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SermonStudio

The Proper Way To Wear A Halo -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: A sermon seems necessary occasionally on the fine line we have to tread between i
Proper 11 -- Psalm 53 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1993
Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God."
Third Sunday In Lent -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
The 10 commandments are unconditional demands of God. They are
Getting Out Of Your Grave -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: The resurrection message is of course the heart of the Christian faith and not ju
Christmas Eve -- Psalm 96 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- 1993
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Why Didn't Jesus Write A Bible? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: The real subject is our response to the written word and the living word.
Turn 'Em In -- That's What Friends Are For -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: There is a time to break confidences or to betray secrets in order to help person
Proper 12 -- Psalm 32 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1993
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Fourth Sunday In Lent -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
The people of Israel are fed up with the hardships of
Nuts And Bolts -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1993
1. Everything Is Fodder
When Church Becomes Too Familiar -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: When worship and being a Christian become so routine they lose meaning, we need a
You Have The Right To Remain Silent -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: What we should do about gossip, media misinformation, or innuendos.
Why Did God Hide Heaven? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: A good sermon on why God hasn't given us more information concerning heaven might
Proper 13 -- Psalm 34:11-22 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1993
Come, O children, listen to me; I till teach you the fear of the Lord.
Fifth Sunday In Lent -- Jeremish 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
Jeremiah addresses these words to the Jews in Babylon. Through
Crafting A Sermon -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1993
1. Praying Monday Night
King James: The Version Jesus Used -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Every Christian needs to be familiar with the various translations of the Bible t
Ladies, Let's Remember Our Places! -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Clergy must preach on the status of women in society and within the church.
Why I Am Not A Fundamentalist -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: Each church member should know enough about different Christian theologies to be
Proper 14 -- Psalm 143:1-8 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1993
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
Sunday Of The Passion (Palm Sunday) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11 -- John R. Brokhoff -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1993
This pericope constitutes the third of the four servant songs
Communication Cultures And Preaching Design -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1993
According to experts in communication theory the human race
A Great Delivery -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1993
1. The Purpose Of A Sermon
Good God Or Perfect Book? -- Terry Cain -- 1993
Purpose Statement: We need to do what we can to resolve the problem of a Bible that sometimes makes
Epiphany 4 -- Psalm 111 -- Hugh H. Drennan -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1993
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

Mall Meeting -- Galatians 6:1-2 -- David O. Bales -- 2000
Joan Detlef slammed the screen door behind her.
Believing Is Seeing -- John 20:19-31 -- John N. Brittain -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
I attended graduate school at St.
The Second Article: What Jesus Does For Us Today -- Isaiah 66:10-16, 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Apostles' Creed -- The Second Article
Taking The Long Look -- Jeremiah 32 -- Don M. Aycock -- 2000
What preacher has not stood up to proclaim the word and wondered secretly, "Why am I doing this?
Lighting The Unity Candle -- 1 Corinthians 13 -- Derl G. Keefer, Cheryl Rohret -- 2000
Paul, the Apostle, once wrote a letter to his Christian friends in Corinth about the nature of true
The Keys To Happiness -- Purity Of Heart -- Matthew 5:8, Psalm 51 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2000
Most Americans are increasingly interested in issues of purity, aren't we?
Same Question, Same Answer -- Luke 3:7-18 -- William G. Carter -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
"Preacher, why don't you tell me what you want me to do?" She stood with a frown on her face, while
When The Wailing Ends -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
No cavalry rode to the rescue; this time the savior was technology. Here is how it happened.
The Eighth Commandment: Speak Well Of Your Neighbor -- Proverbs 31:8-9, Matthew 18:15-20 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Eighth Commandment
Troubled By A Talking Whirlwind -- Job 38:1-7 -- Wallace H. Kirby -- 2000
I will never forget that Saturday morning.
The Hospitable Servant: A Woman Named Lydia -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
One of the great problems of our time particularly in some clergy circles is the myopic, antiquated,
A Rogue Savior -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Thomas A. Renquist -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2000
It's a perplexing story.
The Dismals -- Psalm 45:15 -- Daniel J. Weitner -- 2000
Teachers and preachers, take heart! Not everything you say goes in one ear and out the other.
By Faith In Christ -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Billy D. Strayhorn -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2000
There's a story about two newspaper editors who had been involved in a bitter feud of words and idea
Life Beside The Falls -- Ezekiel 47:1-12 -- David O. Bales -- 2000
The first storm of autumn clamped down with unseasonable cold -- lows at night in the teens -- which
Back Where It All Began -- John 21:1-19 -- John N. Brittain -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
Here we are, after the resurrection, after a couple of dramatic appearances to some of the disciples
The Third Article: Called By The Gospel -- Isaiah 61:1-3 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Apostles' Creed -- The Third Article
Tempted By Good -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Don M. Aycock -- 2000
Have you ever noticed that almost every mountaintop experience in life is followed by a valley exper
Growing A Marriage -- Ephesians 3:14-19 -- Derl G. Keefer, Cheryl Rohret -- 2000
(for an outdoor setting)
Guilt And Grace -- Romans 8:31-39 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2000
Several years back I clipped out a newspaper article about a group of businessmen in Bellingham, Was
Two Blessings For An Unwed Mother -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- William G. Carter -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
By Christmas vacation of my first year in college, I had become an expert on the birds and the bees.
The Power That Cannot Fail -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Henry F. Woodruff -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
You know the phrase.
The Ninth Commandment: Help And Be Of Service -- Psalm 16:5-6, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Matthew 6:25-34 -- James A. Lucas -- 2000
The Ninth Commandment
Adam And Jesus See Temptation -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- David Belgum -- 2000
Adam and Jesus were both good and created in the Image of God.
Twelve O'Clock Rock: When The Jailhouse Is Rocked -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2000
The prisoners and the jailers had their world rocked one midnight 2,000 years ago.

Spirituality

Stories

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

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SermonStudio

Christ's Sacrifice -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 25 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Enter!People: Enter His gates!
Israel's God -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with interested, lively voices as they
Number 62 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Relinquishing control.People: Wow! That's a toughy -- pretty risky, even.
Number 21 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: In a world where we feel imprisoned by economic pains and diseases, and where we feel shackl
PROPER 11 -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, Psalm 89:20-37 -- B. David Hostetter -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPRelax. You have heard the invitation of the Christ to come to
Number 56 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Let's think about gifts.
Jesus Speaks Of Trouble -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 26 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
The Curing Of Naaman -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 63 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: It was a time when society was crumbling; and there was serious doubt that humanity could be
Number 64 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: In this sin-filled world we live in the darkness of spiritual failure, where there are souls
Number 22 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Amazing! Astounding! Awesome!People: Are there other words to use?
PROPER 12 -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21, Psalm 14 -- B. David Hostetter -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPCome without concealment to confess your sins. Return to your
Number 57 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: "Compared to whom?" is the sarcastic question that's sometimes the response to someone's sta
Search Me, O God, And Know Me -- Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use before the pastoral prayer.
Number 27 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Come to worship. Come to pray and to praise.
Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 65 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: In the Christian faith there's a difference between happiness and joy.
Number 23 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: David asked the great question of the centuries: What is a man, that Thou art mindful of him
PROPER 13 -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35, Psalm 51:1-12 -- B. David Hostetter -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1993
* CALL TO WORSHIPCome into God's presence with a clean heart, with a new and right
Number 58 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
Pastor: Welcome to worship. What do you hope to find, today?
Living By Faith -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1993
Suggestions:Use in ordinary sequence with the scripture reading.
Number 28 -- George A. Nye -- 1993
People: (To be sung) "How Great Thou Art" (Copy in refrain only using your CCLI#)
Two Wisdom Stories -- Mark 2:13-22 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - 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...
Baptism of Our Lord
29 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
40 – Children's Sermons / Resources
25 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 2 | OT 2
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Epiphany 3 | OT 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
31 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
25 – 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
Christopher Keating
For January 25, 2026:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus called Simon and Andrew, James and John, to follow him. They immediately made their decision and dropped everything, for they knew the importance of their call. When Jesus calls us, do we hear him and do we respond?

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, when I'm busy I find it difficult to hear you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm busy, I find it difficult to respond to you.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, when I'm busy I'm not sure whether I want to follow you.
Lord, have mercy.
Janice B. Scott
I remember years ago watching an old film, which I think was "The Nun's Story." The young nun who was the heroine of the story had all sorts of difficulties in relationships with the other nuns. The problem was that she was super-intelligent, and the other nuns resented her. In the end the young nun went to the Mother Superior for advice, and was told that as a sign of humility she should fail her coming exams!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "Angel of Mercy"
Shining Moments: "A Dog's Life" by David Michael Smith
Good Stories: "God's Call" by Stephen Groves
Scrap Pile: "The Way Less Taken" by Garry Deverell


What's Up This Week
by John Sumwalt

C. David Mckirachan
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
"Ordinary Time" by C. David McKirachan
"Who's the Fool?" by C. David McKirachan
"Sharing the Light" by Sandra Herrmann


* * * * * * *


Ordinary Time
by C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 9:1-4

SermonStudio

John N. Brittain
How familiar Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1 sound! Chloe's people had reported quarreling among the believers. Imagine that -- disagreements in a church! There were rivalries and backstabbing even in the very earliest days of the Christian community.
Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
A few years ago, I was on a retreat in northern Michigan, and I knew that some of our friends from home were sailing in the vicinity. One evening I went to the local boat dock, and walked through the lines of boats calling out the names of our friends, hopeful that they might be there. I remember the joy I felt when I yelled their names, and they answered! They were actually there, and they responded to my call!
Dallas A. Brauninger
E-mail
From: KDM
To: God
Subject: In Christ's Name
Message: What on earth will bring us together, God? Lauds, KDM

How long must we wait, God,
for people to stop fighting
nations and nations
buyers and sellers
big ones and little ones
in-laws and relatives
husbands and wives
sisters and brothers
for me to stop fighting with me?
How long must we wait, God,
before we let the Christ Child come here?1
William B. Kincaid, III
In some parts of the country it doesn't matter, but in many areas the snow which falls during this time of the year can bring things to a decisive halt. Schools close. Events are canceled. Travel becomes tricky. If the conditions become severe enough, the decision may be made that not everybody should try to get to work. Only those who are absolutely necessary should report.
R. Glen Miles
"There will be no more gloom." That is how our text begins today. For the ones who were in anguish, glory will replace the gloom. Light will shine in darkness. Celebration will replace oppression. A new day will dawn.

In one sense these verses offer a summary of the overall message of the scriptures, "The darkness will pass. The light of a new day is dawning and there will be joy once again." At the end of the Bible, almost as if the original collectors of these sacred texts intended to remind us again of this word of hope, the Revelation of John tells us:
Robert A. Beringer
After a service of ordination to the Christian ministry, a sad-faced woman came up to the newly-ordained pastor and said, "It's a grand thing you are doing as a young man - giving up the joys of life to serve the Lord." That woman's attitude reflects a commonly held belief that to be serious about our faith means that we expect all joy to be taken out of living. For many, Christianity appears to be a depressing faith, with unwelcome disciplines, that cramps our lifestyle and crushes our spirits.
John T. Ball
All religions offer salvation. Eastern religions offer salvation from the illusion of being separated from ultimate reality - as in Hinduism, or from the pains of desire, as in Buddhism. Nature religions preach a salvation by calling us to realize we are linked to the natural world. Humanistic religions offer a salvation tied to the call to live in dignity and justice without divine aid. The biblical religions - Judaism, Islam, and Christianity - describe salvation in somewhat different ways. Judaism sees salvation primarily as an earthly and corporate affair.
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Litany Of Confession
P: Discord, dissention, strife,
C: anger, violence, hatred;
P: we confess to you, O God,
C: our schemes, our willful rebellion,
our hidden hostilities toward your children.
P: We confess to you, O God,
C: our lack of trust in your presence,
our need to control, our insatiable appetite for praise.
P: We confess to you, O God,
C: our fear of speaking the truth in love,
our self-hatred, our moments of utter despair
when we no longer believe you are at work in us.
Wayne H. Keller
Adoration And Praise

Invitation to the Celebration
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
Canticle Of Light And Darkness (UM205)
To Us A Child Of Hope Is Born (CBH189)
God Of Our Strength (CBH36)
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus (CBH250, UM297, NCH190, PH92)
In The Cross Of Christ I Glory (CBH566, UM295, NCH193--194, PH84)
Lord, You Have Come To The Lakeshore (CBH229, NCH173, PH377, UM344)
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life (PH408, CBH405, UM42, NCH543)
Jesus Calls Us, O'er The Tumult (UM398, NCH171--172, CBH398)

Anthems

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
In 1882 George MacDonald wrote a fascinating story that powerfully illumines the thought behind today's lectionary passages. MacDonald called his tale "The Day Boy and the Night Girl: the Romance of Photogen and Nycteris" (it is available online at http://www.ccel.org/m/macdonald/daynight/daynight.html). In MacDonald's fable a witch steals a newborn girl and raises her in the total darkness of a cave. The witch experiences both light and darkness, but not the girl. She is completely immersed in the black world.
Wayne Brouwer
"Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous!" said Winston Churchill. "In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times."

In one of his essays, Albert Camus describes a powerful scene. John Huss, the great Czech reformer of the church, is on trial. His accusers twist all his ideas out of shape. They refuse to give him a hearing. They maneuver the political machine against him and incite popular passion to a lynch-mob frenzy. Finally, Huss is condemned to be burned at
David Kalas
Schuyler Rhodes
I was in the home of a church member the other day where I saw a marvelous family portrait. The picture had been taken on the occasion of a fiftieth wedding anniversary, and the entire family had gathered for the occasion. The celebrating husband and wife were seated in the center of the picture, flanked by their adult children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. It was a magnificent full-color illustration of God's design.

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