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The Catch Of Fish -- Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 4:18-22 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 1997
1. Text
The Barren Fruit Tree -- Luke 13:1-9 -- William E. Keeney -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1997
1At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate h
Advent 4 -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
The narrative possibilities of today's text are almost endless.
Proper 9 -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
Chapters 9 and 10 of Luke are much occupied with the disciples.
Jesus Transfigured -- Luke 9:28-36, Matthew 17:1-8 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1997
1. Text
A Father And Two Sons -- Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 -- William E. Keeney -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1997
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to
Baptism Of The Lord; Epiphany 1 -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
This story of Jesus' baptism has manifold narrative connections in Luke's Gospel.
Proper 10 -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
We come this week to one of the great Lukan stories that have found their way into the consciousness
The Post-Resurrection Catch -- John 21:1-14 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1997
1. Text
The Sprouting Fig Tree -- Luke 21:25-36 -- William E. Keeney -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
25"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
Forgiving Debts -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 1997
36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he
Epiphany 3 -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
With this week's text we come to the absolute center of Luke's concerns.
Proper 11 -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
The few verses in this week's Gospel text have been the subject of much interpretation.
Proper 12 -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
One of the basic agendas "on the way to Jerusalem" is instruction of the disciples.
The Centurion's Servant -- Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 1997
1. Text
Proper 13 -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
"God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1:53).
The Widow's Son at Nain -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 1997
1. Text
Proper 14 -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
This week's text begins with a clear statement of the Gospel message. "Do not be afraid ...
The Lepers -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1997
1. Text
Proper 15 -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
"I came to bring fire to the earth...." "I have a baptism with which to be baptized...." Je
Proper 16 -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
We have seen that the material in the Travel Narrative consists primarily of Jesus' giving instructi
Proper 17 -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
Chapter 14 in Luke's Gospel consists of a series of discourses in the setting of a banquet.
Proper 18 -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
In this week's text Jesus fixes his gaze on the multitudes who have followed him and calls them to d
Proper 19 -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because ...
Proper 20 -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1997
We have made reference to these verses in Chapter 11 and in Chapter 24.

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Running Home In The Dark -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2002
Our liturgical calendar stands poised on the verge of a commercial feeding frenzy.
The Holiness Of The Sacred -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Paul E. Robinson -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2002
In the April 7, 1999, issue of The Upper Room, Merial Scott of South Dakota wrote the following:
Hanging The Law On Love -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Cathy A. Ammlung -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2002
Compared to some of the pericopes from Mark's Gospel, this one seems a piece of cake.
The Face That Launched A Thousand Lives -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Frederick R. Harm -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2002
You will recall the ancient myth that lies behind our sermon theme for today.
Holy Vexation -- John 2:13-22 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2002
We have all probably had the experience of being in the presence of someone who is normally composed
Humble Beginnings -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- H. Alan Stewart -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2002
Small town folk will often ask a person on first meeting, "Who was your mother?" What they mean is:
What It Takes To Do The Job -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Paul E. Robinson -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2002
What is Job #1 in your life? We know what it is for Ford, right?
Growing Faith -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Paul E. Robinson -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2002
It's an old joke, but an insightful one: A man slipped off the edge of a cliff, and just before he f
In The Hot Seat -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Cathy A. Ammlung -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2002
Everybody who thinks you could have done better than James or John, raise your hands.
Thanks -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Harold C. Warlick, Jr. -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2002
A minister held an administrative position in a major university in a large city.
Life -- From The Inside Out -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2002
Eleven people, so goes the story, were dangling from a rope beneath a helicopter in a rescue scenari
Blessing Revealed -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- H. Alan Stewart -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2002
"Trouble comes in threes," so many people say.
Height Advantage -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Paul E. Robinson -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2002
One of the key inventions of the modern world is the geostationary or geosynchronous satellite, many
Too Good To Miss -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- Paul E. Robinson -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2002
C. S.
The Impossible Option -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Cathy A. Ammlung -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2002
Before there was Harry Potter, there was Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. In J. R. R.
Sweet Surrender -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Harold C. Warlick, Jr. -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 2002
John Bradshaw tells a parable about a prisoner in a dark cave.1 The man was sentenced to die.
Up And Running -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Robert A. Noblett -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2002
We all have a stake in making sure that our young people get up and running.
The Threshing Floor -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- H. Alan Stewart -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2002
We so casually go to the supermarket and pick up a loaf of bread.
Promised Land -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2002
This day called All Saints' developed in a manner that every university fund-raiser can appreciate.
Grace In The Midst Of Unanswered Prayer -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Glenn W. Mcdonald -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2002
No one ever really prepares you for your first theological bull session.
Cross Connections -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Good Friday - B -- 2002
Good Friday is not an easy day on which to preach, nor is what happened on Good Friday easy to expla
The Destination Of All Journeys -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- H. Alan Stewart -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2002
Today we encounter one of the most sacred moments for every single one of us.
Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Frederick R. Harm -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2002
An early movie version of Victor Herbert's romantic operetta
Grace In The Midst Of Limited Resources -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Glenn W. Mcdonald -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2002
Year after year Stumpy and Martha attended the fair in their home state, and every summer it was the
New Wine In New Wineskins -- Mark 2:13-22 -- Paul E. Flesner -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 2002
We humans are often schizophrenic when it comes to the old and the new.

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The agony of sin -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 1997
Call To Worship
The Savior is coming -- Micah 5:2-5a -- James R. Wilson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Come now and know the presence of the Lord God of Hosts!
Faithfully witness wherever we are -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Let us proclaim the glory of the Lord in our praise and worship!
God's kingdom shall endure forever -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- James R. Wilson -- All Saints Day - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, let the saints of the church gather this day for worship!
Promise of the New Covenant -- Jeremiah 31:27-34 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Let us gather for worship and praise before Almighty God!
The Ascension -- Acts 1:1-11 -- James R. Wilson -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Let all who believe in the risen and ascended Christ give praise!
Prophecy, dreams, and visions -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 1997
Sunday between October 23 and October 29 inclusive First Lesson: Joel 2:23-32
Repent and turn to the Lord -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- James R. Wilson -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1997
Call To Worship
Sin, judgment, and faith -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, let the people of God give praise and worship the Lord!
The Lord is our salvation -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- James R. Wilson -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, let all of God's people gather this day for worship!
God's promised blessing -- Haggai 1:15b--2:9 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Give praise to the Lord, for God's kingdom is at hand!
Resurrection of the Lord -- Acts 10:34-43 -- James R. Wilson -- Easter Day - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Christ, our Lord, is risen from the dead. Praise be to the Lord!
God's new earth -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Let all who seek the Kingdom of the Lord gather now for worship!
We are witnesses sent by God -- Acts 5:27-32 -- James R. Wilson -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Let us gather this day and raise our voices in praise before God!
God's righteous branch -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- James R. Wilson -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1997
Call To Worship
Repentance in Christ -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- James R. Wilson -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1997
Call To WorshipLeader: Give praise to God, for Christ is risen and lives in our hearts!
God knows no equal! -- 1 Kings 18:20-39 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 1997
Call To Worship
Power over death -- Acts 9:36-43 -- James R. Wilson -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1997
Call To Worship
Proper 19 -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: The wisdom of the Lord belongs to those who will seek God's will!
Proper 20 -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1996
First Lesson: Proverbs 31:10-31
Seventh Sunday Of Easter -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- James R. Wilson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, all who would bear witness to the risen Christ!
Proper 21 -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Let all who would proclaim God's word gather now for worship!
Epiphany -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- James R. Wilson -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, let all of God's people give praise and worship the Lord!
Proper 22 -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Let all who would praise the Lord gather now for worship!
Second Sunday After Epiphany -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- James R. Wilson -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Praise be to the Lord who calls us to serve the living Christ!

Worship Service

Youth Resources

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For November 2, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message involves roleplay. You will need a chair for Zach to stand on, unless it is ok for him to stand on a front pew. For the best fun, you will also want to have an adult volunteer play the role of Jesus and walk in when it is time. Whether he is in costume is up to you.

* * *
John Jamison
Object: You will need one or more pictures of people recognized as saints. You may find some pictures by Googling “public domain pictures of saints” and printing images from the results.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144
Walter Elwell in the Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook notes of righteousness that it is, “Right standing, specifically before God. Among the Greeks, righteousness was an ethical virtue. Among the Hebrews it was a legal concept; the righteous man was the one who got the verdict of acceptability when tried at the bar of God’s justice.” God is a righteous God, even when is people are not righteous.
Frank Ramirez
One of the features of Synagogue worship is the Shema. The Hebrew word is “Hear!” and is the opening for Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” God’s people are commanded to “hear” these words. They come from the Lord. And these three scriptures invite us to hear God and each other, something that is lacking in our society today.
Wayne Brouwer
Fred Craddock tells of a vacation encounter in the Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee years ago that moved him deeply. He and his wife took supper one evening in a place called the Black Bear Inn. One side of the building was all glass, open to a magnificent mountain view. Glad to be alone, the Craddocks were a bit annoyed when an elderly man ambled over and struck up a nosey conversation: “Are you on vacation?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do?”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 and Psalm 149

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. (vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.
Frank Ramirez
Call them the good old days. Call it the Golden Age. It’s not unusual for people to look back in their youth, or to the youth of their country, as somehow more perfect, honorable, or simpler. C.S. Lewis was always skeptical about claims that chocolate was better in one’s youth. It wasn’t better. Our taste buds were stronger and more receptive.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
The Roman Catholic Church's canonisation of Edith Stein some years ago, fuelled considerable controversy. Edith Stein was born and bred into a Jewish family, becoming a Roman Catholic Christian at the age of 31. She was also a leading German intellectual in the early thirties, during the run-up to World War 2, although she gave up that career in order to become a Carmelite nun. But she didn't deny her Jewish roots, for in 1933 she petitioned the Pope, Pious XI to write an encyclical in defence of the Jews.
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus didn't reject anyone, even those who were liars and cheats. By a simple act of friendship Jesus turned Zaccheus' life around. In our worship today let us consider friendship and all that it means.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, there are some people I don't like.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I reject.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, there are some people I keep out of my circle of friends.
Lord, have mercy.


Reading:

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Theme For The Day
The world offers many blessings, but none of these things will save us: only the blessing of God in Jesus Christ can do that.

Old Testament Lesson
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Daniel's Apocalyptic Dream
Perry H. Biddle, Jr.
Comments on the Lessons
John W. Clarke
This chapter of Luke brings us ever closer to the end of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus enters Jericho, just fifteen miles or so from the holy city of Jerusalem. It is here that Jesus transforms the life of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. This is one of the few stories that is peculiar to Luke and is a wonderful human-interest story. The fact that Zacchaeus is willing to climb a tree to see Jesus is a clear indication that he really wanted to see and meet the carpenter from Nazareth. His eagerness to see Jesus is rewarded in a very special way.
Scott A. Bryte
Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
Mark Ellingson
This is a story written for people who had been or were about to be persecuted, if not enslaved. (The book of Daniel was probably written in the mid-second century B.C. during a period of Seleucid [Syrian] domination in Palestine.) It tells them and us how their ancestors had once faced a similar slavery under the oppression of the Babylonians centuries earlier. The implication was that if these ancestors could endure and overcome such bondage, so could they and so can we.
Gary L. Carver
Ulysses S. Grant fought many significant battles as commander of the Union forces in the War Between the States. He also served as President of the United States where he probably engaged in as many battles as he did while he was a general. Toward the end of his life he fought his toughest battle -- with cancer and death.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
There is an apocryphal story told that after completing his masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, the famous Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci went to a nearby tavern to celebrate the event with his friends. While in conversation and sipping a little of the local wine, Leonardo noticed that many in the tavern were making sport of an ugly fool who made his living going from tavern to tavern, entertaining patrons for a spare coin or a crust of bread. This man truly was an ugly person; he seemed to be more of a troll than a man. His small beady eyes were not centered in his oversized head.

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