Login / Signup

Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C

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

One of the loveliest unspoiled... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
One of the loveliest unspoiled holy sites in modern Israel is a national park at Banyas, where one o
There is only one gospel... -- Galatians 1:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
There is only one gospel of Christ but in its proclamation through the centuries the good news is ex
Part of what this dramatic... -- 1 Kings 19:9-14 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Part of what this dramatic story of Elijah teaches us is that there are often circumstances in life
Many Christians today are nonplussed... -- Galatians 1:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Many Christians today are nonplussed by the society to which they should address the gospel.
When a very important message... -- 1 Kings 19:9-14 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
When a very important message comes to us, it does not have to be shouted or presented in large prin
In the life of every... -- Galatians 1:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
In the life of every Christian there comes a time when she or he will try to revise the gospel in an
The Lord promises to pour... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The Lord promises to pour out upon his people the "spirit of compassion and supplication." Sometimes
When the equipment at the... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
When the equipment at the photo lab was working properly, the job almost became monotonous as the pr
Pat is a Methodist from... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Pat is a Methodist from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who went to a Lutheran University in Columbus, Ohio, w
The Christian Church (Disciples of... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) recently changed its procedures for the election of a gen
Homes of famous people, which... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Homes of famous people, which are open to the public, draw numerous visitors each year.
There is an old legend... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
There is an old legend, of mysterious origin.
It is the hardest thing... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
It is the hardest thing in the world to have good news turn into bad news.
Although the fulfillment of Zechariah's... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Although the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy is evidently for the future, his words reveal an et
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once sent a telegram to the exclusive Friar's Club in Hollywood, to w
Could it be that we... -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Could it be that we have placed the wrong emphasis by spending much time and effort in "getting righ
A time of public mourning... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
A time of public mourning becomes fixed in the minds of those who experience it.
Lawyers have a reputation for... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Lawyers have a reputation for being wordy.
From the hellish scenes of... -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
From the hellish scenes of World War II in Poland comes the story of Yitzak, a Jewish physician who,
Their ears were pierced. His... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Their ears were pierced.
A child under the age... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
A child under the age of 18 is a minor.
In my fourth year of... -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
In my fourth year of theology I was blessed to have a gifted teacher who was able to draw out of us
The only act of apology... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The only act of apology I know of in the Scriptures is in Acts 16:39.
I don't want to go... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
"I don't want to go home." The plaintiff cry was a familiar one at the end of camp week.
Raised in Michigan where entire... -- Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Raised in Michigan where entire choirs of summertime frogs sing in bogs beside country roads, I miss

Intercession

Prayer

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