Login / Signup

SermonStudio

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

Worship

SermonStudio

Third Sunday After Epiphany -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2001
Theme: The Light Has Come Call To Worship
Third Sunday After Epiphany -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2001
Theme: Christian Unity Call To Worship
Third Sunday After Epiphany -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2001
Theme: Jesus Begins His Ministry Call To Worship
Third Sunday After Epiphany -- Psalm 27 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany -- Micah 6:1-8 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
Theme: Genuine Piety Call To Worship
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
Theme: Christ -- The Power And Wisdom Of God Call To Worship
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
Theme: Life Under The Reign Of God Call To Worship
Psalm 15 -- Psalm 15 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
Theme: True Worship Call To Worship
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
Theme: True Wisdom Of God Call To Worship

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

The Maybe Moment -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Stan Purdum -- 2005
The Maybe Moment
Leaping From Recognition Point -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2005
Leaping From Recognition Point
Eating In The Echoing Hall -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Stan Purdum -- 2005
Eating In The Echoing Hall
A Hearing Heart -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2005
A Hearing Heart
The Thick Darkness -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2005
Eric Marshall and Stuart Hample have made a practice of visiting elementary schools and asking child
April Love -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2005
It's a bit odd that the lectionary committee placed this reading from the Song of Solomon in late su
The Spiritual Gateway -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2005
Picture this: You are on your way to the airport to catch a flight to a wedding where you are in the
Nice Guys Finish First -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2005
One day, a Sunday school teacher asked her class of children about their favorite Bible verses.
Mrs. Proverbs -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2005
It's a question you've probably not thought much about, but were any parts of the Bible written by w
Stewards Of Power -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2005
Stewards Of Power

Children's sermon

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

Spirit's Coming -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Jeff Wedge -- 2004
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
Feeding The 5,000 -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Jeff Wedge -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2004
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
Walking On Water -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Jeff Wedge -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2004
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he d
The Demon--Possessed Girl -- Matthew 15:21-28 -- Jeff Wedge -- 2004
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
First Sunday in Advent -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Promises are so important!
Second Sunday in Advent -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
If we read the Old Testament in tandem with the New Testament, we sometimes have to employ a double
Third Sunday in Advent -- Zephaniah 2:14-20 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Can we believe that God is carrying on a war against all sinners?
Fourth Sunday in Advent -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In the prophecies of Second Isaiah, the Lord God declares, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neith
All Saints' Sunday -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- All Saints Day - C -- 2003
Do you ever feel like giving up on your Christian faith?
Ascension of Our Lord -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2003
As we all know, the book of the Acts of the Apostles forms the second volume, as it were, of Luke's

Stories

SermonStudio

Ethics -- 1999
There is an unwritten code of the Bataks of Sumatra that dictates right and wrong behavior.
Evangelism -- 1999
I was at First Methodist Church in Des Moines for a meeting.
Example -- 1999
I saw a man today pushing his four-year-old son across the street at Forest and Harding against the
Faith -- 1999
In southern Egypt the temples are built on the east side of the Nile where the sun comes up.
Faith And Action -- 1999
At a PLTS chapel service Christine Sinnott talked of an eagle stirring up its nest.
Faith And Life -- 1999
Dr.
Family -- 1999
On a television sitcom, Mrs.
Forgiveness -- 1999
After consecrating the elements at Saint John's one day, I made my way toward the balcony with the e
Foundation -- 1999
I saw today a very heavy trailer of a tractor-trailer combination without the tractor parked on an a
Freedom -- 1999
Ralph Klein told the Senior Pastors Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, that the custom of raising th

Prayer

Devotional

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 5
28 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
26 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
29 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
22 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
21 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

SermonStudio

Richard E. Gribble, CSC
When Charlie Atlas was a teenager his parents purchased for him a dresser mirror that he placed in his bedroom. Before this, whenever Charlie needed to use a mirror, he went to the bathroom, but there he was only able to see his head and possibly his shoulders. When he got dressed up he used his parents' full-length mirror in their bedroom. Charlie was happy with his new mirror; he spent many hours in front of it.
Elizabeth Achtemeier
There is a strange belief abroad in our land at the present time, the belief that we cannot know God. Such a belief rises partly from a feeling of awe before the divine -- the feeling that God is so unfathomable, so other, so beyond our feeble understanding that we cannot possibly experience who he truly is in all of his fullness and perfection. And perhaps that is the reason that the Athenians have erected that idol "to an unknown God" that Paul encounters when he visits their city. They know that there is a god beyond them, but they cannot define him or name him.
Stan Purdum
(See Proper 23/Pentecost 21/Ordinary Time 28, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-12.)

Psalm 66 is a song of communal thanksgiving, probably composed to celebrate some national deliverance. Because of the personal language of verses 13-20, there is some speculation that this psalm was originally two hymns, but as it stands, it contains a combination of corporate and personal prayers, both appropriate in worship.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 17:22--31 (C, E, L)
Schuyler Rhodes
Are you one of those people who always has a backup plan? Do you make your commitments and focus your energies on one thing, but have an alternative in mind just in case things don't work out with the first one? You might call it "Plan B" or something else, but basically you're hedging your bets and covering yourself in case the situation goes south.
Mark Ellingsen
Jesus was still in the middle of his farewell discourse to his disciples. He was trying to comfort the despair that they were feeling when they had first heard the news (during the last supper) that Jesus would be leaving them (John 13:21, 33; 14:1). He had comforted them with the good news that he was on the way to God the Father, that in associating with Jesus, the disciples had been in fellowship with the Father (John 14:6-11). Whoever believed in him, Jesus said, would be able to do the works that he had done, even greater works (John 14:12).
Albert G. Butzer, III
Here are two statements about the world. Tell me if both of them ring true for you. The first of them is this: "The world is a beautiful place." And the second statement is this: "The world is a terrible and dangerous place." Both statements are true - don't you agree? - and yet, ironically, they seem to say the exact opposite thing. How much easier it would be to affirm one statement or the other, but not both.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
The name Robert Stroud is not one commonly heard in ordinary conversation, but this man's contribution to humanity will live on in the minds of many under a different title, "The Birdman of Alcatraz." By nature, Robert Stroud was not a congenial man. As a youth he was always getting into fights, disagreements, and various altercations. When he was only nineteen he killed a man in a barroom brawl, was convicted of second--degree murder, and was sentenced to the Federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, since the crime was committed on Federal land.
Richard W. Ferris
In a large stone cathedral in Europe there was a grand, magnificent pipe organ. On a particular Saturday afternoon, the sexton was making one final check of the choir and organ loft high in the balcony at the back of the church. As he was making his inspection, he was startled to hear footsteps echoing up the stone stairway behind him. He thought the doors were all locked and that no one else was in the church. He turned to see a man in slightly tattered traveling clothes coming toward him.
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Acts 17:22-31
Theme: To A Known God

Call To Worship
Leader: God is a known God who continually gives us evidence of presence.
People: God is a knowable God who extends to us the hand of hope.
All: Come, let us worship God. Amen.

Collect
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
Our Cities Cry To You, O God (PH437)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (PH376, UM384, LBW315, NCH43)
Holy Spirit, Truth Divine (PH321, UM465)
There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit (PH398, UM334)
Thy Holy Wings, O Savior (UM502)
Come Down, O Love Divine (LBW508, NCH289, PH313)
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee (OBW492, NCH502, PH357)
My Song Is Love Unknown (LBW94, NCH222, PH76)

Anthems
Praise The Lord, Service Music, Hal Hopson, CGA, Unison 2--part

The Immediate Word

Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Mary Austin
George Reed
For May 10, 2026:

StoryShare

John Fitzgerald
Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the classic Little House on the Prairie series neared an end to her
life. At this juncture she penned an essay about hope in face of the constant current of change. Here is an excerpt from that writing: 
Frank Ramirez
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Always Be Ready" by Frank Ramirez
"Looking for God" by Peter Andrew Smith
"A Gentle Profession" by Peter Andrew Smith


What's Up This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
The lessons for the Sixth Sunday of Easter direct us to sermons on the great things God’s love does, appreciating in two cases this love’s cosmic character (especially leading to a stress on justification by grace). This is an appropriate theme with the festival of the Ascension in view, which celebrates Christ’s almighty power and cosmic vindication. 

Acts 17:22-31
William H. Shepherd
Schuyler Rhodes
In Garret Kreizer's novel, God of Beer (2002), the high school social studies teacher tells the class about Gandhi's assertion that if God ever came to India, he'd have to come as bread, in order to get the attention of the starving peasants. The teacher then asks the class what form God would have to take in order to get the attention of their high school. "Beer," says one student. "Yeah," another chimes in, "it's the only thing to do around here."

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

CSSPlus

Hi there, boys and girls! How many of you have rules that you have to follow at home? (show of hands) What are some of the rules you have? (let them tell you) What about at school? Do you have rules there? What are they? (let them tell you)

Why should we even have rules? (see what they think) I think we have rules because it makes it easier for us to be together. If we are all kind to each other, we will all be happier. If there are rules, then maybe people will fight less.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL