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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sim returned home from his... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Sim returned home from his new job. He'd just moved and was getting settled. On the
Have you been in the... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Have you been in the presence of influential people or peers and stammer when you
The sparrow is such a... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
The sparrow is such a common bird and so numerous that often it is considered a pest.
A theological student had an... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
A theological student had an appointment to visit his professor, Paul Tillich, in his home,
Notice the last verse in... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Notice the last verse in our Genesis reading where God tells Abraham to take his son,
The local service club named... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
The local service club named Gary its "Person of the Year." Gary worked tirelessly to
The story of the binding... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
The story of the binding of Isaac or the Akeidah is the most read of all scriptures. Every
Fred was my neighbor all... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Fred was my neighbor all through childhood. The last time I saw him was at his wedding.
Does the Lord love everyone... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Does the Lord love everyone? The answer is a little like a client's response to his
It isn't enough just to... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
It isn't enough just to sit in church and have a good feeling for those in need and those
I preached four nights in... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
I preached four nights in a church in Atlanta, a nice, big church with a good crowd, more
Hospitality is one of the... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Hospitality is one of the marks of a Christian person, one of the qualities of a follower of
A church consultant was hired... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
A church consultant was hired to help a struggling church. The church had been in
Sheryl spent a lot of... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Sheryl spent a lot of time at the home of her college roommate, Rowena. Sheryl's home
Isaiah 49:8-16a Margaret... -- Matthew 6:24-34, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19... -- Matthew 7:21-29, Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31), Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
Genesis 12:1-9 Bruce... -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Genesis 12:1-9
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7... -- Genesis 18:1-15, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7)
Union forces named it the... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Union forces named it the Battle of Antietam (Maryland). Confederates dubbed it the
Abraham gave his servant a... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Abraham gave his servant a tricky assignment. Would you like the job of finding a wife
Jacob was 78 years old... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Jacob was 78 years old and hadn't had true romance yet. His father, Isaac, said in effect:
The English poet of the... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
The English poet of the Elizabethan era, John Donne, captures the complexity of our
It gives me hope when... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
It gives me hope when I hear the apostle Paul saying that he wants to do what's
We often forget the life... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
We often forget the life-and-death struggle our nation engaged in to reach Independence
Josh was a normal, inquisitive... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Josh was a normal, inquisitive adolescent. He liked to explore, take risks, and push the

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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
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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