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John E. Sumwalt

John E. Sumwalt is a retired United Methodist pastor and the author of nine books for CSS Publishing Company, including How to Preach the Miracles and the Vision Stories series. He and his wife, Joanne Perry-Sumwalt, were the original editors of StoryShare. John is an acclaimed storyteller. He writes a weekly spiritual column for several Wisconsin newspapers.
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StoryShare

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
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
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
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,
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[
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;
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
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
Rejoice in Your Sufferings -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2025
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacki
The Boy Who Would Not Tell a Lie -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2025
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and
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.
Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
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
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
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,
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…
Extravagant Jesus Super Bowl Ads -- John 12:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Infidelities R Us -- John 15:9-17 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Eternity Was In the Room -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2024
…God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. (v. 11b)

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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
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[
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;
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.
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,

Sermon

SermonStudio

Now I See -- John 9:1-41 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
Healing Tears -- John 11:1-45 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
When we came up out of the tomb of Lazarus, the other half of our touring group, who were waiting th
While It Was Still Dark -- John 20:1-18 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
March 7, 1961, was by all appearances an ordinary day.
The Best Send Off Ever -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
In the summer of 2004, I had the joy of traveling with Rosmarie Trapp on a five-day, whirlwind story
Pentecost Diaries -- Acts 2:1-21 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
The last time I spoke to Ken was on the phone a few weeks before he died.
Foreign Territory -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
I grew up "poor" -- or so I thought.
Dreaming Joseph -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
Storm Walker -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
The call came on a Sunday after church just as we were sitting down to lunch.
How To Stretch A Meal -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- John E. Sumwalt -- 2007
My mother's people, the Longs of Longfield House, County Tipperary, came from Ireland to southwest W

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Storm Walker -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2007
The call came on a Sunday after church just as we were sitting down to lunch.

Stories

StoryShare

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.
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
Rejoice in Your Sufferings -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2025
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacki
Love Never Ends -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Love never ends.
The Boy Who Would Not Tell a Lie -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2025
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and
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
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
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,
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…
Extravagant Jesus Super Bowl Ads -- John 12:1-8 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2025
Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
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
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
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
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,
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[
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;
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
Casting Out Demons in Ohio -- Mark 1:29-39 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2024
And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demo
If I Should Wake Before I Die -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- John E. Sumwalt -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2024
As we work together with him, we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he

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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.
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,
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
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[
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;
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For August 3, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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