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SermonStudio

Living in readiness and anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Joshua 24:1--3a, 14--25 (C)
God's Illuminating Spirit -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
I Bind Unto Myself Today -- John 11:21-27, Psalm 139:1-17, Job 19:21-27a -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1995
A Funeral Homily For TrinityMusic: I Bind Unto Myself Today
Self-deception, Hearers And Doers -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 1995
"Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one w
Being ready for Christ's kingdom -- Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Judges 4:1--7 (C)
God's Forgiving Spirit -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Deuteronomy 30:15--20 (C, L)
A Sheep Of Your Own Flock -- Revelation 7:9-17, Psalm 121, Psalm 23, John 10:11-16 -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1995
A Funeral Homily For The Season After Pentecost*
Sowers Of The Seed -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1995
The same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
A contrast between the righteousness of obedience and the righteousness of faith -- Genesis 6:11-22; 7:24, Romans 1:16-17, Matthew 7:21-29 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Genesis 6:11--22; 7:24; 8:14--19 (C)
A Loving Spirit is the gift of Christ to all who believe. -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, Matthew 5:38-48 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
A Dwelling Place -- Psalm 27:1, 5-12, 17-18, Psalm 23, Psalm 84 -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1995
A Funeral Homily For The Season After Pentecost
Thistles Among The Wheat -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1995
He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed g
The call -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Genesis 12:1--9 (C)
Renewal through trusting God for daily needs. -- Isaiah 49:8-16a, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
To Search The Heart With Candles, And A Man Named Angell James -- James W. Angell -- 1995
I was ten when I first got an inkling that someday I might wind up as a preacher.
Face To Face -- John 14:1-6, Job 19:21-27a -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1995
A Funeral Homily For TheTransfiguration (August 6)*Canticle: Nunc Dimittis
Treasures And Trash -- Matthew 13:44-52 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1995
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in h
God's people are commissioned for mission -- Genesis 18:1-15, Romans 5:1-8 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Genesis 18:1--15 (C)
The Gift Of Guidance -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
After A Lost Election, Field Of Dreams -- James W. Angell -- 1995
Iowa is an Indian word meaning "beautiful land." And that's where it all began for me.
Lift High The Cross -- Psalm 116:1-8, 12-13, Job 19:21-27a, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 35-38, 42-44, 53-58 -- Barbara G. Schmitz -- 1995
A Funeral Homily For Holy Cross Day (September 14)Music: Lift High The Cross
Unlimited Forgiveness -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- William E. Keeney -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1995
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how ofte
Adversity one suffers in faithfulness to God -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39 -- Russell F. Anderson -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: Genesis 21:8--21 (C)
Christ Confronts Satan -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- Russell F. Anderson -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1995
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Preaching Because We Have Something To Say Rather Than Because We Have To Say Something -- James W. Angell -- 1995
The pulpit is less than half of the mystery of preaching.

Sacrament

Self Help

Sermon

SermonStudio

Are You Happy? -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Linda Schiphorst Mccoy -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2001
When I'm teaching a class, and want to get a discussion going, I often begin with something that's c
The Word Of Confession -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Tom M. Garrison -- 2001
On January 21, 2001, George W.
Meditations On Life In Danish Cemeteries -- Richard E. Boye -- 2001
A Sermon Preached in our Son's New Congregation
When A Halo Slips -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 2001
Many things are written with all of the excitement of some fresh truth recently received.
What Is The Good Life? -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Marilyn Saure Breckenridge -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2001
Introduction
Living On One Day's Rations -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Douglas B. Bailey -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2001
Preparing for an outdoor adventure of hiking, camping, mountain climbing, or canoeing includes plann
Why I Go To Church -- Exodus 20:8 -- Robert R. Kopp -- 2001
I met Rus Howard at Princeton.
It's All The Same To Me -- Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 2001
... Peter entered the house of Cornelius ...
Lent Is About Reconciliation -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2001
The story of Lent really begins back in the Garden of Eden.
Let Your Light Shine -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Linda Schiphorst Mccoy -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2001
I heard a story some years ago about some neighborhood children who were playing in the front yard w
Have Mercy On Me -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2001
"Lord, have mercy on me." My earliest memory of that statement goes back to a little farm in central
Called To Be Saints -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Derl G. Keefer -- All Saints Day - A -- 2001
Today the church world observes what is called All Saints' Day.
Justification By Grace Through Faith -- Richard E. Boye -- 2001
A Sermon Preached on the Occasion of 1917 - The Diamond Jubilee - 1992
Shine! That's The Style! -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2001
It is appropriate on this day designated as the Epiphany Of The Lord to explore some questions we mi
Is Big Brother Watching You? -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Marilyn Saure Breckenridge -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2001
Introduction
Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves? -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Douglas B. Bailey -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2001
People can survive longer without food than they can survive without water.
Hallmark Card Religion -- Exodus 20:12 -- Robert R. Kopp -- 2001
Ross Perot has been asked many times over the past five or six years if he feels qualified to be Pre
How Thinking -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Richard E. Zajac -- 2001
"... take your invoice, sit down quickly, and make it fifty ..."
Easter Is About You -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Harry N. Huxhold -- Easter Day - A -- 2001
Probably the most difficult sermon the Christian preacher is assigned to deliver is the sermon for E
The Palms -- Carl B. Rife, Harold D. Shaffer -- 2001
The Symbols Of The CrossThe Palms
Building Bridges -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Linda Schiphorst Mccoy -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2001
There was a story on CNN a few months ago about a town in Wales that was divided by a river.
A Living Sacrifice -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Tom M. Garrison -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2001
I had always assumed I understood the word "sacrifice." A recent trip to Mexico City, however, washe
God's New Shepherd -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2001
Scanning the "Help Wanted" section of any newspaper, one would be hard pressed to find an opening fo
Keep Your Eyes On The Sign -- Richard E. Boye -- 2001
A Seventy--Fifth Anniversary Sermon
What Does Your God Say About People Like Me? -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Stephen M. Crotts -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2001
London, England, the Bloomsbury District, tenth floor of the old Ivanhoe Hotel, autumn, 1971.

Spirituality

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SermonStudio

Showers Of Blessing -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Worship Service With A SkitLeader's Helps
Loneliness -- George A. Nye -- 1994
In part, Easter is the story of victory over loneliness, and
Do You Want To Be More Spiritual? -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental Meditation: (The congregation reverently quiet)
Lent 2 -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Reader: Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must
Blessing Through Marriage -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Anniversary Of Marriage ServiceHymn: ''Blest Be The Tie That Binds''
Mixed Signals -- George A. Nye -- 1994
Talk about split personalities! I saw a van last week that had
He Came Seeking Fruit -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationWords To Start Our Meditation:
Lent 3 -- John 2:13-22 -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Reader 1: The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to
The Blessing of Giving -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Post--Lenten Ingathering Service
Environmental Concerns -- George A. Nye -- 1994
Many church kitchens have a sign that says: "Please leave this
Strong Faith For Weak People -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationSome Thoughts To Meditate Upon:
Lent 4 -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Reader 1: Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him
A Feast Of Worship -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Following Soup And Sandwich SupperWe Prepare Our Hearts
Kites -- George A. Nye -- 1994
Many who feel emancipated are merely disorganized. Freedom is
What Do You Expect Your Religion To Do? -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental Meditation (The people reverently quiet)Words Of Preparation:
Lent 5 -- John 12:20-33 -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Reader 1: Now among those who went up to worship at the festival
Installation Of Pastor -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Receiving A New LeaderWe Prepare For Worship(Name of Presider)
Mystery -- George A. Nye -- 1994
The fun thing about a mystery is that it gives us a chance to
Elements Of Devotion -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental Meditation
Palm Sunday -- Matthew 21:1-11 -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Reader 1: When Jesus and the disciples drew near to Jerusalem and
Installation Of Pastor -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Receiving A New LeaderWe Prepare For Worship(Name of Presider)
Compassion -- George A. Nye -- 1994
Variations on the phrase, "cast the first stone," come from
The Best Surprises -- Clement E. Lewis -- 1994
Instrumental MeditationA Hymn: "Sometimes A Little Surprises"
Maundy Thursday -- John 13:1-17, 31-35 -- Craig M. Sweet -- 1994
Reader 1: Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew
For All The Saints -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- 1994
Call To Worship

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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