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James Mckarns

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The First Marriage -- Genesis 2:18-24 -- James Mckarns, Anthology -- 1994
In the midst of a strange and beautiful world, the first man stood in awe, looking about at the new
To The Father's House -- 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10, John 14:1-6 -- James Mckarns, Anthology -- 1994
The first scripture reading we heard today was written by Paul and sent, in the form of a letter, to

Stories

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Stone Drunk And Naked -- Genesis 9 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
The gallon wine jug was lying uncorked, on its side, drained dry by the bleary-eyed sailor stretched
Good-bye, Hagar -- Genesis 16-21 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
"Send that Egyptian woman and her boy from my sight," Sarah demanded of her husband, Abraham.
The Saga Of Sodom -- Genesis 19 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
Abraham's favorite nephew was Lot, the son of his brother, Haran, who had died at an early age, leav
Right Bed, Wrong Woman -- Genesis 29 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
The first glimmer of the softly breaking dawn peeked through the partially opened cottage window and
The Low Blow -- Genesis 34 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
"Get your filthy hands off me, you ugly creep!" She kicked frantically and flailed her delicate arms
The Smart Ass -- Numbers 22 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
Nestled in the foothills of the Abarim Mountains, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, there lived a
Caught With His Pants Down -- 1 Samuel 24 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
The day King Saul granted young David permission to battle Goliath, David's popularity skyrocketed,
The Witch's Seance -- 1 Samuel 28 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
King Saul and three of his most trusted army officers finally reached the little mountain village of
Oh, Susanna! -- Daniel 13 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
The Babylonians stormed the ancient city of Jerusalem in the year 587 BC and destroyed it.
Watch Out For The Birds -- Tobit 1-12 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
He sat on a wobbly stool outside his small frame house, staring absentmindedly at the dusty road.
Dressed To Kill -- Judith 12-13 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
The small community of Bethulia had forgotten how truly beautiful Judith was.
The "Big E" Does It All -- 1 Maccabees 6 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
Eleazar, totally caught up in the unrelenting fury and maddening violence, was fighting with reckles
No Dogs Allowed -- Matthew 15 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
One day, Jesus and the faithful twelve decided they needed a few days of rest and a change of scener
Sleeping Through The Sermon -- Acts 20 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
"Eutychus, you get in the house this very moment!" his spirited mother impatiently shouted to the el
A Change Of Venue -- Acts 23 -- James Mckarns -- 2009
The apostle Paul traveled thousands of miles on land and sea, preaching the message of Jesus, establ
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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
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.

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