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SermonStudio

Proper 8 -- Psalm 30 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1993
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
Religion From A Safe Distance -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: A sermon attacking our efforts at trying to be a Christian with minimum effort.
Lent 5 -- Psalm 51:10-17 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
How Many Will Your Garbage Can Feed? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Pastors must repeat sermons on our need to stop wasting food and overeating, coup
What To Make Of Ghosts -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: If our church members think about it, we'd better discuss it. Are there ghosts?
Proper 28 -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1993
Lesson 1: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Elkanah had two wives.
Do You Know What You Are Drinking? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: We need to be reminded every so often of the commitment we should be making when
Easter 3 -- Psalm 4 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress.
Third Sunday After The Epiphany -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1993
Jonah refuses to obey God's command to preach to Nineveh, the
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Out of the many conflicting messages, how can we determine who is telling us the
Proper 9 -- Psalm 89:20-37 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1993
I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;
Finding God In A Quiet Universe -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Most Christians would admit to difficulty in experiencing the presence of God in
Lent 6 (Passion) -- Psalm 31:9-16 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1993
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief,
You Told Who? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Mainline Christians need to get over their shyness and reluctance to witnessing.
You Can't Legislate Morality? -- Guess Again! -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: "You can't legislate morality" is the popular phrase used to defeat laws or rules
Proper 4 -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, Mark 2:23--3:6 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1993
Samuel was a special gift of Yahweh to his mother, Hannah, who
Christians Should Be Different -- Not Weird -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose statement: The title says it all: there is a happy medium for the Christian between being no
Easter 4 -- Psalm 23 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1993
The book of Deuteronomy came out of the reform movement during
Were You Ever Somebody Else? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Since church members may ask the question, it may be important for ministers to p
Thanksgiving -- Psalm 126 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1993
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Is The End Near And Should You Worry? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Jesus' second coming is a fascinating and popular subject for many Christians.
Maundy Thursday -- Psalm 116:12-19 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1993
What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
When God Hates To Go To Church! -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: We should examine what worship is meant to be and how closely our worship approac
Welcome To Judgment Day -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Judgment day and getting saved may not be exactly what we are anticipating.

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Second Commandment: God's Name -- Isaiah 9:1-7, Ephesians 5:15-20 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Second Commandment
The Light Of Your Life -- John 12:34-36; 42-50 -- Don M. Aycock -- 2000
This was the beginning of the end. With these words Jesus had no more to say to the public crowds.
For Older Couple, Who Have Been Married Previously -- Derl G. Keefer, Cheryl Rohret -- 2000
The Prologue
Gift And Responsibility -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Thomas A. Renquist -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2000
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of.
Stolen Identities -- Hebrews 1:3 -- Daniel J. Weitner -- 2000
Freddie Cochrane was the reigning welterweight boxing
With All Your Heart -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2000
The poignant words of the prophet Joel should have deep relevance and meaning for this Ash Wednesday
Home For The Holidays -- Luke 2:41-52 -- William G. Carter -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Laura was going home for the holidays.
The Power That Brings Victory -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2000
There are no exceptions: Every single person in Jonesboro, Arkansas -- and maybe every single person
The Second Article: Jesus Purchased And Won Me -- Numbers 18:15-17, Mark 10:35-45 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Apostles' Creed -- The Second Article
Light Of The World -- John 1:1-18 -- William G. Carter -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2000
One of the striking features of the Gospel of John is the way it depicts the life and ministry of Je
Our Daily Bread -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Billy D. Strayhorn -- 2000
After hearing in Sunday school about Jesus feeding the 5,000 from five loaves and two fish, a little
The Second Article: Protected From The Devil's Power -- Psalm 74:1-12, Revelation 5:1-10 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Apostles' Creed -- The Second Article
Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night -- Isaiah 21:11-12 -- David O. Bales -- 2000
To strangers the plains of Eastern Montana seem barren, especially in late autumn.
The Next Step -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- Harold C. Warlick, Jr. -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Paul's letter to the Colossians has a rhythm to it, "put out ...
A Vision Of Freedom -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2000
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it?
Have You Seen The Potter Lately? -- Jeremiah 18:1-11 -- John W. Wurster -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2000
(Note: This monologue is from the point of view of an imagined contemporary of Jeremiah.)
The Third Commandment: Holding God's Word Sacred -- Exodus 20:8-11, Acts 2:36-47, Matthew 11:25-30 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Third Commandment
A Collision Of Kingdoms -- John 18:33-37 -- Don M. Aycock -- 2000
The New Testament is full of stories about events which seem turned around, backward, upside down, e
Ceremony 4 -- Derl G. Keefer, Cheryl Rohret -- 2000
The Prologue
Peace-Maker Or Piece-Maker? -- Luke 12:49-53 -- Thomas A. Renquist -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2000
A hard, hard word has been laid on us this morning -- a word so hard that I would rather be almost a
Waiting Room -- Isaiah 40:31 -- Daniel J. Weitner -- 2000
The first thing you find out when you enter today's typical
Affirming The Ash Heap -- Job 2:1-10 -- Wallace H. Kirby -- 2000
Every thinking person knows that he or she lives every minute on the brink of disaster.
He Commanded Us To Preach -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III -- Easter Day - C -- 2000
Opposition to preaching the risen Christ and reaching the Gentiles emerged early in the ministry of
Living Vertically -- Luke 24:44-53 -- John N. Brittain -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2000
Some years ago I attended a conference on the East Coast which concluded on Saturday but to save air
Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Billy D. Strayhorn -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2000
A farm family had some friends from the city come to visit.

Spirituality

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SermonStudio

Number 45 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: No solution! Sometimes there just seems to be no solution -- no way out.
Lazarus' Personal Confession -- Stephen P Cowen, Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1993
"I've Tasted Life, I've Tasted Death" My name is Lazarus.
Let Us Love -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 12 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Whom do you trust?
Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian -- Thomas A. Renquist -- 1993
Reader 1: He was called "the world's greatest living human being." By the age of 30 he was recognize
Number 78 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Palm Sunday
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Psalm 22:23-31 -- B. David Hostetter -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPLet all who see God be joyful in heart and exult in the hallowed
Number 96 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Thanksgiving Sunday
Number 48 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: There are many forms of love which are found in both the shallows and the depths of life.
CHRIST THE KING -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8 -- B. David Hostetter -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPHoliness is the beauty of God's temple while time shall last.
Number 17 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and
Number 42 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Have you ever looked for something, and searched and searched, but you couldn't find it anyw
The Heavens Are Telling -- Psalm 19 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use as an anthem.6 readers -- 3 women and 3 older girls
Number 46 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: It's the dawn.People: The dawn of a new day.
A Celebration Of The Lord's Supper -- Stephen P Cowen, Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1993
The Invitation Is Announced*Call To Worship
God Is Love -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 13 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
(The following outline is designed to be used by the pastor to lead the congregation in reflective t
Number 79 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Easter SundayPastor: Who concocted the story?
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22 -- B. David Hostetter -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPGod calls us to faith in the Christ nailed to the cross, as
Number 97 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
AdventLighting The First Advent Candle
Number 49 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Here's the most excellent news: In Jesus Christ we are one in the Lord.
EASTER -- Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- B. David Hostetter -- Easter Day - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)This is the day on which the Lord has acted:
Number 18 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: In a few moments, we're going to pray to our Father in heaven.
Number 70 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Over and over again, the scriptures call us to worship God our Creator, and to praise Him, t
The Greatest -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For November 2, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message involves roleplay. You will need a chair for Zach to stand on, unless it is ok for him to stand on a front pew. For the best fun, you will also want to have an adult volunteer play the role of Jesus and walk in when it is time. Whether he is in costume is up to you.

* * *
John Jamison
Object: You will need one or more pictures of people recognized as saints. You may find some pictures by Googling “public domain pictures of saints” and printing images from the results.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144
Walter Elwell in the Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook notes of righteousness that it is, “Right standing, specifically before God. Among the Greeks, righteousness was an ethical virtue. Among the Hebrews it was a legal concept; the righteous man was the one who got the verdict of acceptability when tried at the bar of God’s justice.” God is a righteous God, even when is people are not righteous.
Frank Ramirez
One of the features of Synagogue worship is the Shema. The Hebrew word is “Hear!” and is the opening for Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” God’s people are commanded to “hear” these words. They come from the Lord. And these three scriptures invite us to hear God and each other, something that is lacking in our society today.
Wayne Brouwer
Fred Craddock tells of a vacation encounter in the Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee years ago that moved him deeply. He and his wife took supper one evening in a place called the Black Bear Inn. One side of the building was all glass, open to a magnificent mountain view. Glad to be alone, the Craddocks were a bit annoyed when an elderly man ambled over and struck up a nosey conversation: “Are you on vacation?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do?”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 and Psalm 149

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. (vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.
Frank Ramirez
Call them the good old days. Call it the Golden Age. It’s not unusual for people to look back in their youth, or to the youth of their country, as somehow more perfect, honorable, or simpler. C.S. Lewis was always skeptical about claims that chocolate was better in one’s youth. It wasn’t better. Our taste buds were stronger and more receptive.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
The Roman Catholic Church's canonisation of Edith Stein some years ago, fuelled considerable controversy. Edith Stein was born and bred into a Jewish family, becoming a Roman Catholic Christian at the age of 31. She was also a leading German intellectual in the early thirties, during the run-up to World War 2, although she gave up that career in order to become a Carmelite nun. But she didn't deny her Jewish roots, for in 1933 she petitioned the Pope, Pious XI to write an encyclical in defence of the Jews.
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus didn't reject anyone, even those who were liars and cheats. By a simple act of friendship Jesus turned Zaccheus' life around. In our worship today let us consider friendship and all that it means.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, there are some people I don't like.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I reject.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I keep out of my circle of friends.
Lord, have mercy.


Reading:

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Theme For The Day
The world offers many blessings, but none of these things will save us: only the blessing of God in Jesus Christ can do that.

Old Testament Lesson
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Daniel's Apocalyptic Dream
Perry H. Biddle, Jr.
Comments on the Lessons
John W. Clarke
This chapter of Luke brings us ever closer to the end of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus enters Jericho, just fifteen miles or so from the holy city of Jerusalem. It is here that Jesus transforms the life of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. This is one of the few stories that is peculiar to Luke and is a wonderful human-interest story. The fact that Zacchaeus is willing to climb a tree to see Jesus is a clear indication that he really wanted to see and meet the carpenter from Nazareth. His eagerness to see Jesus is rewarded in a very special way.
Scott A. Bryte
Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
Mark Ellingson
This is a story written for people who had been or were about to be persecuted, if not enslaved. (The book of Daniel was probably written in the mid-second century B.C. during a period of Seleucid [Syrian] domination in Palestine.) It tells them and us how their ancestors had once faced a similar slavery under the oppression of the Babylonians centuries earlier. The implication was that if these ancestors could endure and overcome such bondage, so could they and so can we.
Gary L. Carver
Ulysses S. Grant fought many significant battles as commander of the Union forces in the War Between the States. He also served as President of the United States where he probably engaged in as many battles as he did while he was a general. Toward the end of his life he fought his toughest battle -- with cancer and death.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
There is an apocryphal story told that after completing his masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, the famous Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci went to a nearby tavern to celebrate the event with his friends. While in conversation and sipping a little of the local wine, Leonardo noticed that many in the tavern were making sport of an ugly fool who made his living going from tavern to tavern, entertaining patrons for a spare coin or a crust of bread. This man truly was an ugly person; he seemed to be more of a troll than a man. His small beady eyes were not centered in his oversized head.

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