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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

She was the wife of... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
She was the wife of a young pop singer whose song had jumped near the top of the
J. Hudson Taylor tells this... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
J. Hudson Taylor tells this story about his missionary work in China. "While we were at
Some years ago, the Israeli... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Some years ago, the Israeli National Parks Authority approved a developer's proposal to
An amazing thing happens in... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
An amazing thing happens in our gospel today. It's night, and the disciples are out on the
Alan and Jane had looked... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Alan and Jane had looked forward to their summer trip to the beach for several months. It
Cameron was learning to water... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Cameron was learning to water ski. His father instructed him how to crouch low on his
Angelo Guissepe Roncalli, born in... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Angelo Guissepe Roncalli, born in 1881, dedicated himself to becoming a priest at eight
Reunions are usually fun occasions... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Reunions are usually fun occasions. It's great to chat with families and catch up on the
Because of their insane jealousy... -- Genesis 45:1-15 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Because of their insane jealousy, the brothers of Joseph disliked him so much they told
Torah came thundering down from... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Torah came thundering down from the mountain with the force of a hammer striking an
What is your calling? Are... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
What is your calling? Are you a homemaker? A teacher? A doctor? Do you work as a
Sarah had been a nurse... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Sarah had been a nurse for several years. She was good at what she did, showing
Omma had a practice of... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Omma had a practice of giving each of her grandchild two gifts. One gift was an article
Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's Minister... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda,
Jesus seemed really hard on... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2008
Jesus seemed really hard on this poor woman. He insulted her, humiliated her, and caused
Years ago, the poet, Francis... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Years ago, the poet, Francis Thompson, wrote one of the best-loved religious poems ever,
It's a wonder that Moses... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
It's a wonder that Moses lived at all.
Early in her pregnancy, Shelley... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Early in her pregnancy, Shelley and Mark learned that their baby would have serious life-
Jack told his pastor this... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Jack told his pastor this age-old lament: We tried to warn our daughter about Damon. But
Although God communicated with Paul... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Although God communicated with Paul somehow about spiritual gifts, maybe Paul's
We usually think of worship... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
We usually think of worship as something we do in a church service while we sit, kneel,
A friend told about the... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
A friend told about the following experience that took place in a restaurant in Tennessee.
If you were to stop... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
If you were to stop a person on the street, at random, and ask him or her, "Show me the
Jesus uses the term Son... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Jesus uses the term "Son of Man" in our gospel lesson for today. What does he mean by
Rene remembers the class she... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Rene remembers the class she had in early American literature. Much of the early

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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
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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2 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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