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Children's Activity

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"Keep on asking" -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Teachers or Parents: We can never overemphasize the power of
Hey, God! I'm the greatest! -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Today's reading is another very easy one for children to understand.
Touch and see! -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: We perceive what is true and what is
"Be ready!" -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C
Teachers or Parents: Being ready to meet the Lord when he
Familiarity breeds contempt -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Teachers or Parents: There is a possibility that we can become so
A little girl's glory -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers: Today's lesson is a part of the prayer that Jesus prayed before his death.
Taking beautiful pictures -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Materials:Construction paper
The kingdom of Heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Teachers or Parents: Jesus gave many illustrations about the
Amazing faith -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C
Teachers or Parents: The faith of the Roman centurion is an
Great among you -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B
Teachers: This week's lesson offers a good memory verse.
Advent calendar -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers: This is the first Sunday of Advent and a new church
How to ask for help -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
The drama of today's lesson is perfect for children to explore. The story is pretty cut and dried.
Enemies and friends -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B
Teachers or Parents: In our war against the devil and his
Jesus, our Commander in Chief -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Teachers or Parents: Children are interested in power, and
From the Father -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Teachers or Parents: Last week's activity used edible play
Forgiving a debt -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Teachers or Parents: Who is worthy of teaching about
The bread of life -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus talks about the bread of life in
God's word -- John 1:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A
Teachers or Parents: In the middle of all the activity
Samantha and Henry -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Materials 2-inch white pom-pom 3/4-inch white pom-pom
"Luke, the physician" -- Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Teachers or Parents: It is good that our children know more
Share with all -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Today's lesson is a very easy one to understand. It is practical. It is clear.
The good shepherd -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Teachers or Parents: This Sunday is often called "Good
"Choosing sides" -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
Teachers or Parents: The words of Jesus in this Gospel
Watch out for greed! -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
How do we define ourselves? When we think of our lives and our worth, what are the criteria we use?
Now you see it, now you don't -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
Parents or Teachers: When the sun shines in the summer it is a good time to explore shadows and what

Children's sermon

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We Are God's Hands -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We are all pretty familiar with the story of the widow's mite, how Jesus comm
The Proof Is in the Touching! -- John 20:19-31 -- Anna Shirey -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Too often, I think, we have held up the story of Thomas as an example of the
Listen Closely! -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We don't want to use this passage in Mark as a way of frightening the childre
Dinner with Jesus -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Here we have another one of these miraculous revelation stories, where Jesus
Seek Ye First -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Anna Shirey -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This is a very familiar verse to most of us and a good reminder for Thanksgiv
A True Friend -- John 10:11-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: If we've lived long enough, most of us have had the experience of friends we
A Different Kind of King -- John 18:33-37 -- Anna Shirey -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The last Sunday before we begin the season of Advent, this Sunday is called C
Abiding in God -- John 15:1-8 -- Anna Shirey -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: During these spring months, one descriptor of God comes clear -- creativity.
Be the Clay! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Anna Shirey -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2012
First Thoughts
I Have Chosen You -- John 15:9-17 -- Anna Shirey -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: In many church doctrines, the power and responsibility of choice seems to res
Now I See! -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Anna Shirey -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2012
First Thoughts
Sent Out as Christ -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Anna Shirey -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: As we enter this celebration of Ascension and prepare for Pentecost, we're go
Not of the World -- John 17:6-19 -- Anna Shirey -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Ever since the church began, there has been an ongoing struggle with the ques
The Spirit that Guides Us -- Day of Pentecost -- Anna Shirey -- 2012
First Thoughts: As we celebrate the birthday of the church, we can also revisit our own first
As Iron Sharpens Iron -- John 3:1-17 -- Anna Shirey -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Today's lesson contains one of the most familiar passages in the Bible: "For
A House Unified -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: If we read the entire passage for this Sunday we are struck with how many les
The Weedy Kingdom -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: We are all likely familiar with this evocative parable, which compares the ki
Quieting the Storm -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: This story is almost magical and is likely to appeal to young children.
Untouchable? -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Jesus' healing stories are miraculous demonstrations of Jesus' power, but the
Sheep or Goat? -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Anna Shirey -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2012
First Thoughts
A Prophet in Her Hometown -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: It is hard for us to realize, sometimes, how God can speak and work through j
Breaking a Promise -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: The story about the beheading of John the Baptist is pretty disturbing, but i
Resting in Green Pastures -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Anna Shirey -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2012
First Thoughts: Our passage from Mark shows Jesus doing something he did frequently, but also
Word for all -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
But is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, accor
What is a neighbor? -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. (v. 10)

Sermon

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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
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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
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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
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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 September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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