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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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Almost Heaven -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Psalm 119:129-136 -- Keith Wagner, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2017
Contents "Almost Heaven" by Keith Wagner
Rock-Like Living -- Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Keith Wagner, Keith Hewitt -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2017
Contents "Rock-Like Living" by Keith Wagner
If You Don't Forgive -- Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14:1-12, Psalm 114, Psalm 103:1-13 -- David O. Bales, Keith Wagner -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2017
Contents "If You Don’t Forgive" by David O. Bales
The Reassuring Word -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18, Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 2016
Contents "The Reassuring Word" by Keith Wagner
All You Need Is Love -- Luke 4:21-30, Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2016
Contents "All You Need is Love" by Keith Wagner
Living Our Beliefs -- Luke 13:31-35, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Psalm 27 -- Keith Wagner -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
Contents "Living Our Beliefs" by Keith Wagner
All For Christ -- John 12:1-8, Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, Psalm 126 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Keith Wagner -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2016
Contents "All for Christ" by Peter Andrew Smith
Before There Can Be Resurrection There Must Be Death -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Keith Wagner -- Easter Day - C -- 2016
Contents "Before there can be Resurrection there must be Death" by Keith Wagner
Living Outside The Box -- John 13:31-35, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, Psalm 148 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2016
Contents "Living Outside the Box" by Keith Wagner
The Church Finally Got It -- John 14:8-17 (25-27), Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2016
Contents "The Church Finally Got It" by Keith Wagner
Free! -- Luke 7:11-17, 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24), Galatians 1:11-24, Psalm 146 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2016
Contents "Free!" by Keith Wagner
Those Who Reap What They Sow Are Servants -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Psalm 30 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2016
Contents "Those who Reap what they Sow are Servants" by Keith Wagner
Call For Unity -- Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Psalm 85 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2016
Contents "Call for Unity" by Keith Wagner
Moving Forward -- Luke 13:10-17, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2016
Contents "Moving Forward" by Keith Wagner "Living Unafraid" by Keith Wagner
Come, Join The Party! -- Luke 15:1-10, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Psalm 14 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2016
Contents "Come, Join the Party!" by Keith Wagner
Rebirth For Troubled Souls -- Luke 17:11-19, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Psalm 66:1-12 -- Keith Wagner, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2016
Contents "Rebirth for Troubled Souls" by Keith Wagner
Growing Pains -- Luke 19:1-10, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Psalm 119:137-144 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2016
Contents "Growing Pains" by Keith Wagner
Who's The Boss? -- Luke 23:33-43, Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 1:68-79 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Wagner -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2016
Contents "Who's the Boss?" by C. David McKirachan
Why Did He Ask? -- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Psalm 146:5-10 -- C. David Mckirachan, Keith Wagner -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2016
Contents "Why did he ask?" by C. David McKirachan
Forgive And Forget -- Mark 12:38-44, Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Psalm 127 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2015
Contents "Forgive and Forget" by Keith Wagner
God Is Awesome -- Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 47 -- Keith Wagner -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2015
Contents "God is Awesome" by Keith Wagner
Heavenly Showers -- Mark 1:4-11, Psalm 29 -- Keith Wagner -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2015
Contents "Heavenly Showers" by Keith Wagner
Change Is Essential For Newness -- Mark 3:20-35, 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15), 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Keith Wagner, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2015
Contents "Change is Essential for Newness" by Keith Wagner
The Joy Of Giving -- Mark 5:21-43, 1 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Psalm 130 -- Keith Wagner, Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2015
Contents "The Joy of Giving" by Keith Wagner
When Grief Is Unresolved -- John 6:34, 41-51, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, Psalm 130 -- Keith Wagner -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2015
Contents "When Grief is Unresolved" by Keith Wagner
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
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...
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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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