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Fifth Sunday in Lent - C

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Theologian Paul Tillich dubbed such... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Theologian Paul Tillich dubbed such extravagance as Mary shows "Holy Waste."
One day a young man... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
One day a young man went to a photography studio carrying a framed picture of his
Jesus was criticized for allowing... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Jesus was criticized for allowing Mary to show such extravagant love.
Dr. Wayne Oates, pastoral counselor... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Dr. Wayne Oates, pastoral counselor, told the story about a psychiatric clinic in
John Thompson was extravagant in... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
John Thompson was extravagant in his generosity.
Charlie Sullivan was not a... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Charlie Sullivan was not a wealthy man.
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879), the... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879), the British hymn writer, was a woman well acquainted with trial
Mark Twain once said, If... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Mark Twain once said, "If you took all the people who fell asleep in church and laid them end to end
Kaye O'Bara, 72, of Miami... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Kaye O'Bara, 72, of Miami, has sacrificed the last half of her life for someone she considers more i
One might look to the... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
One might look to the character of Inspector Javert in Les Miserables to see an example of ho
When the church's worship committee... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
When the church's worship committee decided to add blue altar paraments for the Advent season, Joann
Once upon a time there... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Once upon a time there was a man who really liked to golf.
Paul compares the Christian life... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Paul compares the Christian life with a long distance race.
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) was an... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) was an Italian nationalist patriot and hero.
I read about a man... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
I read about a man who had a vast collection of X-rated videos.
The Sultan of Brunei is... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The Sultan of Brunei is the world's richest man.
The small, yet growing, congregation... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The small, yet growing, congregation decided to build a Christian Education wing to get space for th
A young man appreciated the... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
A young man appreciated the love of his grandmother as long as he could remember.
Allen and Linda had only... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Allen and Linda had only attended the small neighborhood church for a couple years.
The idea of one human... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The idea of one human being owning another is repulsive to us.
The Toledo (Ohio) Zoo, much... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The Toledo (Ohio) Zoo, much of which was built through government work programs during the 1930s, ha
Those who bring truth from... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Those who bring truth from God are often rejected.
A group of Jewish business... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
A group of Jewish business leaders were told by a certain hotel in Miami, Florida, that they could n
Petunia finally understood. All animals... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Petunia finally understood.
The couple enjoyed dinner parties... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The couple enjoyed dinner parties and they hosted them often.

Intercession

Prayer

Preaching

Sermon

The Immediate Word

What New Thing Is God Doing Now? -- John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:4b-14, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Carter Shelley -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Some folks are excited and energized by learning something new or witnessing a creative development
The Heavenly Call Of God -- Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8, Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126 -- Paul Bresnahan, Scott Suskovic, Thom M. Shuman -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
In this week's epistle passage, Paul speaks of "press[ing] on toward the goal for the prize of the h

The Village Shepherd

When The Penny Drops? -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
There are many people whose lives have been completely changed by a single event.
The Cost Of Caring -- John 12:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
There have been a number of terrible tragedies at US Schools over recent years, which have left th
Do You Not Perceive It? -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Janice B. Scott -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
My grandmother, who died way back in 1960, used to listen to "The Archers" on the radio.

Stories

Worship

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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