Login / Signup

Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - 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

Children's Story

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Angelo Guissepe Roncalli, born in... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Angelo Guissepe Roncalli, born in 1881, dedicated himself to becoming a priest at eight
Reunions are usually fun occasions... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Reunions are usually fun occasions. It's great to chat with families and catch up on the
Because of their insane jealousy... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Because of their insane jealousy, the brothers of Joseph disliked him so much they told
Torah came thundering down from... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Torah came thundering down from the mountain with the force of a hammer striking an
What is your calling? Are... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
What is your calling? Are you a homemaker? A teacher? A doctor? Do you work as a
Sarah had been a nurse... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Sarah had been a nurse for several years. She was good at what she did, showing
Omma had a practice of... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Omma had a practice of giving each of her grandchild two gifts. One gift was an article
Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's Minister... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda,
Jesus seemed really hard on... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Jesus seemed really hard on this poor woman. He insulted her, humiliated her, and caused
Jesus told the Canaanite woman... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
Jesus told the Canaanite woman she had great faith.
In the wake of the... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of reactions.
I knew a man who... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
I knew a man who was having a serious relationship problem.
A friend had tried all... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
A friend had tried all morning to phone her insurance company to report a claim.
A pastor's wife once asked... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
A pastor's wife once asked me, "Do you know the difference between kindness and loving-kindness?" We
Sometimes we hear, but we... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
Sometimes we "hear," but we don't "listen." We are rather like Jed Harris, the U.S.
All night she had taken... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
All night she had taken turns nursing the sick and praying for their wholeness, for Saint Theresa of
An old Andy Griffith episode... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
An old Andy Griffith episode has a young family renting a house from an elderly, rich landlord.
Our prosperous times create problems... -- Luke 1:46-55 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Our prosperous times create problems at gift-giving times such as birthdays and holidays.
A confirmation class was discussing... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
A confirmation class was discussing Exodus 20:7: "You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the
Search and Rescue Dogs of... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado (SARDOC) train hundreds of hours a year.
The things that come out... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
"The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' " Obsce
Aunt Helen was a beloved... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Aunt Helen was a beloved aunt of mine. Her trademark was to play jokes on us at Christmastime.
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish citizen... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish citizen and a Christian, was instrumental in saving the lives of thousan
She was raised in a... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
She was raised in a Christian home. I was her pastor.
Eliza's knees shook as she... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Eliza's knees shook as she walked to the podium. Why had she agreed to be the banquet speaker?

Intercession

Preaching

Sermon

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