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Surviving Clergy Sexual Abuse -- Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Because you have made the Lord your refuge    the Most High your dwelling place,
The Open Way -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2025
Kenny walked past the open church doors and paused at the corner to look back the unusual sight.
Pet Clouds -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they en
A Picky Church Visitor -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2025
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Eve
Longing for Assurance -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Incline your ear, and come to me;    listen, so that you may live…
Brother-Sister Act -- Psalm 82 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2025
I say, “You are gods,    children of the Most High, all of you;
The Old, Old Story -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Paul reread the parable again and sighed. Why had he agreed to lead the Bible study this week?
Extravagant Jesus Super Bowl Ads -- John 12:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Running on Empty -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Frank Ramirez -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2025
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God,
Communion in the Barn -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2025
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my
God's Will -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Good Friday - C -- 2025
I’m sorry but I have some bad news. John heard the words of the doctor again as he sat in t
Seeing Through Easter Eyes -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Easter Day - C -- 2025
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know tha
The Speed of News -- Revelation 1:4-8 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Every eye will see him…. (v. 7)
Vision of Heaven -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatu
When Jesus Speaks -- John 10:22-30 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
“Hello, Peter. Come on in to the office,” Pastor Carl held open the door for him.
Who Wipes Your Tears? -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
Dream a Little Dream -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Frank Ramirez -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wro
Great Souls Are World Shakers -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[
Creating Unity -- John 17:20-26 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Patrick rubbed his forehead and scrolled back on his laptop screen.
Finding Holy Spirit in Nature -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Hail and Farewell -- John 16:12-15 -- Frank Ramirez -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2025
A little while, and you will no longer see me…. (v. 12)
Clone of Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
I Need Jesus People -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2025
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for
Migration Toward Life, Love, And Hope -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2025
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts
Promises and Reality -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2025
Ted looked out over the field behind his grandparent’s house and sighed.

Stories

StoryShare

When Jesus Speaks -- John 10:22-30 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
“Hello, Peter. Come on in to the office,” Pastor Carl held open the door for him.
Who Wipes Your Tears? -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
Dream a Little Dream -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Frank Ramirez -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wro
Great Souls Are World Shakers -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[
Creating Unity -- John 17:20-26 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Patrick rubbed his forehead and scrolled back on his laptop screen.
Finding Holy Spirit in Nature -- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- John E. Sumwalt -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Hail and Farewell -- John 16:12-15 -- Frank Ramirez -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2025
A little while, and you will no longer see me…. (v. 12)
Clone of Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
I Need Jesus People -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2025
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for
The Open Way -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2025
Kenny walked past the open church doors and paused at the corner to look back the unusual sight.
Migration Toward Life, Love, And Hope -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2025
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts
A Picky Church Visitor -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2025
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Eve
Brother-Sister Act -- Psalm 82 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2025
I say, “You are gods,    children of the Most High, all of you;
Promises and Reality -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2025
Ted looked out over the field behind his grandparent’s house and sighed.
God Saves Humans And Animals -- Psalm 36:5-10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2025
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Behind The Scenes -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2025
Did you ever notice in most of the old movies how the credits are at the front and they don’t share
Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
Be Not Afraid -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2025
Henry peeked through the curtain and saw the crowd of people waiting. “Wow!”
Beyond the Sunset -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2025
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those
Spoiler Alert! -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15 -- Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2025
I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. (v. 4)
A Transfiguring Dream -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2025
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror
Giving Alms -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Peter Andrew Smith -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2025
Jonathan picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello?”
Surviving Clergy Sexual Abuse -- Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 -- John E. Sumwalt -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Because you have made the Lord your refuge    the Most High your dwelling place,
Pet Clouds -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they en
Longing for Assurance -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Incline your ear, and come to me;    listen, so that you may live…
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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