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Worship

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Ascension Of Our Lord -- Luke 24:44-53 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2001
Theme: The Commission Call To Worship
Ascension Of Our Lord -- Psalm 47 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:6-14 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Theme: God's Messengers Come To Us In Our Time Of Indecision
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Theme: The Power Of God To Overcome Call To Worship
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- John 17:1-11 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Theme: Eternal Life Is To Know God Call To Worship
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
The Day Of Pentecost -- Acts 2:1-21 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Theme: The Coming Of The Holy Spirit Call To Worship
The Day Of Pentecost -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Theme: The Gift Of The Spirit Call To Worship
The Day Of Pentecost -- John 7:37-39 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Theme: Pentecost Call To Worship
The Day Of Pentecost -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance

Drama

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SermonStudio

Beware: Hypocrites On Premises -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- David T. Ball -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2005
Whenever I happen to be in a conversation with someone about why they don't go to church, it seems l
Baptism: The Common Call To Holiness -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2005
Once upon a time long ago a young man decided to become a saint.
Belonging To The Truth -- John 18:33-37 -- Stan Purdum -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2005
(Note: Although the lectionary reading stops at verse 37, I recommend reading through verse 38a, whi
When Faith Is Difficult -- John 20:19-31 -- David T. Ball -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
We've heard in sermons and Bible study groups that the scriptures become meaningful only when the Bi
Really Believing In The Resurrection -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- David T. Ball -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Apparently the early New Testament followers had difficulty believing in the resurrection.
Those Other Sheep -- John 10:11-18 -- David T. Ball -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Sometimes a familiar scriptural text begs for our attention. We may have read this text many times.
Nothing But Plunging In -- John 15:1-8 -- David T. Ball -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Commenting on our lection, John 15:1-8, a great American preacher wrote, "There is nothing for it bu
The Power Of Jesus' Death -- John 15:9-17 -- David T. Ball -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
There is an old saying that nothing is inevitable except death and taxes.
Heaven Can Wait -- John 17:6-19 -- David T. Ball -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
In a popular Hollywood movie starring Warren Beatty, Beatty plays a quarterback destined to lead the
Jesus Is Still Alive! -- John 20:1-18 -- David T. Ball -- Easter Day - B -- 2005
Today we Christians celebrate Easter Sunday.

Children's sermon

Preaching

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First Sunday In Lent -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Second Sunday In Lent -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Third Sunday In Lent -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Fourth Sunday In Lent -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Fifth Sunday In Lent -- Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
The Nativity Of Our Lord -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeThe Savior is born into the human world and circumstances.
Sunday Of The Passion (Palm Sunday) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Pentecost Day -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2003
Seasonal Theme The teachings, miracles, and earthly ministry of Jesus.
Proper 10 -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.

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Stories

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Reconciliation -- 1999
The headline in the Contra Costa Times, November 16, 1997, read, "Family of slain Palestinian
Renewal -- 1999
In Harry DeCarlo's restaurant in Des Moines, I noticed a box of Twix candy bars with the following s
Rescue -- 1999
CNN called John Freese, of the American Embassy in Liberia, a hero.
Rest -- 1999
During a four-hour ordination service in the Batak Church in Medan, Sumatra, I saw the assistant to
Resurrection -- 1999
Sam Donaldson on the ABC news told of Yellowstone Park, which burned last summer.
Resurrection And Death -- 1999
Atlanta's Dion James hit a ball in Shea Stadium which hit and killed a dove on the fly.
Revenge -- 1999
In an expose on television about Sobibor (sic), an Eastern Poland death camp, a Jew commented
Revival -- 1999
The Lutherans had a revival. The first night they even tried an altar call.
Rules -- 1999
At a wedding reception at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines, still dressed in clerical black, I stepp
Sacrifice -- 1999
Marvin Kalb on NBC interviewed an old man who had the grazing rights for his cows on the land where

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Mary Austin
George Reed
For September 13, 2026:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
As the school year has begun and the autumn has churches back into their routines, these texts raise the question of what God has for practicing Christian faith or discipleship in the year to come. N.T. Wright has been writing volumes to suggest that the end game of the Christian life is not merely obtaining salvation or being made with God, then waiting out our years until we die and go up to heaven. The God who delivers Israel and Christians has much more for Christians to accomplish as stewards and co-creators for God’s eternal purposes.
Anger is like a volcano. Deep in many of us there is a lake of pain, pure molten hurt. From the outside no one sees it, usually. We cover it over so well. But one day the heat rises, and the dam breaks, and the cork blows, and anger erupts like an explosion. And dogs get kicked. And triggers get pulled. And wives get beaten. And missiles get launched.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
"Where's Ruth?" asked Jamie's mother.

Jamie scowled. "I hate Ruth," she muttered angrily.

"You do?" said Jamie's mother, surprised. About an hour ago Jamie and Ruth had been best friends. "What happened?" she added.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Anne Le Bas
Steve Philip
Steven Fortney
Sue D'alessio
Contents
What's Up This Week: "When the Big One Hits"
A Story to Live By: "What's God Up To?"
Sermon Starters: "In the Wake of the Storm" by John Sumwalt
"The Storm Voice and the Voice of God" by Anne Le Bas
Modern Epistle: "Dispatch from the Front" by Steve Philip
Scrap Pile: "The Tremendum of Whirlwinds" by Steven Fortney
"Response to the Poem from a Friend" by Sue D'Alessio


What's Up This Week

When the Big One Hits
Frank Ramirez
John E. Sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Unsecret Weapon" by Frank Ramirez
"The Unknown Churchgoers" by John Sumwalt


What's Up This Week

SermonStudio

Jerry L. Schmalenberger
Seasonal Theme
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.

Theme For The Day
Making right decisions for Christian behavior.

Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 14:19-31
Parting Of The Sea
Carlos Wilton
This alternate psalm follows immediately after this morning's Old Testament Lesson, the story of the parting of the Red Sea. It contains two ancient hymns -- known, respectively, as the Song of Moses and the Song of Miriam.

Of the two, the Song of Miriam is unquestionably the oldest. It is composed of just two lines -- lines which have been incorporated into the opening of the longer Song of Moses: "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea" (v. 21).
Stan Purdum
This psalm falls into four cantos. Verses 1-2 refer to Israel's foundation story and most importantly, to how God selected that nation as a dwelling place. Verses 3-4 explain that God's presence with Israel had an effect on the actual workings of nature. Verses 5-6 revel in the wonder of how the earth responded obediently to God's presence in Israel. Verses 7-8 are a summons for the rest of creation and the other nations to feel the power of God's presence as well.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31 (C)
The presence of the Lord in the pillar of fire, that normally went ahead of the people to lead them, moved to the rear of the community as an obscuring cloud, a kind of buffer between them and the army of the Pharaoh. The Lord caused a strong wind to dry up a pathway through the sea so that the Hebrews passed to the other side. The pursuing Egyptians became mired in the mud and the waters closed in upon them. Thus, the Lord delivered his people from their enemies.
Larry Lange
Once upon a time, in a garage in the ancient city of Rome, a man developed a computer operating system that became the digital lingua franca for the ancient world. How his operating system defeated its competitor is one of the great mysteries of all time. There must have been something about its ugly, utilitarian appearance and its proclivity toward redundancy that appealed to the brutal bureaucrats who established the Roman Empire.
Tempe Fussell
Curtis Fussell
I suppose when we hear this passage about the parting of the Reed Sea, many of us cannot help but recall that scene in the movie The Ten Commandments. There is Moses, played by Charlton Heston, in a flowing black robe, long hair blowing in the wind, and his arms lifted up with one hand holding the staff that God had given him. The sea suddenly heaves and parts, creating a path with rolling walls of water on either side. Then, Israel marches through on dry land, barely ahead of the pursuing Egyptian army.
William J. Carl, III
What we have in our passage is the contrast between a theology of grace and a theology of keeping score. The first is the one Jesus espouses in this text. The second is the one Peter is pushing and, by the way, the one our world has bought into for centuries.
John R. Brokhoff
In 1988 former Texas governor, John Connally, auctioned off his personal belongings ranging from saddles to paintings for $2.75 million. This was only a fraction of the almost 50 million he owed because of failure in real estate and oil holdings.
Tom M. Garrison
While I was still in seminary, I thought it would be good to go back to my roots and try to understand a little more about my past and myself. There were things that I faintly remembered from my childhood. There were, however, large chunks of the past that completely escaped my awareness. So I took a trip to Samantha, Alabama, to see my great aunt Sally Boone who was already in her seventies. I vividly remember the visit. The day as I remember it was hot; she had opened all the doors and windows to let in a little breeze.
Stan Purdum
French author Victor Hugo has a short story titled, "93." In the midst of this tale a ship at sea is caught in a terrific storm. Buffeted by the waves, the boat rocks to and fro, when suddenly the crew hears an awesome crashing sound below deck. They know what it is. A cannon they are carrying has broken loose and is smashing into the ship's sides with every list of the ship. Two brave sailors, at the risk of their lives, manage to go below and fasten it again, for they know that the heavy cannon on the inside of their ship is more dangerous to them than the storm on the outside.

CSSPlus

Good morning! Did anyone feel this week like someone else was present even though you couldn't see or hear him? If you did, it was me. I thought and prayed about all of you this week, and I tried to tell each one of you how much I love you. When praying, I tried to picture you in my mind. I pictured Sally with her long hair and Mike with his big muscles. (give more examples) You seemed so real when I was praying that I thought maybe you knew I was right there with you.
Good morning, boys and girls. Here we are to celebrate another great Sunday. I am so happy you are here that I asked the organist to play something special just for you. (have the organist play a short fanfare) Wow! Now do you believe how happy I am to see you? Sunday is a very special day for all of us.
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