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Ellis Dillard Thompson

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Inspirational

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A saint -- 2 Thessalonians 1:10 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: A saintLocation: 2 Thessalonians 1:10
Charity begins at home -- 1 Timothy 5:4 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Charity begins at homeLocation: 1 Timothy 5:4
A millstone around one's neck -- Mark 9:42 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: A millstone around one's neckLocation: Mark 9:42
Turn the other cheek -- Matthew 5:39 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Turn the other cheekLocation: Matthew 5:39
God works in mysterious ways -- Ephesians 3:9 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: God works in mysterious waysLocation: Ephesians 3:9
Salty talk -- Colossians 4:6 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Salty talkLocation: Colossians 4:6
Children of God -- John 1:12 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Children of GodLocation: John 1:12 (NRSV)
Two are better than one -- Ecclesiastes 4:9 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Two are better than oneLocation: Ecclesiastes 4:9
Going to the dogs -- Matthew 15:26 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Going to the dogsLocation: Matthew 15:26
The scapegoat -- Leviticus 16:10 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: The scapegoatLocation: Leviticus 16:10
Choose your friends carefully -- Proverbs 12:26 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Choose your friends carefully
A two-edged sword -- Revelation 1:16 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: A two-edged swordLocation: Revelation 1:16
The Golden Rule -- Matthew 7:12 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: The Golden RuleLocation: Matthew 7:12
See eye to eye -- Isaiah 52:8 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: See eye to eyeLocation: Isaiah 52:8
Count the cost -- Luke 14:28 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Count the costLocation: Luke 14:28 (NKJV)
Vanity, all is vanity -- Ecclesiastes 1:2 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Vanity, all is vanityLocation: Ecclesiastes 1:2
A good name is better than great riches -- Proverbs 22:1 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: A good name is better than great riches
See how great a forest a little fire kindles -- James 3:5 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: See how great a forest a little fire kindles
Deaf as an adder -- Psalm 58:4 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Deaf as an adderLocation: Psalm 58:4
Vengeance is the Lord's -- Romans 12:19 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Vengeance is the Lord'sLocation: Romans 12:19
The good old days -- Ecclesiastes 7:10 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: The good old daysLocation: Ecclesiastes 7:10
Separate the sheep from the goats -- Matthew 25:32 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Separate the sheep from the goatsLocation: Matthew 25:32
A dog returns to its vomit -- Proverbs 26:11 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: A dog returns to its vomitLocation: Proverbs 26:11
Wash my hands of the whole thing -- Matthew 27:24 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: Wash my hands of the whole thingLocation: Matthew 27:24
The handwriting on the wall -- Daniel 5:7 -- Ellis Dillard Thompson -- 1998
Expression: The handwriting on the wallLocation: Daniel 5:7 (TLB)
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Easter 4
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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
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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.

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