Login / Signup

David Kalas

David Kalas is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Union Theological Seminary of Virginia. David has been a contributing writer for Emphasis Preaching Journal and has authored several books.
Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

A new us-them mentality -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
You see it in every area of life. It's abundantly true in politics and sports.
What's the good word? -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
I expect that our culture has become a rather cynical audience for speech.
Devil's advocate -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Psalm 119:105-112 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
It's an awful phrase, you know, when you stop to think about it: "Devil's advocate." Yet how often h
Emergency numbers -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33, Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
A whole generation is growing up now with no knowledge of those little stickers we used to keep on o
Law-abiding citizens -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46 -- David Kalas -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
The Old Testament law may not be an object of daily meditation for most of our people but it ought t
The things God requires -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20, Psalm 149 -- David Kalas -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Many of us deeply cherish Micah's famous answer to that question (Micah 6:8).
Imitation Christianity -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- David Kalas -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
So much of what we human beings learn to do, we learn to do by imitation.
Here comes the judge -- Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30 -- David Kalas -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2011
In the 1970s, comedian Flip Wilson made famous a series of routines that featured the phrase "Here c
Paving the way -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
It's early December.
The names on the tag -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- David Kalas -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
We're thinking a lot about Christmas presents these days.
The wisest men -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2011
They are a cherished fixture in the Christmas story.
The test -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2011
I have a dear friend who is a college professor.
Is there something wrong with me? -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- David Kalas -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2011
We are a very sensitive generation.
On the other side -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- David Kalas -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
When our children were younger, I would often wash their feet for them when they came inside from pl
The gospel frame by frame -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, Psalm 32 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
Let the movie play at full speed through the first half.
Distinguishing features -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Galatians 1:11-24, Luke 7:11-17, Psalm 146 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2010
When our people hear these three passages read during our worship services this Sunday, they will se
Now departing -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62, Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2010
I'm sure you've heard it many times, just as I have.
Unspeakable famine -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 52 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
During some of the years that I was doing youth ministry, my wife was providing child care for sever
The faith to let go -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Two of my children are still rather young, and so they remain for me live-in examples of childlike f
Living under the tree -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
We're still several months from Christmas, but I have a Christmas scene on my mind going into this w
Is there a doctor in the house? -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13, Psalm 79:1-9 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
In the hymn "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," Julia Harriette Johnston expressed our circumstance in son
Your home away from home -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-12 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2010
Imagine yourself in a ship out on the high seas.
What God wants -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14, Psalm 65 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2010
In 2000, Mel Gibson played a character named Nick Marshall in the movie What Women Want.
Of beginnings and endings -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Isaiah 12 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2010
Learning to tell time -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2010
The pop-rock band Chicago famously sang, "Does anybody really

Sermon

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL