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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A game that we like... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
A game that we like to play in our confirmation class is "Who Am I?" The students read
The single, most-used description... -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
The single, most-used description of God in the Bible is "holy"; and Exodus 3:5 is the
The Lord used an odd... -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
The Lord used an odd method of getting Moses to take notice. Except for possibly in
Moses was a gifted man... -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
Moses was a gifted man. Tradition gives him credit for writing the first five books of the
Fans of the Antiques Roadshow... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
Fans of the Antiques Roadshow program on PBS know how the show works. A
Jesus teaches us that, to... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
Jesus teaches us that, to be his followers, we must be caring, even
Racial tensions were brought to... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
Racial tensions were brought to light by an incident at a local high school last fall. A
There is one explanation to... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
There is one explanation to this rather bizarre notion of heaping burning coals on your
In one form or the... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
In one form or the other, Jesus' sayings about denying ourselves and losing our lives to
He owned the natural gas... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
He owned the natural gas franchises in about forty cities and towns. He amassed a
A missionary is one sent... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
A missionary is one sent on a mission -- one sent forth with authority to preach and
Genesis 21:8-21 Hagar's... -- Matthew 10:24-39, Romans 6:1b-11, Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Genesis 21:8-21Hagar's shoulders sagged from the burden.
Genesis 22:1-14 A... -- Matthew 10:40-42, Romans 6:12-23, Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Genesis 22:1-14
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Romans 7:15-25a, Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Genesis 25:19-34 How... -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
Genesis 25:19-34
Genesis 28:10-19a br... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Romans 8:12-25, Genesis 28:10-19a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2008
Genesis 28:10-19a
On a blustery October night... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
On a blustery October night in a church outside Minneapolis, several hundred believers
In our Exodus lesson today... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
In our Exodus lesson today, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron to tell the people to prepare
A. J. Jacobs wrote of... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
A. J. Jacobs wrote of his experiences in seeking to live one year "biblically." He wrote,
In 2007, Embassy Suites hosted... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
In 2007, Embassy Suites hosted a "Do Not Disturb" sign contest. Visitors were invited to
One of our sons-in... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
One of our sons-in-law is Mexican. He grew up speaking only Spanish. His mother has
Do you need commandments to... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
Do you need commandments to keep you in line or the threat of a fine to keep you going
The life of Saint Augustine... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
The life of Saint Augustine is an example of how God can transform a life, and how that
The Xerox Research Center of... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
The Xerox Research Center of Canada has recently developed an "erasable paper"
What should you and I... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
What should you and I do if someone that we know wrongs us in some way? In our

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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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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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