Login / Signup

SermonStudio

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Adult study

African-American History

Bible Study

Biblical Studies

Biblical Study

Candlelighting service

Children's program

Children's Resources

Children's sermon

Christian

Christian Faith

Christian Life

Church Anniversary

Church Growth

Church Leaders

Church Programs

Death

Devotional

Drama

Easter

Faith Development

Fellowship

Funeral

Gathering Prayer

Healing

Home Blessing

Humor

Illustration

Inspirational

Intercession

Lent/Easter

Liturgy

Marriage Ceremony

Meditations

Memorial

Men's Day

Monologues

Mother's Day

Observance

Pageant

Pastoral Resources

Poems

Prayer

Preaching

SermonStudio

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany -- Isaiah 58:3-9a, Matthew 5:13-20 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 20 -- Exodus 32:1-14, Matthew 20:1-16 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany -- Isaiah 49:8-13, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Matthew 5:27-37 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 10 -- Exodus 2:11-22, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Epiphany of Our Lord -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 13 -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 8:31-39, Matthew 14:13-21 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Fifth Sunday in Lent -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11 -- George M. Bass -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 17 -- Exodus 19:1-9, Matthew 16:21-28 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1989
Exodus 19:1-9Romans 12:1-13Matthew 16:21-28
Fifth Sunday of Easter -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:1-10, John 14:1-14 -- George M. Bass -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 16 -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 16:13-20 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
First Sunday of Advent -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- George M. Bass -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 6 -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:35-10:8 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
First Sunday of Lent -- Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17, 25-3:7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- George M. Bass -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Holy Trinity -- Deuteronomy 4:32-40, 2 Corinthians 13:5-14, Matthew 28:16-20 -- George M. Bass -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany -- Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 -- George M. Bass -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
The Nativity of Our Lord -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- George M. Bass -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Fourth Sunday of Advent -- Isaiah 7:10-17, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 -- George M. Bass -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 11 -- Exodus 3:1-12, Romans 8:18-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hosea 6:1-6, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, John 18:1-19:42 -- George M. Bass -- Good Friday - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Proper 4 -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 3:21-28, Matthew 7:21-29 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Second Sunday in Lent -- Genesis 12:1-4a (4b-8), John 3:1-17 -- George M. Bass -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1989
The arrangement of the lessons for the second through the fifth Sundays in Lent is rather confusing;
Proper 19 -- Exodus 20:1-20, Matthew 18:21-35 -- George M. Bass -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Fourth Sunday in Lent -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- George M. Bass -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1989
The church year theological clue
Epiphany 2 -- Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11 -- Perry H. Biddle, Jr. -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1988
Comments on the Lessons
Lent 2 -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35 -- Perry H. Biddle, Jr. -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1988
Comments on the Lessons

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

Inherit The World -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1998
"The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come throug
Center Yourself In The Lord -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
When Charlie Atlas was a teenager his parents purchased for him a dresser mirror that he placed in h
Salvation Serving -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Joseph M. Freeman -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 1998
When I was in high school, I had a bad case of acne. Many teenagers did then and many still do now.
Food For Hungry People -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
There is no story in all of the Bible that more graphically demonstrates the dilemma of biblical int
Make Good Use Of Your Injustice -- Philippians 2:1-11 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... he emptied himself taking the form of a slave...
Easter: A Time For Higher Things -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Easter Day - A -- 1998
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Loaned Or Owned? -- 2 Samuel 12:18-23 -- Anthology -- 1998
for an infantOle Winter
Been There, Done That -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 1998
We can thank Mountain Dew for throwing one more cliché on the heap of cutesy phrases.
Is There Any Seed Left In The Barn? -- Haggai 2:19 -- Frank Ramirez -- 1998
About eight years ago I first considered moving from Los Angeles to northern Indiana, from the city
When God Says, "Let Me Alone" -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- William A. Jones -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1998
Poor Moses, poor Aaron, poor people. I label all of them poor, but for different reasons.
Enter Your Pax Word A Lenten Lexicon -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 1998
Enter your password -- flashed up on the computer screen.
The Community Of Life -- Acts 1:6-14 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 1998
Unity and disunity -- these words are more than mere opposites.
The Marvelous Style Of Jesus: Truth And Love -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Joseph M. Freeman -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1998
Jesus' use of parables is his way of communicating a striking truth with significant love.
The Tie That Binds -- Mark 14:12-21 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
For centuries the question has been debated among Christians: When did the Church begin?
Bad Habits -- Mark 9:38-43, 47-48 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 1998
... if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out...
God Promises, Promises! -- John 14:2-3 -- Anthology -- 1998
a funeral meditationJohn R. Brokhoff
Overcoming Spiritual Anemia -- John 6:51-58 -- Wayne H. Keller -- 1998
Webster, the famous dictionary author, defines anemia as a "condition in which the red corpuscles of
In The Flesh -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- William B. Kincaid, III -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 1998
"And the Word became flesh."
For I Have Chosen You! -- Haggai 2:20-23 -- Frank Ramirez -- 1998
When I was a kid the night before Christmas was the longest night in the world.
The Temptation Of His Life -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Thomas A. Pilgrim -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1998
Robert Penn Warren wrote a novel called All The King's Men.
On Seeing His Backside -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- William A. Jones -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1998
"I beseech Thee, O God, show me thy glory. Show me the essence of your being.
Pleasing The Teacher -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Frank Luchsinger -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1998
Pleasing the teacher.
Freely Sharing The Burden -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Good Friday - A -- 1998
Once in a far-off land there was a great king whose dominion extended far and wide.
Discernment Is Better Than Keeping Your Guard -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Joseph M. Freeman -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1998
Over the course of one's life, one knows those persons/groups who think the worst of you and who are
Freed For Service -- John 13:1-9 -- Robert A. Stanley -- 1998
No scene in the Bible is more gripping, awe--inspiring, and compelling than the picture of Jesus, po

Spirituality

Stories

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

Worship

SermonStudio

Jesus' calming of the sea: the disciples' fear and awe -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
A teaching with authority - A summary of Jesus' teaching ministry -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
Jesus' healing of the woman with a flow of blood and the ruler's daughter -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
The preaching ministry -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Announcement - You're the one, Mary! You're the ones, church! -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 1990
Invitation to the Corporate CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Jesus' healing of the leper -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
Jesus' inability to do any mighty works in his own community because of the peoples' disbelief -- Mark 6:1-6 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
Jesus healing the bed-ridden -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 1990
Theme: Jesus healing the bed-ridden, followed by the hostility of the scribes.
Jesus calling the disciples and sending them out two by two -- Mark 6:7-13 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Watchfulness -- Mark 13:32-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1990
Suggested quotes at the beginning and end of the order of worship:
Jesus' invitation to the disciples to leave the crowd and to rest -- Mark 6:30-34 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
The Transfiguration of Jesus -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Jesus' attempt to be alone with his disciples -- John 6:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
The Baptism, Temptation, Message of Jesus -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Jesus, the Bread of Life -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Jesus' awareness of the cost of discipleship -- Mark 8:31-38, Mark 9:2-10 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
Jesus' response to, his critics, and his reiteration of the Bread of Life theme -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor began this way:
The cleansing of the temple; the promise of Jesus' resurrection. -- John 2:13-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationSuggestion:
Jesus' insights into his body and blood -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1990
Order of Worship HeadingsConsider this:
God's love for the world to which the son came to bring light and judgment. -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationConsider this:
Jesus, the living Bread and Wine -- John 6:55-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationOne pastor did this:
Jesus' moving toward his death and glorification; the call to die in order to live -- John 12:20-33 -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
Jesus' insight into his death because of the people's attitudes -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1990
Pastoral Invitation to the CelebrationTry this:
The final events of Jesus' life -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1990
The idea for this Holy Week celebration came from an idea suggested by a pastor in a church periodic
Christmastide, the Season of the Nativity -- John 14:9 -- 1990
The most popular of all the Christian festivals is the season of Christmas.

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – 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 December 7, 2025:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
There was an incident some years ago, when an elderly lady in some village parish in England was so fed up with the sound of the church bells ringing, that she took an axe and hacked her way through the oak door of the church. Once inside, she sliced through the bell ropes, rendering the bells permanently silent. The media loved it. There were articles in all the papers and the culprit appeared on television. The Church was less enthusiastic - and took her to court.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
(See The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Cycle A, and The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Cycle B, for alternative approaches.)

This psalm is a prayer for the king, and it asks God to extend divine rule over earth through the anointed one who sits on the throne. Although the inscription says the psalm is about Solomon, that is a scribal addition. More likely, this was a general prayer used for more than one of the Davidic kings, and it shows the common belief that the monarch would be the instrument through which God acted.

Mark Wm. Radecke
In her Pulitzer Prize winning book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, author Annie Dillard recalls this chilling remembrance:
Paul E. Robinson
There is so much uncertainty in life that most of us look hard and long for as many "sure things" as we can find. A fisherman goes back again and again to that hole that always produces fish and leaves on his line that special lure that always does the trick. The fishing hole and the lure are sure things.
John N. Brittain
If you don't know that Christmas is a couple of weeks away, you must be living underground. And you must have no contact with any children. And you cannot have been to a mall, Wal-Mart, Walgreen's, or any other chain store since three weeks before Halloween. Christmas, probably more than any other day in the contemporary American calendar, is one of those days where impact really stretches the envelope of time not just -- like some great tragedy -- after the fact, but also in anticipation.
Tony S. Everett
One hot summer day, a young pastor decided to change the oil in his automobile for the very first time in his life. He had purchased five quarts of oil, a filter wrench, and a bucket in which to drain the used oil. He carefully and gently drove the car onto the shiny, yellow ramps and eased his way underneath his vehicle.

Charles L. Aaron, Jr.
We've gathered here today on the second Sunday of Advent to continue to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. This task of preparing for the arrival of the Lord is not as easy as we might think it is. As in other areas of life, we find ourselves having to unlearn some things in order to see what the scriptures teach us about God's act in Jesus. We've let the culture around us snatch away much of the meaning of the birth of the Savior. We have to reclaim that meaning if we really want to be ready for what God is still doing in the miracle of Christmas.
Timothy J. Smith
As we make our way through Advent inching closer to Christmas, our days are consumed with many tasks. Our "to do" list grows each day. At times we are often out of breath and wondering if we will complete everything on our list before Christmas Day. We gather on this Second Sunday in Advent to spiritually prepare for what God has done and continues to do in our lives and in our world. We have been too busy with all our activities and tasks so that we are in danger of missing out on the miracle of Christmas.
Frank Luchsinger
For his sixth grade year his family moved to the new community. They made careful preparations for the husky, freckle-faced redhead to fit in smoothly. They had meetings with teachers and principal, and practiced the route to the very school doors he would enter on the first day. "Right here will be lists of the classes with the teachers' names and students. Come to these doors and find your name on a list and go to that class."
R. Glen Miles
The text we have heard today is pleasant, maybe even reassuring. I wonder, though, how many of us will give it any significance once we leave the sanctuary? Do the words of Isaiah have any real meaning for us, or are they just far away thoughts from a time that no longer has any relevance for us today?
Susan R. Andrews
When our children were small, a nice church lady named Chris made them a child--friendly creche. All the actors in this stable drama are soft and squishy and durable - perfect to touch and rearrange - or toss across the living room in a fit of toddler frenzy. The Joseph character has always been my favorite because he looks a little wild - red yarn spiking out from his head, giving him an odd look of energy. In fact, I have renamed this character John the Baptist and in my mind substituted one of the innocuous shepherds for the more staid and solid Joseph. Why this invention?
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Litany Of Confession
P: Wild animals flourish around us,
C: and prowl within us.
P: Injustice and inequity surround us,
C: and hide within us.
P: Vanity and pride divide us,
C: and fester within us.

A time for silent reflection

P: O God, may your love free us,
C: and may your Spirit live in us. Amen.

Prayer Of The Day

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The world and the church approach the "Mass of Christ" with a different pace, and "atmospheres" that are worlds apart. Out in the "highways and byways" tinsel and "sparkly" are everywhere, in the churches the color of the paraments and stoles is a somber violet, or in some places, blue. Through the stores and on the airwaves carols and pop tunes are up-beat, aimed at getting the spirits festive, and the pocketbooks and wallets are open.
David Kalas
In the United States just now, we're in the period between the election and the inauguration of the president. In our system, by the time they are inaugurated, our leaders are fairly familiar faces. Months of primaries and campaigning, debates and speeches, and conventions and commercials, all contribute to a fairly high degree of familiarity. We may wonder what kind of president someone will be, but we have certainly heard many promises, and we have had plenty of opportunities to get to know the candidate.
During my growing up years we had no family automobile. My father walked to work and home again. During World War II his routine at the local milk plant was somewhat irregular. As children we tried to guess when he would come. If we were wrong, we didn't worry. He always came.
Wayne Brouwer
Schuyler Rhodes
What difference does my life make for others around me? That question is addressed in three related ways in our texts for today. Isaiah raised the emblem of the Servant of Yahweh as representative for what life is supposed to be, even in the middle of a chaotic and cruel world. Paul mirrors that reflection as he announces the fulfillment of Isaiah's vision in the coming of Jesus and the expansion of its redemptive effects beyond the Jewish community to the Gentile world as well.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL