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Gregory L. Tolle

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Rag Pickers Of Juarez -- John 4:5-42 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,'
Lessons In Humility -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2004
The greatest among you will be your servant.
Daniel -- John 9:1-41 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on t
The Perfect Opportunity -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2004
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (v. 13)
God Is Our Security Guard -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2004
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (v.
Investing Talents -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2004
"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to the
Al Webster: The Gentle Giant -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2004
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God
Grace For All -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2004
For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are n
It Only Takes A Spark -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2004
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
Fruit Punch, A Poppy Seed Muffin, And A Bar -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2004
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with
Hitting A Winner -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2004
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.
From Suffering To Hope -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2004
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance
Nothing Can Separate Us -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2004
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Yule Shoppers Clash -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2004
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their s
How Insignificant? -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2004
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
You Give Them Something To Eat -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2004
Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (v. 16)
The Fire Within -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2004
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;
King Thrushbeard -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2004
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (v.
Little Faith -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2004
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why d
Why Come To Earth? -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2004
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to h
Rest For The Weary -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2004
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
The Power Of Persistence -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2004
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith!
Heroes And Villains -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- All Saints Day - A -- 2004
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they
Thanksgiving -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2004
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs
The Ungrateful Mouse -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Gregory L. Tolle -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2004
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly tha
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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.
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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
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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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