Login / Signup

First Sunday in Lent - A

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Children's Activity

Commentary

Children's bulletin

Children's Liturgy and Story

Children's sermon

CSSPlus

Good medicine -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought a bottle of (name of
From sin to salvation -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Good morning, boys and girls. Let's see how well you remember your Bible stories.
Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have ever met the devil face to face?

The Immediate Word

Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

The Immediate Word

Power In The Wilderness -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Mary Austin, Dean Feldmeyer, George Reed -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
As we enter into Lent, the focus for many of our people will turn inward as they engage in small act
You Will Be Like God -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Stephen P. McCutchan, Barbara Jurgensen, Thom M. Shuman -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Humanity as a whole has shown a tendency for desiring power, whether it is power to conquer a nation

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Among the Romans' pithy sayings... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Among the Romans' pithy sayings was, "Work conquers all." Many Americans hold that
Some question the historical authenticity... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Some question the historical authenticity of the "garden" story, but many things
The man gave names ... to... -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
"The man gave names ... to every animal of the field." Now it is quiz time. What names
There is an old story... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
There is an old story about a young boy who consistently disobeyed his parents, coming
Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point, gives a number of examples
Greg tells of his summer... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Greg tells of his summer experience with "Open Air Containers." Open Air Containers is
It is estimated that over... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
It is estimated that over 25 million people died in Europe between 1347 and 1352. The
Lloyd flew to the Oregon... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Lloyd flew to the Oregon coast to interview for a call as pastor. From the airport, he was
How do we prepare ourselves... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
How do we prepare ourselves and others to withstand temptation? There's no one "cure-
Greek mythology has a fascinating... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Greek mythology has a fascinating story about the power of temptation. Certain areas
Jimmy, Mark and Sarah could... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Jimmy, Mark and Sarah could be the best children anyone ever saw.
The new youth director was... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The new youth director was adamant.
Some years ago, there was... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Some years ago, there was a medical missionary who served in Egypt.
While God accepts us as... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
While God accepts us as we are, it is not God's intent to keep us wallowing in our sin.
Jesus' successful resistance of temptation... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Jesus' successful resistance of temptation sets a pattern for disciples, including those who seeming
A man once went to... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
A man once went to his priest to confess. "Yes, I did it," he admitted.
Will the test be very... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
"Will the test be very hard?" Jake asked his teacher.
The child asked, Why did... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The child asked, "Why did God let Jesus be tempted and why three times?
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was a dynamic speaker. His long-
In the book of Romans... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells us the basic Christian truths as he saw them.
One person can make all... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
One person can make all the difference in the world -- for good or for evil.
FREE GIFT! splashed in big... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
FREE GIFT! splashed in big red letters across the envelope or the computer screen.
Paul is speaking of the... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Paul is speaking of the gracious life of grace made possible through Christ.

Intercession

Poems

Preaching

Sermon

The Immediate Word

Fully, Only Human -- Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-19, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32 -- Chris Ewing -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Striving to win and to test limits, athletes have been in the news lately for risking the use of ill

The Village Shepherd

The Sin Of Adam -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
It always strikes me as strange that St Paul puts so much emphasis on Adam's sin, but that t
Hooked On Sin? -- Genesis 2:15-17 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
We in the West have an interesting culture in which we quite like to be shocked.
Fasting And Temptation -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Janice B. Scott -- First Sunday in Lent - A
I once fasted for five days.

SermonStudio

Tempted In The Strong Places Of Life -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Albert G. Butzer, III -- First Sunday in Lent - A
In his best--selling book called First You Have To Row a Little Boat, Richard Bode writes abo

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
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...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL