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Psalm 71:1-6

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

A chance to be better -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Missing the point of what Jesus is about is a common occurrence.
Touched -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Sometimes two hands aren't enough. One writer tells of the morning her son came in
Blocking and tackling -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30, Psalm 71:1-6 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
On a typical NFL football team, there are some players who get all the attention and
Mixed reactions -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- David Kalas -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
The promos for a new movie feature all sorts of glowing quotes from an assortment of reviews.

Children's sermon

The Immediate Word

Allowance for New Ideas -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
For February 3, 2019:
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them… -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
For August 25, 2019:
Not Too Young To Speak -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
In this week’s lectionary passage from the Hebrew scriptures, God tells the young Jeremiah that “I a
A Consistent Ethic Of Love -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
There is probably no other topic in American life that inflames passions as deeply as that of aborti
Quitters -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Kate Murphy, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
In this week's Old Testament readings, the Lord calls a reluctant Jeremiah to the difficult and ofte
A Far-Out Teacher -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Barbara Jurgensen, Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
With summer winding down and back-to-school planning on the minds of the young people and teachers i
Womb + Potential Medical Miracle + 2004 = Christian Debate Over Preservation Of Life And Stem-Cell Research -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Carter Shelley -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Choosing Hope -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Where do we, as a people, look for hope? Or, as a people, have we given up on hope?

Devotional

SermonStudio

Epiphany 4 / Ordinary Time 4 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2009
In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.-- Psalm 71:1
Proper 16 / Pentecost 14 / Ordinary Time 21 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2009
Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb.

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Allowance for New Ideas -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
For February 3, 2019:
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them… -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
For August 25, 2019:
Not Too Young To Speak -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
In this week’s lectionary passage from the Hebrew scriptures, God tells the young Jeremiah that “I a
A Consistent Ethic Of Love -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
There is probably no other topic in American life that inflames passions as deeply as that of aborti
Quitters -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Kate Murphy, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
In this week's Old Testament readings, the Lord calls a reluctant Jeremiah to the difficult and ofte
A Far-Out Teacher -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Barbara Jurgensen, Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
With summer winding down and back-to-school planning on the minds of the young people and teachers i
Womb + Potential Medical Miracle + 2004 = Christian Debate Over Preservation Of Life And Stem-Cell Research -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Carter Shelley -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Choosing Hope -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Where do we, as a people, look for hope? Or, as a people, have we given up on hope?

Prayer

SermonStudio

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- B. David Hostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1985
CALL TO WORSHIP

Preaching

The Immediate Word

Allowance for New Ideas -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
For February 3, 2019:
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them… -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
For August 25, 2019:
Not Too Young To Speak -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
In this week’s lectionary passage from the Hebrew scriptures, God tells the young Jeremiah that “I a
A Consistent Ethic Of Love -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
There is probably no other topic in American life that inflames passions as deeply as that of aborti
Quitters -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Kate Murphy, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
In this week's Old Testament readings, the Lord calls a reluctant Jeremiah to the difficult and ofte
A Far-Out Teacher -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Barbara Jurgensen, Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
With summer winding down and back-to-school planning on the minds of the young people and teachers i
Womb + Potential Medical Miracle + 2004 = Christian Debate Over Preservation Of Life And Stem-Cell Research -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Carter Shelley -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Choosing Hope -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Where do we, as a people, look for hope? Or, as a people, have we given up on hope?

SermonStudio

Psalm 71:1-6 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- Schuyler Rhodes -- 2009
Most people, at one time or another, have had the regrettable experience of needing refuge.
Psalm 71:1-6 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- Schuyler Rhodes -- 2009
Martin Luther wrote it. Many have sung it lustily on Sunday morning.
Proper 16/Pentecost 14/Ordinary Time 21 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2006
(See Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
(See Proper 16/Pentecost 14/Ordinary Time 21, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)

Sermon

The Immediate Word

Allowance for New Ideas -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
For February 3, 2019:
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them… -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
For August 25, 2019:
Not Too Young To Speak -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
In this week’s lectionary passage from the Hebrew scriptures, God tells the young Jeremiah that “I a
A Consistent Ethic Of Love -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
There is probably no other topic in American life that inflames passions as deeply as that of aborti
Quitters -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Kate Murphy, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
In this week's Old Testament readings, the Lord calls a reluctant Jeremiah to the difficult and ofte
A Far-Out Teacher -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Barbara Jurgensen, Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
With summer winding down and back-to-school planning on the minds of the young people and teachers i
Womb + Potential Medical Miracle + 2004 = Christian Debate Over Preservation Of Life And Stem-Cell Research -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Carter Shelley -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Choosing Hope -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Where do we, as a people, look for hope? Or, as a people, have we given up on hope?

Stories

StoryShare

The Gift of Grace -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
Contents “The Gift of Grace” by Keith Wagner
All You Need Is Love -- Luke 4:21-30, Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
Contents "All You Need is Love" by Keith Wagner
Moving Forward -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2016
Contents "Moving Forward" by Keith Wagner "Living Unafraid" by Keith Wagner
Chosen By God -- Luke 4:21-30, Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Contents"Chosen by God" by Peter Andrew Smith
Bucking The System -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- C. David Mckirachan, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
Contents"Bucking the System" by C. David McKirachan
Oskar -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Hewitt, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Contents"Oskar" by Keith Hewitt "With Reverence and Awe" by John Sumwalt
The Boy Who Always Told The Truth -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Rick McCracken-Bennett, John S. Smylie -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
Mystery -- Luke 4:21-30, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
ContentsA Story To Live By:"Mystery"
Acceptable Worship -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which w
Love Language That Hurts -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Argile Smith, C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Love Language That Hurts" by Argile Smith

Worship

The Immediate Word

Allowance for New Ideas -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Bethany Peerbolte, Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Dean Feldmeyer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2019
For February 3, 2019:
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them… -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6, Isaiah 58:9b-14 -- Thomas Willadsen, Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, Bethany Peerbolte, Christopher Keating, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2019
For August 25, 2019:
Not Too Young To Speak -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Ron Love, Christopher Keating, George Reed, Robin Lostetter -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
In this week’s lectionary passage from the Hebrew scriptures, God tells the young Jeremiah that “I a
A Consistent Ethic Of Love -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Dean Feldmeyer, Ron Love, George Reed, Leah Lonsbury, Mary Austin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
There is probably no other topic in American life that inflames passions as deeply as that of aborti
Quitters -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Kate Murphy, George Reed -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
In this week's Old Testament readings, the Lord calls a reluctant Jeremiah to the difficult and ofte
A Far-Out Teacher -- Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Barbara Jurgensen, Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
With summer winding down and back-to-school planning on the minds of the young people and teachers i
Womb + Potential Medical Miracle + 2004 = Christian Debate Over Preservation Of Life And Stem-Cell Research -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Carter Shelley -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Dear Fellow Preachers,
Choosing Hope -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Thom M. Shuman -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Where do we, as a people, look for hope? Or, as a people, have we given up on hope?

SermonStudio

Epiphany 4 / Ordinary Time 4 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Julia Ross Strope -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2009
A single song is being inflected through all the colorations of the human choir.
Proper 16 / Ordinary Time 21 / Pentecost 14 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Julia Ross Strope -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2009
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem.
Epiphany 4 -- Psalm 71:1-6 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1991
In you, O Lord, I take my refuge;let me never be put to shame.
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First Sunday in Lent - A
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Ron Love
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
For March 1, 2020:
  • Right, Wrong, Whatever by Dean Feldmeyer — The fruit of the forbidden tree in the Eden story represents more than disobedience; it represents moral responsibility and Adam and Eve are hungry for it.
  • Second Thoughts: What Happens in the Silence by Mary Austin — Lent’s invitation is to love the quiet the way Jesus does, and to meet up with him there.

The Immediate Word

First Sunday in Lent - A
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Ron Love
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
For March 1, 2020:
  • Right, Wrong, Whatever by Dean Feldmeyer — The fruit of the forbidden tree in the Eden story represents more than disobedience; it represents moral responsibility and Adam and Eve are hungry for it.
  • Second Thoughts: What Happens in the Silence by Mary Austin — Lent’s invitation is to love the quiet the way Jesus does, and to meet up with him there.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

First Sunday in Lent - A
Sandra Herrmann
The scriptures for today bind together the beginning of sin in the world, our salvation from sin, and Jesus’ own vulnerability to the temptation of the devil. We see that the devil is very clever (or that we can be very clever in fooling ourselves about our motives and the possible ramifications of our attitudes and actions).  
First Sunday in Lent - A
Ron Love
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Psalm 32
Ash Wednesday - A
Mark Ellingsen
Ash Wednesday is time to stress our sorrow for sin and the way out, a chance to stimulate our awareness of sin as well as the need for and urgency of repentance, along with a Word of God’s forgiveness.

Joel 2:1-2,12-17
Ash Wednesday - A
Mark Ellingsen
Ron Love
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:1-2,12-17 
With the Presidential Primaries starting to shift into high gear, it is time for Americans to get serious about politics and the future of our nation, to seek to right the nation’s wrongs. For John Calvin this lesson is a message of urgency that we need.  He wrote:

The object of the narrative then, is to make the people sensible, that it was now no time for taking rest... (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.XIV, p.44)

CSSPlus

First Sunday in Lent - A
Bethany Peerbolte
Jesus sets the bar high by resisting temptation even from the imagination of the devil. To show just how amazing that accomplishment is this lesson will put temptation in each kids’ hands. You may have seen the videos of kids in a room alone with a marshmallow. They are challenged to not eat the marshmallow then left alone in the room. The kids obviously struggle with the temptation to eat the marshmallow. For this lesson you can use marshmallows or Oreos, both are relatively allergen free.
Ash Wednesday - A
Bethany Peerbolte
Lent can be an odd time for church kids. They are intuitive and can sense that something has changed. If we do not seek to explain why the mood and tone of the community has changed it can be a scary time. We talk more about death, especially Jesus dying, so we need to prepare kids for what is coming.

Say something like:

StoryShare

First Sunday in Lent - A
David O. Bales
Contents
"Thorough Temptation Of The Thoroughly Human" by David O. Bales
"One Man" by David O. Bales



Thorough Temptation of the Thoroughly Human
by David O. Bales
Matthew 4:1-11
Ash Wednesday - A
Peter Andrew Smith
John knocked at the door and waited. His heart was pounding in his chest and he was sweating. He wouldn’t be surprised if Suzy slammed the door into his face. What he had done to her, what he had done to their marriage, was simply unforgivable. His heart leapt when the door started to open and he froze when Suzy’s father, Mark, stood before him. From the look on his father-in-law’s face there was no doubt that he knew what John had done.

The Village Shepherd

First Sunday in Lent - A
Janice B. Scott
We in the West have an interesting culture in which we quite like to be shocked. Many of us enjoy films which are shocking to a greater or lesser degree, and it sometimes seems to be that the higher the rating, the more popular the film. Even huge natural or man-made disasters have a worrying degree of entertainment value in the way they are presented to us over and over again on our television screens. We meanwhile sit in our armchairs munching our chocolates feeling scandalised or shocked or disturbed, but seldom switching off the set.

SermonStudio

Ash Wednesday - A
Elizabeth Achtemeier
Sometime between 500 and 350 B.C., post-exilic Israel experienced a devastating locust plague, followed by a drought. That experience is described in Joel chapter 1. And certainly the people suffered under the dreadful effects of those disasters. But the message of the prophet Joel -- prompted not by the natural disasters, but given him as a revelation from the Lord -- is that the Israelites face a still more terrible disaster if they do not repent and return to their God. "The day of the Lord is coming, it is near" (2:1).

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