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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Anne Lamott, in Traveling Mercies... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Anne Lamott, in Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, says the two best
In verses 20-21 of Romans... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
In verses 20-21 of Romans 4, Paul reminds us that Abraham dared to believe the promise
Kathy attended church along with... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Kathy attended church along with her family while growing up. As a child, she says, her
In Through The Looking Glass... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
In Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, when Alice exclaims to the
Often we make important decisions... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Often we make important decisions quickly, instinctively. Not that such decisions don't
About fifty years ago, in... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
About fifty years ago, in response to the Lord's call, my wife and I put all of our
The designation of being unclean... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
The designation of being unclean (Matthew 9:18-26) was a devastating thing for the
The road-weary business traveler... -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
The road-weary business traveler steps out of a taxicab, suitcase in hand, and climbs the
There's a whole lot of... -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
There's a whole lot of laughter going on in our Genesis passages for today. First, Sarah
Throughout the year, a mission... -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Throughout the year, a mission distribution center needs volunteers to help sort donated
Dr. Drew Cottle wrote the... -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Dr. Drew Cottle wrote the following prayer based on the story of Sarah's laughter:
More than one mother during... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
More than one mother during the Civil War was allowed to speak with President
And hope does not disappoint... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
"And hope does not disappoint us." People who run out of hope usually give up on life.
God proves his love for... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. We were
Compassion literally means passion with... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
"Compassion" literally means "passion with." The word "passion" means something very
It's appropriate, on this Father's... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
It's appropriate, on this Father's Day, that in our gospel lesson Matthew lists the names of
On the Sunday that Ray... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
On the Sunday that Ray and Karen joined the church, Lois shared her hesitancy to visit
Choosing the right team is... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Choosing the right team is essential for project management, obtaining financing for a
Hagar's shoulders sagged from the... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Hagar's shoulders sagged from the burden. Lightened fearfully by each day's meal.
Abraham faced as much perplexity... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Abraham faced as much perplexity as any man has. First, God made promises that he
Hagar and Ishmael had every... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Hagar and Ishmael had every reason to fear. They were asked to leave their home and left
Most people who have ever... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Most people who have ever used an IBM personal computer (or one of its clones) know
What does Paul mean in... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
What does Paul mean in our passage from the book of Romans when he says, "All of us
Early one Saturday morning, a... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Early one Saturday morning, a man heard thieves breaking into his home. He was
The City of Ottawa, a... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
The City of Ottawa, a ship built to commemorate the birthday of Queen Victoria

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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
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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
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180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
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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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