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Ron Lavin

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Adult study

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A Fistful Of Nothing -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Walking Your Talk -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners
The Secret Of The Right Attitude -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
O Lord, my God, in You I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me ...
How Majestic Is Thy Name -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!
The Shepherd King -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Turning Griping Into Gratitude -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my hea
This Fax Is For You -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? -- Psalm 27:1
Longing For God -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
God Is Our Refuge And Strength -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Clean Hearts And Renewed Spirits -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
It Is High Time -- Ron Lavin -- 2000
Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing glory to his name; make his praise glorious!
Our Father -- Luke 11:1-2 -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
A young woman named Carol discovered her status as a child of the heavenly Father, in spite of the f
Heaven And God's Hallowed Name -- Matthew 6:9 -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
In the Lord's Prayer, we speak to God as our Abba, our daddy.
Your Kingdom Come -- Matthew 6:9-10 -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
In our study of the Lord's Prayer, we began by looking at Abba, our Father.
Your Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven -- Matthew 6:10 -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
What are we praying in this petition?
Give Us Tomorrow's Bread Today -- Matthew 6:9-11 -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
In 1988 while on sabbatical leave studying in Canterbury, England, I was privileged to hear Bishop J
Forgive Us -- Matthew 6:9-14 -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
Some years ago I was talking about handling problems to a friend who is a recovering alcoholic.
Save Us From The Great Ordeal And Deliver Us From The Evil One -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
A devout Christian woman once said to me, "I love the Lord's Prayer, but there is one thing in it wh
Your Glory -- Matthew 6:13b -- Ron Lavin -- 1993
Does prayer really work?

Bible Study

Faith Development

Sermon

SermonStudio

Lord Of All! -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Ron Lavin -- Easter Day - B -- 2005
A post-resurrection story is told about Lazarus, the man Jesus brought back from the dead.
Yesterday, Today, And Forever -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Ron Lavin -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2005
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient.
Mourning Turned To Joy -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Ron Lavin -- Second Sunday after Christmas - C -- 1991
The 14th canticle from the Lutheran Book of Worship poetically summarizes Jeremiah 31:6-14:
Anointed -- Isaiah 61:1-4 -- Ron Lavin -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1991
Isaiah 61 is a dangerous text!
From Inferiority To Fulfillment -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1991
A counselor was listening carefully to a teenager. She was speaking about her troubles.
The Quest And The Question Of The Way -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Ron Lavin -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1991
Life is a quest. For some, life is a quest for power.
A Mother's Pride And Joy -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- Ron Lavin -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 1991
The story of Samuel is a drama of great intensity, great love, great change, great conflict and grea
Previews Of Coming Attractions -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- Ron Lavin -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1991
What comes to your mind when I say the word "forecasting"? The weather man?
The Water Gate And The Word Proclaimed -- Nehemiah 8:1 -4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1991
The story of Nehemiah and Ezra is a drama in three parts.
Dispelling Ministry Illusions -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1991
Jeremiah is often regarded as a Christ-figure, a prophet like Jesus, who suffered at the hands of hi
Vision For Mission -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 1991
There are many wonderful passages in the book of Isaiah, but none lovelier than this gem - the call
Trusting In The Lord -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 1991
Recently I awoke from a dream with a start. I didn't know where I was or what was happening.
Faithful To The Lord -- Genesis 45:1-11, 15 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 1991
There are many plots, sub-plots and themes in the Old Testament story of Joseph.
Believing The Living Word -- Isaiah 55:10-13 -- Ron Lavin -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - C -- 1991
There are few things in life which you can count on, but you can count on these two: the Word of God
Transformed For The Great Awakening -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Ron Lavin -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1991
Moses experienced the presence of the living God. Therein he was transformed. His face shone.
Preparing The Way -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Ron Lavin -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1991
Frank kept the strangest of Christmas lists.
Singing Along The Way -- Zephaniah 3:14-18 -- Ron Lavin -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1991
In the time of John the Baptist, most of the people were not getting the point.
Good News! -- Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Ron Lavin -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1991
From your childhood, think of some good news which came to you suddenly.
The Outsider -- Ron Lavin -- 1984
A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged him for help.
It Dawned on Me -- Ron Lavin -- 1984
(* While this sermon covers some of the same material as some previous chapters, it does so from Mat
The Dynamics of Doubt -- Ron Lavin -- 1984
On the evening of the great first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors
Ron Lavin -- 1984
1. The sermon for the festival of St.
The Demons and the Counselor -- Ron Lavin -- 1984
Jesus and the disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the syn
"Oh Yeah, Thanks a Lot" -The Grateful Leper -- Luke 18:11-17 -- Ron Lavin -- 1984
On a certain day, long ago, I awoke and said: "Another day ... If only I could sleep all day ...
I Came Back -The Risen Young Man -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Ron Lavin -- 1984
My name is unimportant.

Stories

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
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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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