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Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Those initially invited to the... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1999
Those initially invited to the wedding banquet refused to come and missed the opportunity to share i
Robert E. Lee once said... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1999
Robert E. Lee once said, "Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more.
This is a strange story... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1999
This is a strange story, and one which is difficult to understand.
Minnie and Ruby had been... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1999
Minnie and Ruby had been neighbors for 45 years. Their husbands were boyhood friends.
Don't worry! An easy thing... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
Don't worry! An easy thing to say but a difficult thing to do. Instead of worrying -- pray.
Alfie reflects the opposite of... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
Alfie reflects the opposite of what Jesus promises.
As life unfolds we find... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
As life unfolds we find many causes for rejoicing.
Given the circumstances of her... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
Given the circumstances of her birth and childhood, her socioeconomic background, her lack of opport
In the movie The Wizard... -- Philippians 3:12-21 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
In the movie The Wizard Of Oz, the story begins with Dorothy feeling that there is no hope for her,
A man sat on a... -- Philippians 3:12-21 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
A man sat on a park bench next to a pond.
The people who achieve the... -- Philippians 3:12-21 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
The people who achieve the most in this life seem to be motivated to accomplish even more.
Earl Nightingale tells us to... -- Philippians 3:12-21 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
Earl Nightingale tells us to envision our goals every day, and before we know it we will have obtain
A church decided to form... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
A church decided to form several small groups that would meet once a week in homes for prayer, Bible
Many are called; few are... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
Many are called; few are chosen.
God is offering to all... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
God is offering to all humanity the opportunity to participate in the great joy, or feast, of eterna
There was a haunted look... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1996
There was a haunted look in Old Tom's eyes and he wouldn't eat. So Sally took him to the vet.
It was once said, Every... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
It was once said, "Every time someone sins, they sin under the guise of doing good." People can alwa
For most people living in... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
For most people living in North America, "rejoicing always" is a relatively easy thing to do.
It could have been called... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
It could have been called a protest march -- but it was more like a frustration march.
The story of healing of... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
The story of healing of Naaman, the Syrian, by Elisha is brought to mind by this text.
Unfortunately, prophecy like Micah's doesn't... -- Micah 1:2; 2:1-10 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Unfortunately, prophecy like Micah's doesn't make much of an impact until the hearers begin to under
A leopard skin made into... -- Micah 1:2; 2:1-10 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
A leopard skin made into a high-priced coat hung in a furrier's shop.
One wonders why verse 11... -- Micah 1:2; 2:1-10 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
One wonders why verse 11 was omitted as the conclusion to the pericope.
These very familiar words of... -- Ruth 1:1-19a -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
These very familiar words of Ruth to Naomi (vv. 16-18) show forth tremendous depth of commitment.

The Immediate Word

Military Might And National Idols -- Exodus 32:1-14, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A
Dear fellow preachers,

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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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