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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It is fitting to remember... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
It is fitting to remember, this first Sunday after Easter, the appearances Jesus made to his
Before he was the nationally... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Before he was the nationally famous chaplain at Yale University, before he was the
Abraham Lincoln never claimed to... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Abraham Lincoln never claimed to be a Christian. His closest friends were in agreement
Brittney says she did not... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Brittney says she did not go to church with her family much while growing up. In
Sandra and Elena came bounding... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Sandra and Elena came bounding out of the school. "Mr. Winter has given us the period
In my senior year of... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
In my senior year of high school, I asked my friend, Kathy, to go to the prom with me;
When the people heard Peter... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When the people heard Peter inform them that they had been responsible for Jesus'
The key lesson we need... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
The key lesson we need to learn following Easter and the events leading up to Easter is
Lionheart, they called him. They... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"Lionheart," they called him. They named him that because of his courage in battle -- and
A team of people in... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A team of people in Africa is working together to translate the gospel of Luke and some
How many times does someone... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
How many times does someone share an idea in a Sunday school class or committee
When I was growing up... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When I was growing up, my grandmother had a favorite expression when referring to
John Wesley, having served Christ... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
John Wesley, having served Christ for a decade as an Anglican priest (ordained deacon in
Recently, one of my Bible... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Recently, one of my Bible study groups spent considerable time reading and discussing
At the time of this... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
At the time of this writing, some devastating forest fires are burning in California. About
Human beings have a natural... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Human beings have a natural hunger and need for companionship. Loneliness, feeling
When my son was six... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When my son was six or seven, he asked me to explain Jesus' death and resurrection. In
When we moved into the... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When we moved into the retirement center where we now live, we passed on the family
A farmer named Bert traveled... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A farmer named Bert traveled from his home in rural Maine to faraway Boston. There he
A faith community that could... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A faith community that could no longer afford its building decided to make the jump, sell
At a church meeting, someone... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
At a church meeting, someone asked why the church no longer held social events. The
Vitamins are essential for our... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Vitamins are essential for our health. Vitamin A is important for good eyesight, for
Benjamin Weir was a missionary... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Benjamin Weir was a missionary in Lebanon for 31 years. On May 8, 1984, he was
Do you walk in Jesus... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Do you walk in Jesus' path? We encourage one another to love as Jesus loved and forgive
Sheep can be very stubborn... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Sheep can be very stubborn, disobedient, and self-willed. I remember one time when I

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
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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
and more...
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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