Fourth Sunday in Lent - A
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Here's Mud in Your Eye"
Shining Moments: "The Gift of Myself" by Jim Eaton
Sermon Starter: "The Anointing" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Healing from Heaven" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
"Too many of us," wrote J.B. Philips in Your God Is Too Small (Macmillin, 1961), "are crippled by a limited idea of God." We hear virtually the same warning from Jesus in our Gospel reading this week after he heals a blind man and is reprimanded by the religious authorities for working on the Sabbath. According to Philips' translation of John's Gospel, "My coming into this world is itself a judgment. Those who cannot see have their eyes opened and those who think they can see become blind" (John 9:39).
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Here's Mud in Your Eye"
Shining Moments: "The Gift of Myself" by Jim Eaton
Sermon Starter: "The Anointing" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Healing from Heaven" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
"Too many of us," wrote J.B. Philips in Your God Is Too Small (Macmillin, 1961), "are crippled by a limited idea of God." We hear virtually the same warning from Jesus in our Gospel reading this week after he heals a blind man and is reprimanded by the religious authorities for working on the Sabbath. According to Philips' translation of John's Gospel, "My coming into this world is itself a judgment. Those who cannot see have their eyes opened and those who think they can see become blind" (John 9:39).
Peter Andrew Smith
Keith Hewitt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Tarawa" by Keith Hewitt
"The Disturbing Witness of Grace" by Peter Andrew Smith
"The Sight of Goodness and Mercy" by Peter Andrew Smith
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
"Tarawa" by Keith Hewitt
"The Disturbing Witness of Grace" by Peter Andrew Smith
"The Sight of Goodness and Mercy" by Peter Andrew Smith
What's Up This Week
C. David Mckirachan
Keith Wagner
Contents
"Your Staff Comforts Me" by C. David McKirachan
"In the Lord's House" by Keith Wagner
"Judged by the Heart" by Keith Wagner
Your Staff Comforts Me
by C. David McKirachan
Psalm 23
There were four of us, American teen aged boys, living in an Ethiopian Orthodox monastery near Addis Ababa. We were there for three months helping to build a school for the local children. There were a dozen or so Ethiopian young men, around our age living with us. It was called an ecumenical encounter.
Being there, imbedded in their culture sharing our meals, our work, our conversations was mind boggling. I’d seen a lot of the U.S. I’d been to church camp and moved around as part of a minister’s family, but this was Mars. For instance, we had to be inside the compound by sunset, because the packs of hyenas were dangerous. OK. For a seventeen year old it was wonderful.
"Your Staff Comforts Me" by C. David McKirachan
"In the Lord's House" by Keith Wagner
"Judged by the Heart" by Keith Wagner
Your Staff Comforts Me
by C. David McKirachan
Psalm 23
There were four of us, American teen aged boys, living in an Ethiopian Orthodox monastery near Addis Ababa. We were there for three months helping to build a school for the local children. There were a dozen or so Ethiopian young men, around our age living with us. It was called an ecumenical encounter.
Being there, imbedded in their culture sharing our meals, our work, our conversations was mind boggling. I’d seen a lot of the U.S. I’d been to church camp and moved around as part of a minister’s family, but this was Mars. For instance, we had to be inside the compound by sunset, because the packs of hyenas were dangerous. OK. For a seventeen year old it was wonderful.
David O. Bales
Contents
“Valley Variation” by David O. Bales
“How It All Started” by David O. Bales
Valley Variation
by David O. Bales
Psalm 23
Pastor Trevin realized after three years in ministry that when he called on new people, he became nervous and talked too much about the church and himself. Through the advice of a fellow pastor, he reined in his runaway anxiety by having a pocket full of questions to ask people when he met them for the first time. His favorite with couples (although not the first he asked) was “How did you meet?” and if that was a success, he could ask, “What was your first date like?”
“Valley Variation” by David O. Bales
“How It All Started” by David O. Bales
Valley Variation
by David O. Bales
Psalm 23
Pastor Trevin realized after three years in ministry that when he called on new people, he became nervous and talked too much about the church and himself. Through the advice of a fellow pastor, he reined in his runaway anxiety by having a pocket full of questions to ask people when he met them for the first time. His favorite with couples (although not the first he asked) was “How did you meet?” and if that was a success, he could ask, “What was your first date like?”
Peter Andrew Smith
John took a deep breath and walked into the diner.
“Hey, stranger,” Dana said from behind the counter. “Haven’t seen you in a while. Take a seat. You want breakfast or just a cup of coffee?”
“Coffee to start.” John nodded as he sat at the counter. “Sorry, I haven’t been around, but things have been a bit crazy.”
“Yeah, I heard about the custody battle you’re having.” Dana poured him a cup of coffee and handed him a menu. “Not much is private these days.”
“Not with my in-laws.” John scanned the menu. “Can I have the bacon and eggs and some toast?”
Dana took the menu back and wrote his order on a slip of paper. “Coming right up.”
She went over to the window and passed the order to the cook. John saw José lean forward and wave at him. John waved back and took a sip from his coffee.
“Hey, stranger,” Dana said from behind the counter. “Haven’t seen you in a while. Take a seat. You want breakfast or just a cup of coffee?”
“Coffee to start.” John nodded as he sat at the counter. “Sorry, I haven’t been around, but things have been a bit crazy.”
“Yeah, I heard about the custody battle you’re having.” Dana poured him a cup of coffee and handed him a menu. “Not much is private these days.”
“Not with my in-laws.” John scanned the menu. “Can I have the bacon and eggs and some toast?”
Dana took the menu back and wrote his order on a slip of paper. “Coming right up.”
She went over to the window and passed the order to the cook. John saw José lean forward and wave at him. John waved back and took a sip from his coffee.
Keith Wagner
Contents
"Miracles of Sight" by Keith Wagner
"Trusting God in the Darkness" by Keith Wagner
* * * * * * *
Miracles of Sight
by Keith Wagner
John 9:1-41
Most people see the healing of the blind man as a miracle. Jesus made a mud pack, put it in the blind man's eyes, and then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Amazingly he was then able to see. Miracles happened then and miracles happen today. When someone's cancer goes into remission, the remission is a miracle. When someone walks away from a tragic accident, they have experienced a miracle. Miracles occur in a variety of ways. Thank God for miracles, life-changing events that restore lives to wholeness.
"Miracles of Sight" by Keith Wagner
"Trusting God in the Darkness" by Keith Wagner
* * * * * * *
Miracles of Sight
by Keith Wagner
John 9:1-41
Most people see the healing of the blind man as a miracle. Jesus made a mud pack, put it in the blind man's eyes, and then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Amazingly he was then able to see. Miracles happened then and miracles happen today. When someone's cancer goes into remission, the remission is a miracle. When someone walks away from a tragic accident, they have experienced a miracle. Miracles occur in a variety of ways. Thank God for miracles, life-changing events that restore lives to wholeness.
Sandra Herrmann
C. David Mckirachan
Contents
"The Christian Liar" by Sandra Herrmann
"But We Smell" by C. David McKirachan
* * * * * * * *
The Christian Liar
by Sandra Herrmann
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Cornelia ten Boom was a devoted Christian. A spinster, as they used to say of unmarried women, and a watch maker in her father's shop. She had been 22 when World War I broke out. When the Nazis came to power, the Netherlands were soon an occupied country. Until then, she said, her life had been quiet. Her skills were valued as part of a watch-making business that had started in 1837, and enjoyed a wide reputation as one of the finest in the Netherlands.
"The Christian Liar" by Sandra Herrmann
"But We Smell" by C. David McKirachan
* * * * * * * *
The Christian Liar
by Sandra Herrmann
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Cornelia ten Boom was a devoted Christian. A spinster, as they used to say of unmarried women, and a watch maker in her father's shop. She had been 22 when World War I broke out. When the Nazis came to power, the Netherlands were soon an occupied country. Until then, she said, her life had been quiet. Her skills were valued as part of a watch-making business that had started in 1837, and enjoyed a wide reputation as one of the finest in the Netherlands.
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
