's so great about the... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
What's so great about the number twelve that the apostles cast lots to find a replacement for Judas?
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River flows north toward the Red Sea but dribbles out in the sand before arr
After Jesus ascended into heaven... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the remaining eleven disciples got down to business.
One of the more memorable... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
One of the more memorable characters from the movie, Field of Dreams, was Archibald "Moonlight" Grah
One Sunday morning, a beloved... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
One Sunday morning, a beloved pastor announced to his congregation that he would be leaving after mo
This year I have been... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
This year I have been picked to head up a team at Annual Conference (United Methodist's annual legis
On one occasion when Martin... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
On one occasion when Martin Luther was quite depressed -- gloomy and morose -- his wife Katie used a

The Immediate Word

The Church of Jesus Christ Continues -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B, Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2024
For May 12, 2024:
Whatever Happened to Justus? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Katy Stenta -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
For May 16, 2021:
Delighting in the law -- Psalm 1, John 17:6-19, 1 John 5:9-13, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018

StoryShare

Love Is Hard -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Contents“Love is Hard” by C. David McKirachan

Preaching

The Immediate Word

The Church of Jesus Christ Continues -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B, Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2024
For May 12, 2024:
Whatever Happened to Justus? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Katy Stenta -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
For May 16, 2021:
Delighting in the law -- Psalm 1, John 17:6-19, 1 John 5:9-13, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018

SermonStudio

Easter 7 -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2011
Theme of the DayThe awesome ways of God. Collect of the Day
Seventh Sunday of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Carlos Wilton -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Revised Common Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
The church organizes for mission -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The church organizes for mission and Christ prays that the ways of the world wil
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
The church is living between Jesus' departure and the coming
Seventh Sunday of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- George M. Bass -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Liturgically official or not, the Seventh Sunday of Easter is the Sunday after the Ascension, if not
Seventh Sunday of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- George M. Bass -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1990
Liturgically official or not, the Seventh Sunday of Easter is the Sunday after the Ascension, if not
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
Seasonal Theme

Sermon

The Immediate Word

The Church of Jesus Christ Continues -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B, Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2024
For May 12, 2024:
Whatever Happened to Justus? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Katy Stenta -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
For May 16, 2021:
Delighting in the law -- Psalm 1, John 17:6-19, 1 John 5:9-13, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018

SermonStudio

The Courage To Carry On -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- David H. Webb -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
The courage to be, to do, to act, to care, and to be responsible lies at the heart of our existence.
Be An Apostle! Proclaim Life! -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Ken Lentz -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2008
Three young lads once rescued a famous politician from drowning.
Man Proposes; God Disposes -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Ron Lavin -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Man Proposes; God Disposes
Decisions, Decisions -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Paul W. Kummer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Think of how many decisions you make in a day:
On Not Being First -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- E. Carver Mcgriff -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
We Americans have long had a love affair with winners.
It's Never Mission Impossible -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Richard E. Gribble -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
Many years ago one of the most popular shows on weekly television was Mission Impossible.

Stories

StoryShare

Love Is Hard -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Hewitt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
Contents“Love is Hard” by C. David McKirachan
Rooted in Faith -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Contents "Rooted in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
To Make New -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John Fitzgerald -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2015
Contents "To Make New" by Peter Andrew Smith
Jesus And Judas -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Lamar Massingill, John E. Sumwalt, Keith Hewitt, Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents"Evac" by Keith Hewitt
Witnessing To The Truth -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, John E. Sumwalt, Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Witnessing to the Truth" by Peter Andrew Smith

SermonStudio

Opening The Door -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Susan K. Hedahl -- 1993
John drove in a leisurely fashion to the Amtrak station. The

Worship

The Immediate Word

The Church of Jesus Christ Continues -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Thomas Willadsen, Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Katy Stenta, Elena Delhagen, Quantisha Mason-Doll -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B, Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2024
For May 12, 2024:
Whatever Happened to Justus? -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Christopher Keating, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Katy Stenta -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2021
For May 16, 2021:
Delighting in the law -- Psalm 1, John 17:6-19, 1 John 5:9-13, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Christopher Keating, Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, George Reed, Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018

SermonStudio

Theme: Lots Of Luck -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Frank Ramirez -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 1:1-2) One:
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- Charles And Donna Cammarata -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To WorshipFrom Psalm 1:1-3 (The Message)Leader:
The Work Goes On -- True Happiness -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2002
Call To Worship
Replacement -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Call To Worship
On Being in Second Place -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Robert A. Beringer -- 1999
Greeting and Call To Worship
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- James R. Wilson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, all who would bear witness to the risen Christ!
Choosing Matthias -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.--
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19, Psalm 1 -- B. David Hostetter -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)How awesome is God most high,
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For September 14, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A sheep stuffy or toy.

* * *

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

Did you know that Jesus traveled around and hunted for people who were doing something illegal and breaking the laws? (Let them respond.) He really did.And when he found someone who was doing something illegal, do you know what he did with them? (Let them respond.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Our text tells us that we are skilled in doing evil (v.22). An anonymous late medieval treatise titled German Theology tells us why:

It is the nature and property of the creature to seek itself and its own things, and this and that, here and there, and in all that it does and leaves undone as desire is to its own advantage and benefit. (Varieties of Mystic Experience, p.162)

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers an alternative to this vision:
David Coffin
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people. This is despite their resistance to repent or simple straying from the community of faith. We can observe family and loved ones at various points of their faith journey through the lens of each of these texts. Jeremiah 4 informs the people their neglect of honoring their covenant with God is about to result in disastrous consequences. Paul recalls in 1 Timothy 1 how he thought he was falling God’s will until he had his literal come to Jesus moment!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (vv. 6-7)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

The psalm writer has an interesting perspective on the origin of injustice in our world. He begins this psalm with the assertion that those who do not believe in God are "fools." He goes on to accuse them of corruption and of being incapable of doing good. Later on he writes, "Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord?" (v. 4).

Elizabeth Achtemeier
"Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them" (v. 12). Ours is a society that does not accept that as the Word of God. Many people do not believe that God judges anyone. Rather, the Lord is a forgiving God, a kindly deity who overlooks all wrong. As in the Gospel lesson for the morning, the Lord searches for the one lost sheep and returns it gently to the fold, or he hunts for the one lost coin until he finds it. God accepts the lost as they are, we think, overlooking Jesus' teaching about repentance and transformation of life.
Scott Suskovic
We usually don't spend too much time thinking about our own sinfulness. On occasion, of course, our feelings of guilt overwhelm us. We can't stop thinking about our sinfulness. If we are in that situation, we may need to talk that out with someone. Apart from times like that, we don't think much about our own sinfulness. We have ways of getting around that.

R. Robert Cueni
Back before the ways of the Taliban became common knowledge, there was a fascinating little article about how they jailed barbers when they didn't do culturally correct haircuts.1 The newspaper reported that young men in Kabul, Afghanistan, have started wearing their hair the way the actor Leonardo DiCaprio wears his. Long, not only on the sides, but so long in the front that hair can drop over the eyes. They call the style, "the Titanic," named for the blockbuster movie starring DiCaprio about the 1912 sinking of the cruise ship by that name.

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