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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Jack arrived at the homeless... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Jack arrived at the homeless shelter fifteen months ago. When he saw the men's
English classes, writers' circles, and... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
English classes, writers' circles, and editorial staff argue over the usage of language. Does
In Eric Maria Remarque's classic... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
In Eric Maria Remarque's classic (anti) war novel, All Quiet on the Western
Isn't it strange that most... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Isn't it strange that most of the Bible passages on which we base our understanding of
Paul, in the epistle passage... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Paul, in the epistle passage for the lectionary lesson this week, uses one of the greatest
There are some new hymnals... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
There are some new hymnals that contain a slightly altered version of "Amazing Grace":
Many years ago, a marriage... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Many years ago, a marriage was arranged between a man known for his brilliance and his
Throughout Lent, a group of... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Throughout Lent, a group of believers met weekly to discern where God was leading
Joanne faced a difficult task... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Joanne faced a difficult task. Several years earlier, Joanne had convinced her father and
Worship prepares us to recognize... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Worship prepares us to recognize and receive God's grace -- no matter the circumstances.
Here is the origin of... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Here is the origin of our Lord's table observances. Jesus later gave new significance to it,
The final plague for the... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
The final plague for the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn, was coming. All of the
The food on which he... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
The food on which he feeds us is bread: the ordinary stuff of life. Here is how it comes to
An adult education group was... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
An adult education group was meeting with the pastor to prepare themselves for
Janet was headed to the... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Janet was headed to the local church as she did almost every Thursday to attend an
Dr. Susan Coady of Ohio... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Dr. Susan Coady of Ohio University defines a tradition as something a family does, has
E. L. Doctorow's novel, The... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
E. L. Doctorow's novel, The March, is about General Sherman's "March to the
Controversies abound over the way... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Controversies abound over the way to determine the identity of Jesus' true standard
Perhaps nothing in the gospel... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Perhaps nothing in the gospel story so completely shows the amazing love of Jesus as
Most people are familiar with... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Most people are familiar with the expression, "white elephant." It refers to something that
Four score and seven years... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
"Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth upon this continent a new
It is said there was... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
It is said there was a monk, in the Middle Ages, who was noted as a preacher. The
Father Jim Carney was an... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Father Jim Carney was an American Jesuit priest who was assigned to a mission in
Mark recalls the many times... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Mark recalls the many times he drove past the local shelter. As he drove past, he thought
Anna told this story: When... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Anna told this story: "When the depression descended in the 1930s, I had nine children as

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 22
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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