Login / Signup

SermonStudio

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Worship

SermonStudio

Speak, Lord, I'm Listening -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2002
Call To Worship
Job Perseveres And Finds New Life -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him.
Faithfulness -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Where Is God When We Need Him? -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2002
Call To Worship
Do You Have All The Answers? -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: Praise the Lord, my soul! O Lord, my God, how great you are!
Speak Up For Freedom -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: How shall we serve our God who has blessed us in so many ways?
Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2002
First Lesson: Job 1:1; 2:1-10Theme: Testing Our FaithCall To Worship
Wisdom Calls -- Mark 8:27-38, James 3:1-12, Proverbs 1:20-33 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: The law of the Lord is perfect; it gives new strength.
True Happiness -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people,
The Lord Made Us All -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- H. Burnham Kirkland -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2002
Call To WorshipLeader: Serve the Lord with a right spirit.

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

Be Real -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- John Jamison -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2006
The old story is told about two painters; two artists.
Claiming Our New Life In Christ -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2006
I heard a story about a man who decided that he wanted to live a good life.
Wearing The King's Clothes -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2006
There is nothing like putting on a new shirt and pair of pants.
Where Have All The Heroes Gone? -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2006
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them.
Unlocking The Power Of God -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2006
What can faith do? It can part a raging sea and allow a nation to walk through. What can faith do?
God Is Rock Solid -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2006
The phone rang in the pastor's office.
The Cost Of A Priceless Gift -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2006
Sacrifice is not valued very highly by society.
We Are One In Christ -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2006
Someone once said that action speaks louder than words and that is true.
Thank God We Can Change -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2006
Someone once said that the only constant in life is change.
It All Begins With Prayer -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Clayton A. Lord Jr. -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2006
Imagine you only have a short time to prepare your successor in ministry.

Children's sermon

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

Those New Cars! -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
The Governor of Michigan was invited as a guest of honor to an automobile factory.
Try, Try Again -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A child prayed: "O God, make me a good girl, and if at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."
A New Sunday School Building -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
At the ground-breaking ceremony for a new Sunday school building, children were also given the oppor
What Happened To Noah's Ark? -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
There has been a lot of speculation for some time. Read on ...
What Moses Said -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
This story came from a tour guide in Israel:
Who Am I? -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
At a nice old folks home it was reported that the President of the United States had entered to visi
Who Is In Heaven? -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
We lived for four years in Delphos, Ohio, which is a predominately Roman Catholic town.
Whose Birthday? -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
It was gift unwrapping time on Christmas morning, and Grandma asked her little granddaughter if she
Wise Men's Red Hats -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
A visitor to a certain town noticed many homes had Christmas nativity scenes in front of them.
Without One Flea -- Don R. Yocom -- 2004
Another little girl was singing at church, "Just as I am, without one flea."

Stories

SermonStudio

Peace Be With You -- John 20:19-31 -- Constance Berg -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
"Peace be with you. Peace be with you."
Blooming -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Constance Berg -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
"You know how three weeks ago I asked you to speak about your trip to Mexico?
Mother Shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Constance Berg -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Liliana called me to her room at three that afternoon.
See The Little Light Shine -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Constance Berg -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
She was so patient.
A Life For A Life -- John 15:9-17 -- Constance Berg -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Who would lay down his life for a friend?
Gift From God -- John 17:6-19 -- Constance Berg -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1999
Brian could feel the heat of anger rising in his neck.
This I Know -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1999
Some knew him as not being well versed or fluent.
Joelito's Legacy -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1999
The prophet Jonah was commanded by God to go to Nineveh; Joel Fil‡rtiga was inspired to go to Paragu
Knowledge vs. Love -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1999
In the beginning they seemed normal enough.
The Church Still Lives -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Constance Berg -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1999
I was the only former church leader present at the closing ceremony of the tiny country church.

Prayer

Devotional

Poems

Pastoral Resources

Children's program

Pageant

Adult study

Youth Resources

Monologues

Church Programs

Meditations

Candlelighting service

Biblical Studies

Humor

Faith Development

Bible Study

Children's Resources

Self Help

Liturgy

Illustration

Spirituality

Biblical Study

Inspirational

Christian Life

Easter

Lent/Easter

Church Growth

Sacrament

Healing

Death

Funeral

Memorial

Observance

Christian

African-American History

Thanksgiving Day

Marriage Ceremony

Wedding Vow

Home Blessing

Church Anniversary

Women's Day

Men's Day

Church Leaders

Mother's Day

Gathering Prayer

Unison Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

Intercession

Fellowship

Christian Faith

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
30+ – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
26 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
27 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
39 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Christopher Keating
For April 12, 2026:

StoryShare

Keith Wagner
Contents
"Spiritually Speaking" by Keith Wagner
"Living With More Power" by Keith Wagner


Spiritually Speaking
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 16
Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Keith Hewitt
Contents
What's Up This Week
"When through Fiery Trials" by Alex Gondola
"Tracks" by Keith Hewitt


What's Up This Week

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Thomas had never seen his friends so excited. Peter's eyes were shining, and he could hardly contain his impatience. John was always quieter than Peter, but even he seemed full of barely suppressed eagerness. They were both tugging at Thomas, while at the same time dancing round him.

Thomas reluctantly agreed to go to the cave with them, although he continued to think they were mad. "If there was nothing there last week, how can it have changed now?" he kept asking.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
This psalm is a song of confidence and trust, and the first-century church found in it a prophecy of the Resurrection. Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, quotes verses 8-11 (Acts 2:25-28), applying them to the risen Lord. Thus, its designation as the responsorial psalm for Easter 2.

The psalm falls easily into three divisions: verses 1-4, there is no good apart from God; 5-8, the Lord is my portion and my counselor; and 9-11, there is joy and life with God.
John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 2:14a, 22--32 (C, E)
According to God's plan and David's prophecy, Jesus was raised from the dead. This pericope is a part of Peter's Pentecost sermon. It is a sample of the early church's preaching, as Luke understood it, summarized in the crucifixion, resurrection, and fulfillment of prophecy. Peter emphasizes that what happened to Jesus was according to God's plan. He quotes Psalm 16 as a prophecy by David of the resurrection which was fulfilled. The disciples are witnesses to the fulfillment because of their encounters with the risen Lord.
Tony S. Everett
So, here we are just over one week after Easter Sunday. Vigils are finished. Sunrise services are over. Dishes from the youth breakfast have been washed and put away. Brass and tympani fanfares have concluded. Flowers on the cross have begun to wilt and blow away. Fewer pews are filled.
Richard L. Sheffield
What the disciples of Jesus reported to their fellow disciple Thomas they had seen seemed unbelievable. And Thomas didn't believe it! They said they saw Jesus alive. Well, Thomas saw him alive until late the previous Friday afternoon when Thomas saw him dead. It was now Sunday afternoon -- and to what they said they saw, Thomas' response was, "Seeing is believing," and until I see something different from what I have already seen, I will not believe a word of what you say.
Albert G. Butzer, III
Several years ago the Episcopal Church launched a creative and clever advertising campaign. One of their ads pictured a young man with a frustrated look on his face because someone had put a heavy piece of tape across his mouth. His mouth had been taped shut; he was unable to speak. The caption, which accompanied the picture, said this: "The problem with churches that have all of the answers is that you can't ask questions."
Harry N. Huxhold
The United States of America has earned the reputation of being the most violent culture in the world. That really is an oxymoron. How can one speak of culture as being violent? Yet the problem of violence is so widespread in our nation that Gavin De Becker, an authority on violence, notes that we are a nation with more firearms than adults, and twenty thousand guns enter our commerce every day. His book, The Gift of Fear, is about our fear which furnishes us survival signals to protect us from violence. We should not be shocked that anyone is capable of violence.
Bill Mosley
The great luxury liner was on fire, but no one knew it. Deep in the hold, near the engine room, hundreds of tons of coal were stored. Coal--powered ships used to carry the coal in a watered--down state. But this ship was new, and very big; bigger than any ship ever built, or had ever sailed. So even though the coal was watered for safety, the enormous amount meant that there were dry spots. A fire smoldered undiscovered deep in the coal supply, and when it was discovered, a fire--fighting crew was sent to quench it. They worked for days, even weeks, and couldn't put it out.
B. David Hostetter
CALL TO WORSHIP
Bless our God who has given us counsel.
Come to worship with exulting heart and rejoicing spirit.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
I Danced In The Morning (UM261, PH 302)
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (CBH 272)
Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee (NCH507)
We Live By Faith And Not By Sight (NCH256, PH398)
O Sons And Daughters, Let Us Sing (NCH244, PH116, 117)
Breathe On Me, Breath Of God (CBH356, UM420, PH316)
These Things Did Thomas Count (NCH284)
When In The Night I Meditate (PH165)

Anthems
From the Messiah: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, G. F. Handel
Frank Ramirez
Call To Worship (Acts 2:32)
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.


Collect
We lift up our eyes to you Lord, after the despair of the cross. We follow the path from the empty tomb to see you risen and walking among us! We praise your name in victory! Amen.


Prayer Of Confession

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Fresh air is precisely what many people feel they never get in church. Many recall the experiences of former times when the air was stodgy and stuffy. In some communities of faith the air is still a bit stifling, and so when invited to worship, the response is often, "Been there. Done that."

Yet our lessons are full of the freshness of spring, bringing life and vigor to what had been dormant, as though frozen in winter and refusing to thaw.

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Wayne Brouwer
One of my good friends died last year. He had reached a good age and was mostly ready to go. In fact, he once told me he had more lives than the proverbial cat's nine. On too many occasions, because of cancer and accidents and blood diseases, doctors had written him off. Yet, like the Energizer bunny, he kept going and going and going....

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. This morning we read from the Bible about a special meeting between Jesus, who had been resurrected a week earlier, and his disciples. All of the disciples believed the resurrection except Thomas, who had not been in the room when Jesus met with the disciples a week earlier. Thomas had heard about it but didn't believe. He said that unless he saw for himself the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus, he would not believe.
Good morning, boys and girls. What does this sign mean? (Let them answer.) It is a question mark. When you see it that means someone is asking a question. Sometimes it means that someone doesn't believe what you are saying. That means the person is doubting you. It's a very common thing to have doubts about something. If one of you told me that you don't like to play with toys, I'd say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it. I'll bet you really like to play with toys." If one of you told me that you didn't like candy, I would say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it.
Wildcard SSL