Login / Signup

SermonStudio

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

Worship

SermonStudio

Theme: Give Me Back What The Bugs Stole -- Frank Ramirez -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Theme: When God Began To Create ... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- Frank Ramirez -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Theme: Rule Like God -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Frank Ramirez -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 118:24)
Theme: Standing Stones -- Exodus 24:3-8 -- Frank Ramirez -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 116:12-13) One:
Theme: Yours, Mine, And Ours -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Theme: I Had No Idea -- Luke 24:36b-48, 1 John 3:1-7, Acts 3:12-19 -- Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (based on Acts 3:12-13) One:
Theme: What Good Is That? -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (based on Acts 4:7 and 12) One:
Theme: Try And Stop Us -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Frank Ramirez -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To Worship
Theme: That'll Show Us -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Frank Ramirez -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 98:1)
Theme: Who Goes There? -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2005
Call To Worship (Psalm 139:17-18)

Drama

SermonStudio

Searching -- John 6:51-58, John 6:56-69 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersNarrator: male or female, any age
The Deeds -- James 1:17-27 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersMinister: male or female any age over college
The Applicants -- James 2:1-10 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersSecretary: male or female over college age
The Grocery Store -- James 3:1-12, Mark 9:30-37 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
(The lights come up on a woman, sitting on the couch talking on the telephone)
The Pray-er -- James 5:13-20 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersMildred: an elderly lady who is handicapped
The Hotel And Restaurant -- Hebrews 1:1-4, Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersPeter: the maitre d' hotel, middle-aged or older
The Mission -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersAgent 1: male or female, any ageAgent 2: male or female, any age
Are You Calling Me? -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
(The lights come up on a solitary figure, with no set or props.
The Adoption Agency -- Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
Cast Of CharactersAgency Director: male or female older than college age
Three Words -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Lori Lee Triplett -- 1993
(The monologue can be done simply as a stand-alone, or use your imagination to create a set where so

Sermon

SermonStudio

I Wonder As I Wander -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
An angel appeared to some shepherds, Saint Luke reports.
Little Lord Jesus -- Luke 1:46b-55, Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
"Take me to your leader" -- it's the famous cliché of bad science-fiction movies.
The Glory Of Flesh And Blood -- Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
A few springs ago, I installed a small pond in the side yard of our home.
No More Senseless Journeys -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
Because Jesus was Mary's firstborn, there were four words that she and Joseph did not have to hear a
In Dulci Jubilo -- Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11, Luke 1:46b-55, Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
Year after year, we are drawn to this night.
Word Made Flesh -- John 1:1-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
Two observations about language: In the academic world, this is what we might call "the season of ve
Son Of God, Love's Pure Light -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 60:1-6, Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
The ship's captain stood at the helm on a night that boasted neither moon nor stars, but only impene
A Bow In The Clouds, A Babe In A Manger -- Isaiah 11:1-9, Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
The place to start is with a family on a boat.
Light In Darkness, Speech From Silence -- Isaiah 9:2-7, John 1:1-14 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
This season, the boundaries of darkness are pushed back.
Ironies, Contrasts, Paradoxes, And Reversals -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20 -- Mark Wm. Radecke -- 2008
Saint Luke's narrative of the Christmas story has been read and heard and cherished this season in m

Children's sermon

SermonStudio

Using Your Imagination -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage children to use their imagination for good.
The Wind Sock -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To show that we need God's love and wisdom to give our lives proper direction.
A Bucket Of Water -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage children to actively seek the things of our faith.
Learning From A Flower -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To show why we should be thankful to God.
A Disappearing Act -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: It is not necessary to see God; but we can still experience God.
Hidden Treasure -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: True life with God is like a great treasure.
The Shortest Distance -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage children to stick with a task until it is finished.
Pieces Of Paper -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: Understanding values.
Fine And False Speech -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage children to tell the truth.
The Rich And The Poor -- Kenneth A. Mortonson -- 1993
Purpose: To encourage the children to be friendly to new children in the church.

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

Proper 27/Pentecost 25/Ordinary Time 32 -- Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2006
Psalm 145 is known not so much in its entirety, but piecemeal, by those who are familiar with Christ
Proper 27/Pentecost 25/Ordinary Time 32 -- Psalm 98 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2006
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see also Christmas Day, Cycle A and B, and Easter
Proper 28 / Ordinary Time 33 / Pentecost 23 -- Isaiah 12 -- James Evans -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2006
(For an alternative approach to vv. 2-6, see Advent 3, Cycle C.)
Christ The King/Proper 29 -- Luke 1:68-79 -- James Evans -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2006
(See Advent 2, Cycle C, for an alternative approach.)
Thanksgiving Day -- Psalm 100 -- James Evans, Stan Purdum, Carlos Wilton -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2006
This brief psalm is among the most familiar in the psalter, but that is primarily because its verses
Plays Well With Others: B+ -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: If nothing else, the Christian should be congenial, amicable, and much better
Let Me Tell You What You Believe -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: So many Christians are ignorant concerning the beliefs and doctrines of their
No Yellow Flags! -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: Christians should be concerned about avoiding making mistakes.
God Always Wins At Hide And Seek -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: We can't get away from God.
Should Acolytes Wear Sneakers? -- Terry Cain -- 2005
Purpose Statement: How formal or informal should we allow our worship services to become?

Stories

SermonStudio

A Random Act Of Kindness -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Constance Berg -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2001
In his book A Time to Fish and A Time to Dry Nets (1996: Lakewood Publishing Co.), author Alv
Baptism By Spit -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Constance Berg -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2001
"Jan wasn't baptized by the spirit, she was baptized by spit," went the joke.
Fred's Team -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Constance Berg -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2001
Every day newspapers, magazines, and radio stations report how "bad" things are getting.
Doing Something - For God -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Constance Berg -- Easter Day - A -- 2001
"Honey, I want to do something for God. What should I do?"
Doubt - A Difficult Thing To Overcome -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Constance Berg -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Doubt, especially self--doubt, is difficult to overcome. Sometimes it is impossible.
Unrecognized Faith -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Constance Berg -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Pastor Jim and his wife Ida were shaking hands with people as they came to church.
The Importance Of Sheep -- John 10:1-10 -- Constance Berg -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
In Palestine, the shepherd figure was a familiar one: shepherds were part of the scenery, part of th
What Good Can Come Of This? -- John 14:1-14 -- Constance Berg -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Their hearts were troubled. They couldn't believe it.
The Advocate -- John 14:15-21 -- Constance Berg -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
A new baby boy: Jonathan Richard.
The Sewage Pit -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Constance Berg -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
I was at a Michael Card concert many years ago, enjoying the message and the music of this fine musi

Prayer

Devotional

SermonStudio

Lent 1 -- Psalm 32 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
... and in whose spirit there is no deceit. -- Psalm 32:2
Lent 1 -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even for those whose sins were not like the tran
Lent 1 -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Lent 2 -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
I will make of you a great nation ...
Lent 2 -- Psalm 121 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Lent 2 -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
... "Abraham believed in God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Lent 2 -- John 3:1-17 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
What is born of the flesh is flesh, what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Lent 3 -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
... "Is the Lord among us or not?" -- Exodus 17:7
Lent 3 -- Psalm 95 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah.... -- Psalm 95:8
Lent 3 -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Stephen P. McCutchan -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Poems

Pastoral Resources

Children's program

Pageant

Adult study

Youth Resources

Monologues

Church Programs

Meditations

Candlelighting service

Biblical Studies

Humor

Faith Development

Bible Study

Children's Resources

Self Help

Liturgy

Illustration

Spirituality

Biblical Study

Inspirational

Christian Life

Easter

Lent/Easter

Church Growth

Sacrament

Healing

Death

Funeral

Memorial

Observance

Christian

African-American History

Thanksgiving Day

Marriage Ceremony

Wedding Vow

Home Blessing

Church Anniversary

Women's Day

Men's Day

Church Leaders

Mother's Day

Gathering Prayer

Unison Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

Intercession

Fellowship

Christian Faith

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
30+ – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
26 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
27 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
27 – 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
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Christopher Keating
For April 12, 2026:

StoryShare

Keith Wagner
Contents
"Spiritually Speaking" by Keith Wagner
"Living With More Power" by Keith Wagner


Spiritually Speaking
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 16
Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Keith Hewitt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"When through Fiery Trials" by Alex Gondola
"Tracks" by Keith Hewitt


What's Up This Week

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited. Peter's eyes were shining, and he could hardly contain his impatience. John was always quieter than Peter, but even he seemed full of barely suppressed eagerness. They were both tugging at Thomas, while at the same time dancing round him.

Thomas reluctantly agreed to go to the cave with them, although he continued to think they were mad. "If there was nothing there last week, how can it have changed now?" he kept asking.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
This psalm is a song of confidence and trust, and the first-century church found in it a prophecy of the Resurrection. Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, quotes verses 8-11 (Acts 2:25-28), applying them to the risen Lord. Thus, its designation as the responsorial psalm for Easter 2.

The psalm falls easily into three divisions: verses 1-4, there is no good apart from God; 5-8, the Lord is my portion and my counselor; and 9-11, there is joy and life with God.
John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32 (C, E)
According to God's plan and David's prophecy, Jesus was raised from the dead. This pericope is a part of Peter's Pentecost sermon. It is a sample of the early church's preaching, as Luke understood it, summarized in the crucifixion, resurrection, and fulfillment of prophecy. Peter emphasizes that what happened to Jesus was according to God's plan. He quotes Psalm 16 as a prophecy by David of the resurrection which was fulfilled. The disciples are witnesses to the fulfillment because of their encounters with the risen Lord.
Tony S. Everett
So, here we are just over one week after Easter Sunday. Vigils are finished. Sunrise services are over. Dishes from the youth breakfast have been washed and put away. Brass and tympani fanfares have concluded. Flowers on the cross have begun to wilt and blow away. Fewer pews are filled.
Richard L. Sheffield
What the disciples of Jesus reported to their fellow disciple Thomas they had seen seemed unbelievable. And Thomas didn't believe it! They said they saw Jesus alive. Well, Thomas saw him alive until late the previous Friday afternoon when Thomas saw him dead. It was now Sunday afternoon -- and to what they said they saw, Thomas' response was, "Seeing is believing," and until I see something different from what I have already seen, I will not believe a word of what you say.
Albert G. Butzer, III
Several years ago the Episcopal Church launched a creative and clever advertising campaign. One of their ads pictured a young man with a frustrated look on his face because someone had put a heavy piece of tape across his mouth. His mouth had been taped shut; he was unable to speak. The caption, which accompanied the picture, said this: "The problem with churches that have all of the answers is that you can't ask questions."
Harry N. Huxhold
The United States of America has earned the reputation of being the most violent culture in the world. That really is an oxymoron. How can one speak of culture as being violent? Yet the problem of violence is so widespread in our nation that Gavin De Becker, an authority on violence, notes that we are a nation with more firearms than adults, and twenty thousand guns enter our commerce every day. His book, The Gift of Fear, is about our fear which furnishes us survival signals to protect us from violence. We should not be shocked that anyone is capable of violence.
Bill Mosley
The great luxury liner was on fire, but no one knew it. Deep in the hold, near the engine room, hundreds of tons of coal were stored. Coal--powered ships used to carry the coal in a watered--down state. But this ship was new, and very big; bigger than any ship ever built, or had ever sailed. So even though the coal was watered for safety, the enormous amount meant that there were dry spots. A fire smoldered undiscovered deep in the coal supply, and when it was discovered, a fire--fighting crew was sent to quench it. They worked for days, even weeks, and couldn't put it out.
B. David Hostetter
CALL TO WORSHIP
Bless our God who has given us counsel.
Come to worship with exulting heart and rejoicing spirit.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
I Danced In The Morning (UM261, PH 302)
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (CBH 272)
Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee (NCH507)
We Live By Faith And Not By Sight (NCH256, PH398)
O Sons And Daughters, Let Us Sing (NCH244, PH116, 117)
Breathe On Me, Breath Of God (CBH356, UM420, PH316)
These Things Did Thomas Count (NCH284)
When In The Night I Meditate (PH165)

Anthems
From the Messiah: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, G. F. Handel
Frank Ramirez
Call To Worship (Acts 2:32)
 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.


Collect
 We lift up our eyes to you Lord, after the despair of the cross. We follow the path from the empty tomb to see you risen and walking among us! We praise your name in victory! Amen.


Prayer Of Confession

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Fresh air is precisely what many people feel they never get in church. Many recall the experiences of former times when the air was stodgy and stuffy. In some communities of faith the air is still a bit stifling, and so when invited to worship, the response is often, "Been there. Done that."

Yet our lessons are full of the freshness of spring, bringing life and vigor to what had been dormant, as though frozen in winter and refusing to thaw.

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Wayne Brouwer
One of my good friends died last year. He had reached a good age and was mostly ready to go. In fact, he once told me he had more lives than the proverbial cat's nine. On too many occasions, because of cancer and accidents and blood diseases, doctors had written him off. Yet, like the Energizer bunny, he kept going and going and going....

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. This morning we read from the Bible about a special meeting between Jesus, who had been resurrected a week earlier, and his disciples. All of the disciples believed the resurrection except Thomas, who had not been in the room when Jesus met with the disciples a week earlier. Thomas had heard about it but didn't believe. He said that unless he saw for himself the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus, he would not believe.
Good morning, boys and girls. What does this sign mean? (Let them answer.) It is a question mark. When you see it that means someone is asking a question. Sometimes it means that someone doesn't believe what you are saying. That means the person is doubting you. It's a very common thing to have doubts about something. If one of you told me that you don't like to play with toys, I'd say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it. I'll bet you really like to play with toys." If one of you told me that you didn't like candy, I would say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL