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Proper 9 -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
Our text for this week records a sudden change of context.
The church organizes for mission -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The church organizes for mission and Christ prays that the ways of the world wil
Advent 1 -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
This week's Markan text comes near the end of Mark's Gospel, but it comes first in the Church Year.
Judah's Song Of Victory -- Isaiah 26 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 1996
The Story Begins
Seeds And The Kingdom -- Mark 4:26-34 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1996
At this writing the U.S.
Jesus is the Bread from heaven that truly satisfies us -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: Jesus is the Bread from heaven that truly satisfies us.
Resurrection Of The Lord -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Richard A. Jensen -- Easter Day - B -- 1996
We stand here at the climactic passage in Mark's Gospel.
The Easter Season -- Russell F. Anderson -- 1996
The Development Of The Season
Advent 2 -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
Seven of the Lectionary B pericopes from Mark's Gospel come from the first chapter of Mark!
An Affirmation Of Preacher And Preaching -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 1996
Let us begin this work on preaching and preachers by examining the scripture for an affirmation of t
Being filled with the wisdom and Spirit of God -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: Being filled with the wisdom and Spirit of God.
Transfiguration -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
The Markan text appointed for these Sundays stands at the very heart of Mark's Gospel.
The light of the Lord's saving presence is announced in the Old Testament and revealed in the New -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The light of the Lord's saving presence is announced in the Old Testament and re
Baptism Of The Lord; Epiphany 1 -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
We will focus our attention here on verses 9-11.
Belle Plaine's Gusher -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 1996
(A Local History Sample Sermon)
The difficulty of discipleship and of keeping God's covenant -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The difficulty of discipleship and of keeping God's covenant.
The return of the Lord -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- Russell F. Anderson -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The return of the Lord.
The call of God -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The call of God.
Epiphany 3 -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
The first two verses of this pericope have been commented on in chapter 3.
A Ten Week Strategy For Improving Your Preaching -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 1996
The following are suggestions which can help you keep your preaching edge by using the principles th
Purity is an inside job -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: Purity is an inside job.BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Christ as our Shepherd King -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: Christ as our Shepherd King.
The right time -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1996
Theme For The Day: The right time.
Epiphany 4 -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Richard A. Jensen -- 1996
The story of the man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit fits structures in Mark which have been
Preaching For The Watch And Rewind Generation 1 -- Jerry L. Schmalenberger -- 1996
Marina Gottschalk, a writer for the Oakland Tribune, told a fascinating story under the headline "Am

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

Faith Hardware -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2001
To hang a cabinet door, you need two hinges.
Stinkin Thinkin -- Matthew 16:21-27 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 2001
"... Get behind me, Satan! You're not thinking as God but as Man ..."
Acting Like God Acts -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Gary L. Carver -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2001
My good friend, Tommy Garrison, tells the story of a minister who boarded an airplane.
How Can I Figure You Out, God, If My Interpretation Does Not Count? -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Dallas A. Brauninger -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2001
E-mail From: KDM To: God Subject: Thou
The Money Bag -- Carl B. Rife, Harold D. Shaffer -- 2001
Judas -- Judas IscariotIt would have been better had I not been born.Oh, Lord.
Atonement: At--One--Ment -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Robert J. Elder -- Good Friday - A -- 2001
See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up.
A Christmas That Lasts -- Luke 2:1-20 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
I would imagine that any one of us here this morning could tell an amusing story or two about unusua
Reformation To Transformation -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2001
Have you ever gone in search of buried treasure?
Letters In The Sand -- John 8:1-11 -- 2001
One year my wife and I had the opportunity to take a
Serving Faith -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2001
Pharisees TodayThe Pharisees were real "good news/bad news" guys!
Anonymous -- 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 2001
... we, many though we are, are one body ...
Lone Rangers And Cookie Cutters -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Gary L. Carver -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2001
To be asked to speak or pray in public sent shivers of terror down his spine.
When We Don't Know -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- Linda Schiphorst Mccoy -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2001
Just a few days before writing this message, I conducted a memorial service for a 60-year-old man wh
Mary (The Mother Of Our Lord) -- Carl B. Rife, Harold D. Shaffer -- 2001
Little did I know growing up in Nazareth of Galilee that I had been chosen by God to be his sacred v
A Fear Of Falling -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- Robert J. Elder -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Three observations:
The Christ Child And The Angels: A Story Sermon -- Luke 2:22-24, 39-40 -- Alex A. Gondola, Jr. -- 2001
This particular Sunday is one of those Sundays that presents a preacher with what I call "an embarra
I Thirst -- John 19:28 -- Maurice A. Fetty -- 2001
The surface of the earth is two-thirds water, but when you are really thirsty, a good drink can be h
Living The Thankful Life -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2001
A condition known as "amnesia" may be produced if a person bumps his/her head very hard.
Be All That You Can Be -- Luke 7:36-50 -- 2001
We were out in the hallway waiting for the wedding to begin.
Let It Shine -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2001
Jesus told a story about ten bridesmaids whose job it was to bring wedding torches to shine for the
Dorian Gray And Us -- Matthew 10:26-33 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 2001
... Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed ...
Something That Works -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Gary L. Carver -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2001
Many years ago, a monk was sitting around reading his Bible. No big deal!
Prepare For Arrival -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Linda Schiphorst Mccoy -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2001
Have you ever been on a plane and heard the captain tell the cabin crew to "prepare for arrival"?
The Towel -- Carl B. Rife, Harold D. Shaffer -- 2001
Look at the cross before you, the wilted palm branches symbolizing the fact that early in the last w
Dependable Faith -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Robert J. Elder -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2001
Drop the Gordita!

Spirituality

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Christmas Day -- Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12), John 1:1-14 -- James R. Wilson -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 1996
Call To Worship
Passion Sunday -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11 -- James R. Wilson -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1996
Call To Worship
MORNING WORSHIP -- Psalm 100 -- Gennifer Benjamin Brooks -- 1996
"New every morning is the love our waking and uprising proves, through sleep and darkness safely bro
Pentecost -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- James R. Wilson -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: We are called to serve the Lord with all of our hearts!
EVENING WORSHIP -- Gennifer Benjamin Brooks -- 1996
CALL TO WORSHIP
Proper 10 -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-16, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1996
Call To Worship
Proper 11 -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1996
Call To Worship
Proper 12 -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Come, let all of God's people give praise and worship the Lord!
Proper 13 -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-6, John 6:24-35 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1996
Call To Worship
Proper 14 -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1996
Call To Worship
Proper 15 -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1996
First Lesson: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Theme: Solomon seeks the wisdom to rule.
Proper 16 -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Let us come and worship together our loving and wonderful God!
Proper 17 -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Let us each come before the Lord this day with an open heart!
Proper 18 -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17, Mark 7:24-37 -- James R. Wilson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1996
Call To WorshipLeader: Let all who would stand true for the Lord gather now for worship!
A Larger Design For Living -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental Meditation (The people quietly prayerful)
Common Prayers for Lent -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Righteous God, searcher and reader of our hearts, create in us
Love, Love, Love - That's What It's All About -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Youth Service For Mother's DayCall To Worship:
Down Time -- George A. Nye -- 1994
There's no doubt about it. I'm one of those enlisted in the
Vitality For Today -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Meditation Music: "God Of Grace And God Of Glory"
Prayers Of Confession And Pardon For Lent -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Righteous God, our refuge and our strength; mightily we have
God's Shining Lights -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Sunday Morning Holy CommunionCall To Worship:
Loopholes -- George A. Nye -- 1994
Loopholes are highly desirable in everything from income
Mailboxes -- George A. Nye -- 1994
There are few things in our daily lives that bring greater
What Are You Doing With The Rest Of Your Life? -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationWords Of Preparation: from Psalm 90:1-2, 10, 12 (NRSV)
Prayers Of Dedication For Lent -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Out of the storms of life, you O God, have spoken to us and for

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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