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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It is said of the... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
It is said of the Emperor Constantine that, on the eve of an important battle in the year 312, he lo
Much to Alice's dismay she... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Much to Alice's dismay she discovered that her fifteen-year-old daughter was experimenting with drug
It was generally conceded that... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
It was generally conceded that Mrs. M was a tough coach.
The novel, A Thousand Splendid... -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
The novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, follows the life of the two wives of an abusive man in A
Alfonso XIII was king of... -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Alfonso XIII was king of Spain from 1886-1931, having been proclaimed king at birth.
Jesus tells us that we... -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Jesus tells us that we are loved because we are children of God. Love is a free gift.
It is a lamentable fact... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
It is a lamentable fact of modern life: the auto accident.
Suzi was going through one... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Suzi was going through one of those dry periods in her life.
Little Samuel had a difficult... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Little Samuel had a difficult task ahead of him.
Relationships are important to us... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Relationships are important to us. In the past, relationships defined a person.
My wife and her friend... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
My wife and her friend, Tina, attended university in Spain for their senior year.
By raising Christ from the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
By raising Christ from the dead and by seating him at God's own right hand, God has indeed "raised u
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told me a story about a large statue of Christ in front of the Castle
Sandy and Joan had known... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Sandy and Joan had known each other since high school and enjoyed each other's company.
Barry relates his experience at... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Barry relates his experience at a Christian college. Barry played on the volleyball team.
What's so great about the... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
What's so great about the number twelve that the apostles cast lots to find a replacement for Judas?
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River flows north toward the Red Sea but dribbles out in the sand before arr
After Jesus ascended into heaven... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the remaining eleven disciples got down to business.
In order for lawyers to... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In order for lawyers to win a case in court, they need to have something they themselves cannot gene
Marcus greets everyone who enters... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Marcus greets everyone who enters the building with a salutation and a bright smile.
The old proverb, which was... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
The old proverb, which was popularized in 1605 in Don Quixote, states, "The proof of the pudd
Teaching children to swim can... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Teaching children to swim can be challenging.
Peter Arnett was awarded the... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Peter Arnett was awarded the 1966 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting.
Janet's six-year-old son... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Janet's six-year-old son, Jason, had declared his independence and stated that from now on he was ol
Like a wildfire. That's how... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
"Like a wildfire." That's how Eugene Peterson describes the Pentecost tongues of fire, in his Bible

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New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A football, a hand-held microphone, a camera, a stack of play money bills. These are the objects I used, but you can use any objects that might symbolize “success”.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
For October 20, 2024:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (v. 4)

The outhouse on the farm where I grew up was beside the ash pile, at the end of a well-worn path, under a boxelder tree about fifty yards from the back door of the house. It was a two-seater – cold in winter, smelly and hot in summer. There was always a Sears and Roebuck catalogue on the floor in the corner, which served as both reading and wiping material.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Most people assume God’s answer to Job, showing him the depth and breadth of the universe is meant to cow Job’s resistance, leading him, now broken, to repent, abjectly saying “...therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (42:6).”
Mark Ellingsen
All the lessons testify to the theme that it’s not at all about you and me; it’s all about God!

Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, "What is it you want me to do for you?" In our worship, let us explore what we want Jesus to do for us today.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we are sometimes selfish in our requests to you.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we are sometimes unreasonable in our requests to you.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, help us to make you the centre of our world.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
The story of Job is familiar to all of us -- a man whose world was spinning merrily along with everything falling into place is suddenly confronted with one misery after another ... disaster, death, disease, and despair. In some of the most moving poetry ever written, chapter after chapter attempts to deal with the age-old question of why, so often, life is unfair.

Schuyler Rhodes
The voice of praise rings beautifully through this psalm as each verse gives poetic color to the glories of creation and its maker. It is something to be read and re-read as we contemplate the wonders of God.
Steven Molin
There is a candy shop in the city of Keystone, South Dakota, just a few hundred yards down the mountain from that infamous Mount Rushmore monument. I can't tell you the name of that candy store, but I can certainly recall the sign on the counter that stands at just about eyeball-level for the average seven-year-old. The sign says this: "If Mom says, 'No,' ask Grandma!"

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
An elementary principle in the business world is the law of supply and demand. When supplies outrace the demand for a product, prices are low. We call that a "buyer's market." On the other hand, when there are more buyers demanding a product than there are supplies of the product, prices are high. We call that situation a "seller's market."

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