Login / Signup

Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - 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 sermon

Devotional

Drama

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

After some coaxing, Isabel agreed... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed to head the caring ministry team at church.
When an owner of a... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
When an owner of a professional sports franchise is happy with his coaches and managers, he often gi
In the movie, Forrest Gump... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
In the movie, Forrest Gump, Forrest has many amazing abilities but has an IQ of about seventy
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard.
The apostle Paul models an... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The apostle Paul models an excellent work ethic through making tents.
Almost three-quarters of Americans... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Almost three-quarters of Americans who haven't darkened the door of a church in the last six months
The time had come for... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The time had come for Jeff to begin searching for another job.
Jocelyn was learning almost daily... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Jocelyn was learning almost daily in her school that smoking is bad for a person's health and that s
Joshua 3:7-17 There... -- Matthew 23:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Joshua 3:7-17
Leading a life worthy of... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Leading a life worthy of God means doing our best with what God has given us.
A father who was carefully... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
A father who was carefully raising his sons in the values of the church allowed them to play on a lo
Just as the Pharisees and... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Just as the Pharisees and teachers of the law wanted to keep things from changing because the status
Will Hunting (Matt Damon) was... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Will Hunting (Matt Damon) was only a janitor.
Integrity seems to be in... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Integrity seems to be in short supply.
Christian psychologist M. Scott Peck... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Christian psychologist M.
Any book on parenting that... -- Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Any book on parenting that does not include at least one chapter on the skill of cutting a pie so th
The theme of God's impartiality... -- Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The theme of God's impartiality and equitable judgment is stressed here --even "in the case of a poo
The owner of a pet... -- Jeremiah 14: (1-6) 7-10, 19-22 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The owner of a pet store was startled when a boy peered over the counter and asked if he could buy t
The thirsty earth soaks up... -- Jeremiah 14: (1-6) 7-10, 19-22 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The thirsty earth soaks up the rain,And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
Two of the best remembered... -- Jeremiah 14: (1-6) 7-10, 19-22 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Two of the best remembered pieces of the Reformation are associated with two of the most painful per
Few phrases are more poignant... -- Jeremiah 14: (1-6) 7-10, 19-22 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Few phrases are more poignant, and more devastating, than the phrase, "It's too late to do anything
We are bound to give... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
"We are bound to give thanks to God always for you ..."
Clarence Jordan was reported as... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Clarence Jordan was reported as having been invited to a dedication service for a beautiful n
By the latter half of... -- 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
By the latter half of the first century A.D., Christians were persecuted as a policy of the Roman Em
Zacchaeus announced that he would... -- Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Zacchaeus announced that he would give one-half of his possessions to the poor.

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