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Counting The Cost -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2003
1. Text
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Good Friday - C -- 2003
This is the fourth and final Servant Song in Second Isaiah, and because of its content, it has been
Proper 19 -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus' acts of compassion and his teaching ministry.
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?
Good Friday -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Good Friday - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Transfiguration Sunday -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2003
Perhaps some of you have seen Michelangelo's great marble statue of Moses.
Lost And Found -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2003
1. Text
First Sunday in Lent -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
Our biblical, Christian faith is basically a response to a story, to the story of what God has done
Proper 20 -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2003
Seasonal Theme Jesus' acts of compassion and teaching ministry.
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
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.
Trinity Sunday -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2003
Perhaps no doctrine of the Christian Church is more obscure in the minds of church-goers than is the
The Clever Crook -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2003
1. Text
Second Sunday in Lent -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
The preacher who confronts the three stated texts for this Sunday once again faces the confusing sit
Proper 21 -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2003
Seasonal ThemeJesus' acts of compassion and his teaching ministry.
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?
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.
First Sunday after Christmas -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
There are times in the life of the world or of a nation when one individual changes the whole course
Rich Man, Poor Man -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2003
1. Text
Third Sunday in Lent -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2003
On this third Sunday in Lent, all three of our lessons have to do with repentance, but we will look
Proper 22 -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2003
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
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.
Christmas Day -- Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
In biblical times, when a king was crowned in Israel, two acts took place.
A Decent Obsession -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2003
1. Text

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

Looking In All The Wrong Places -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Lee Ann Dunlap -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 2005
Author's Note: a fun way to animate this sermon might be to play sections of the several hit
God's Surprises -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ron Lavin -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
God's Surprises
A Time For Us -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2005
In the musical, West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein's modern paraphrase of Romeo and Juliet
Lilies Of The Field -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Stan Purdum -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2005
In 1635, the Puritan clergyman, Roger Williams, was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony for promo
All That Goes Down Must Go Up -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John T. Ball -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2005
We are now almost fifty days after Easter, days that were filled with the immediate presence of the
Unacceptable -- Mark 8:31-38 -- David T. Ball -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Going off to college can be an unsettling experience for Christian students.
Misled By Beauty -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2005
It seems to me that the so-called "reality" television shows that have proliferated on the airwaves
Our Prayers Are Our Thanksgiving -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Lee Ann Dunlap -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2005
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it
Man Proposes; God Disposes -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Ron Lavin -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
Man Proposes; God Disposes
Modeling A Necessary Future -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2005
It was the custom in my friend's church for many years to have a week of family camp in the summer.
Letting Go And New Beginnings -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2005
It had been an exhausting climb up the mountain.
Selling Sin In A Celebrative Age -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- John T. Ball -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2005
Dialing the number of a large, well-known metropolitan church, the caller asked, "What time is your
No Substitute -- John 2:13-22 -- David T. Ball -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
Jesus in the temple -- oh, didn't he show those money-changers who were desecrating the temple groun
The God Of War And Peace -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2005
The United Methodists came out with their most recent hymnbook in 1989.
Proclaiming Jesus Christ -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Donald Charles Lacy -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2005
It is not easy to promote someone else. Human nature rises up against it.
Lord Of All! -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Ron Lavin -- Easter Day - B -- 2005
A post-resurrection story is told about Lazarus, the man Jesus brought back from the dead.
Let God Do The Rest -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2005
Once there was a boy who loved to look at the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and the cl
Water And Spirit -- John 3:1-17 -- George Reed -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2005
The story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night is familiar to most folks who have spent any time at
Taking A Necessary Step -- Acts 19:1-7 -- Donald Charles Lacy -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2005
The closeness between John the Baptist and Jesus can hardly be overemphasized.
It's About God -- John 3:14-21 -- David T. Ball -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2005
I don't know how many foreign films you've seen -- subtitled in English, so that you hear the foreig
Mourning Our Fallen Tormentors -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Stan Purdum -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2005
Mourning Our Fallen Tormentors
From Father Failure To Divine Father -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2005
One of the most significant steps in our growth as human beings is the discovery that our earthly p
It's Good To Know Who Is Calling -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Schuyler Rhodes -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2005
When I was a boy, our family used to have a parakeet.
Finding Unity Through Christ -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2005
Nature is filled with examples of how the world functions better when things come together and act a
Discipleship: The Beauty And The Cross -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Richard E. Gribble, CSC -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2005
Once upon a time a bowl was born.

Spirituality

Stories

SermonStudio

Gandhi -- 1999
Some memorable scenes from the great movie Gandhi:
Forgiven And Encouraged -- Mark 2:13-22 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 1999
Lee and JoAnn had foster children in their homes for years.
Church -- 1999
The church of the New Testament is no longer a territorial church but a church of all people, a chur
Revenge -- 1999
In an expose on television about Sobibor (sic), an Eastern Poland death camp, a Jew commented
Provincial Revelry -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Leon, when I meet individuals who have traveled widely, people who have met and known others of many
Mercy -- 1999
After a day of doing calls, counseling, meetings, and so forth, I removed my black suit coat only to
Homeless -- 1999
On December 28, 1984, National Public Radio reported that Jesse Carpenter was buried in Arlington Na
Tradition -- 1999
Reverend Richard Perry told the Iowa Synod in assembly about a man cutting off the end of a ham befo
Calming The Storm -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Constance Berg -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1999
The Lake of Galilee is on the northern end of the rift valley.
New Hope -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Constance Berg -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1999
Chiapas is one of the two poorest states in Mexico.
Sucker! -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Not often, Leon, do I recall overtly referring to other people as gullible individuals, but I know I
Giftedness -- 1999
On 60 Minutes there was a special about "Savant Syndrome." People who seem mentally challenge
A Different Celebration -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1999
In Mexico, it's not Santa Claus who delivers gifts. And it's not December 25 that is so important.
Comfort -- 1999
Our maintenance man at the seminary fastened the large organ to the wall of the chapel with strong a
Revival -- 1999
The Lutherans had a revival. The first night they even tried an altar call.
Innocence Regained? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Sometimes, Leon, my thoughts wander back to my childhood days when our family lived in a northern Il
Ministry -- 1999
There is a Mexican gardener at the Lutheran Center in Mexico City named Isidro Santiago who catechiz
Honor -- 1999
In Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Evita, which was made into a movie starring the infamous Mad
Treasure -- 1999
A thief cut out of an alarmed frame a $175,000 Monet painting from Fisher Community Center in Marsha
How We Are God's Tea Cups -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Constance Berg -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1999
The tea cup was stained.
Treasures -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Constance Berg -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1999
A man bought a house.
Disillusionment -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Would it not be a much better world in which to live if the world actually was more like we picture
Gifts -- 1999
Carolyn Rocco, daughter of the first president of our seminary, lost her stole at a restaurant and d
An Hour To Think -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Constance Berg -- Good Friday - B -- 1999
Tim wanted to get home. It would be so good to see Meg and the children again.
Baptism -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- Constance Berg -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1999
"Oh, Mom, don't be silly. I don't need Erin baptized.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Prayer

Unison Prayer

Wedding Vow

Women's Day

Worship

SermonStudio

Second Sunday After Christmas -- Psalm 27 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Good Friday -- Psalm 22 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Good Friday - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Proper 14 -- Romans 10:5-15 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2001
Theme: Salvation Is For AllCall To Worship
Ash Wednesday -- Psalm 51:1-17 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Proper 6 -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2001
Theme: Proclaim The Good NewsCall To Worship
Our Wounds Are Healed -- Gail Gaymer Martin -- 2001
(Family and friends are called to silence for the opening of the prayer service.)
Proper 27 -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2001
Theme: We Will Serve The LordCall To Worship
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2001
Theme: Working Together For GodCall To Worship
The Day Of Pentecost -- Acts 2:1-21 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Theme: The Coming Of The Holy SpiritCall To Worship
Proper 22 -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2001
Theme: Unfaithful StewardsCall To Worship
Easter Day (Resurrection Of Our Lord) -- Acts 10:34-43, Jeremiah 31:1-6 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Easter Day - A -- 2001
Theme: Jesus Christ -- Lord Of All or Everlasting LoveCall To Worship
Proper 14 -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2001
Theme: When The Storms Overtake UsCall To Worship
First Sunday In Lent -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: TemptationCall To Worship
Proper 6 -- Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
The Lord Is My Shepherd -- Gail Gaymer Martin -- 2001
(Family and friends are called to silence for the opening of the prayer service.)
Proper 27 -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2001
Theme: Encourage One AnotherCall To Worship
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2001
Theme: Importance Of Personal RelationshipsCall To Worship
The Day Of Pentecost -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
Theme: The Gift Of The SpiritCall To Worship
Proper 22 -- Psalm 19 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
Easter Day (Resurrection Of Our Lord) -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Easter Day - A -- 2001
Theme: New Life In ChristCall To Worship
Proper 14 -- Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2001
Words Of Assurance
First Sunday In Lent -- Romans 5:12-19 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Theme: New BeginningsCall To Worship
Proper 7 -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2001
Theme: Even In Our Distress, God Is ThereCall To Worship
You Are A New Creation -- Gail Gaymer Martin -- 2001
(Family and friends are called to silence for the opening of the prayer service.)
Proper 27 -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2001
Theme: Be PreparedCall To Worship

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pentecost 16
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For September 28, 2025:
  • Money! Money! Money! by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. “This is the even-handed dealing of the world! There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind. He had a very healthy self-image and wasn’t concerned about how people might take him. At one of the graduation ceremonies, he stood at the podium, looked out over the huge crowd of people, shook his head, and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course), “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The lesson makes clear that God is present in the world of business, in our daily work.  John Wesley offered thoughtful reflections on the nature of work; he noted:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (vv. 14-15)

One morning last October, Bruce Klemm got up and sang a song to his wife, Virginia, as he has done every morning of the 42 years they have been married. Little did he know that within a few hours, he would be calling her to say goodbye.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar to illustrate the way in which we fail to notice those who are poor. In our worship today let us remember the poor and ask God to teach us a real concern for them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail notice some people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we deliberately leave people out.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we care only about ourselves.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Lent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 9-16.)

The writer of this psalm deftly employs a striking image, that at once offers us hope in times of trouble -- but at the same time, redefines for us what it means to be a human being in the world.

Schuyler Rhodes
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
It always amazes me when I read about a sports figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. I heard one player say to a reporter on Sports Center, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

Chrysanne Timm
As we conclude several weeks of readings in the book of the prophet Jeremiah and next week look at the companion text from the book of Lamentations, a common thread begins to emerge. It is the thread of grief. Jeremiah has been called by God to a truly thankless job -- that of accompanying the people of his homeland into a time of loss and grief. Because of decades of idolatry and treaties with neighboring nations, the people of Judah will lose the land God once graciously gave to their ancestors.
R. Robert Cueni
The lesson for today continues the discussion on the proper use of material possessions by describing what happens when a person tries to "serve both God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Today's Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus leaves us repulsed by the gory details, puzzled by the literal description of eternal life, and hopeful that the Lord didn't really mean all those terrible things about the punishment due us "Haves" for our treatment of the "Have Nots."

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some coins with me this morning. (Show the coins.) How many of these coins would it take to be rich? (Let them respond.) I think it would take millions of these coins before you would really be rich. How many of you would like to be rich? (Wait for show of hands.) I think most of us would like to be rich. What would you think if you had a wish that everything you touched turned to gold? (Let them respond.) You would soon have lots and lots of gold and you would quickly be very, very rich. There's a famous story about a man who had

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