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Keith Wagner

Rev. Dr. Keith Wagner is the pastor of St. John's UCC in Troy, Ohio. He has served churches in Southwest Ohio for over three decades. He is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and has an M.Div. from Methodist Theological School, Delaware, Ohio, and a D.Min. from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has also been an adjunct professor at Edison Community College, Piqua, Ohio. He and his wife, Lin, live in Springfield, Ohio.
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Stories

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Rooted in Faith -- John 17:6-19, Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, Psalm 1 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2018
Contents "Rooted in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Significant Other -- Mark 3:20-35, Psalm 130, Genesis 3:8-15 -- Keith Wagner, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2018
Contents “The Significant Other” by Keith Wagner
The Gift of Healing -- Mark 5:21-43, 1 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2018
Contents “The Gift of Healing” by Keith Wagner
The Lord Will Provide -- Psalm 145:10-18, 2 Kings 4:42-44, John 6:1-21, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Keith Wagner, John Fitzgerald -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2018
Contents “The Lord Will Provide” by Keith Wagner
Living Bread -- John 6:51-58, 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2018
Contents “Living Bread” by Keith Wagner
The Art of Listening -- Proverbs 1:20-33, Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2018
Contents “The Art of Listening” by Keith Wagner
I'm Okay with That -- Mark 10:2-16, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2018
Contents “I'm Okay with That” by Peter Andrew Smith
Living Within Limits -- Ruth 1:1-18, Deuteronomy 6:1-9 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2018
Contents “Living Within Limits” by Keith Wagner
Late -- Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Psalm 23 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2017
Contents "Late" by David O. Bales
A Face In The Crowd -- Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3 -- Keith Hewitt, Keith Wagner -- All Saints Day - A -- 2017
Contents "A Face in the Crowd" by Keith Hewitt
Aunt June's Thanksgiving -- Luke 17:11-19, Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Psalm 65 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2017
Contents "Aunt June’s Thanksgiving" by John Fitzgerald
The Magnificence of God -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Psalm 126, Luke 1:46b-55 -- Keith Wagner, John Fitzgerald -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
Contents "The Magnificence of God" by Keith Wagner
Let it Be -- Luke 1:26-38, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2017
Contents "Let it Be" by Keith Wagner "Faith and Obedience" by Keith Wagner
A New Season -- Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- New Year's Day - A -- 2017
Contents "A New Season" by Peter Andrew Smith
For Love Of Neighbor -- Matthew 5:38-48, Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Psalm 119:33-40 -- Keith Wagner -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2017
Contents "For Love of Neighbor" by Keith Wagner
A Little Soul Searching -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 32 -- Keith Wagner, Keith Hewitt -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Contents "A Little Soul Searching" by Keith Wagner
Your Staff Comforts Me -- Psalm 23, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Wagner -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2017
Contents "Your Staff Comforts Me" by C. David McKirachan
In His Service -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Keith Wagner -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2017
Contents "In His Service" by Keith Wagner "Remembering" by Keith Wagner
Spiritually Speaking -- John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Psalm 16 -- Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Spiritually Speaking" by Keith Wagner
A New Season -- Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- New Year's Day - A -- 2017
Contents "A New Season" by Peter Andrew Smith
Light For The Darkness -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2017
Contents "Light for the Darkness" by Keith Wagner
Moment Of Inevitability -- Luke 14:1-14, Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Keith Hewitt, Keith Wagner -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2017
Contents "Moment of Inevitability" by Keith Hewitt
Living Outside The Box -- Matthew 20:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Keith Wagner -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2017
Contents "Living Outside the Box" by Keith Wagner
Jesus And Religious Know-It-Alls -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Zechariah 9:9-12 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2017
Contents "Jesus And Religious Know-It-Alls" by David O. Bales

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Looking for the Rainbow -- Mark 1:9-15, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Genesis 9:8-17 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2018
Contents "Looking for the Rainbow" by Peter Andrew Smith
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
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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
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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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