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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It was one of those... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
It was one of those church meetings that you would just as soon forget. There was
Menno Simons, religious leader of... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
Menno Simons, religious leader of the Anabaptists in the sixteenth century and founder
Rabbi Yochanan bar Nafcha was... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Rabbi Yochanan bar Nafcha was considered the greatest teacher of his generation. He
The Israelites had just witnessed... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The Israelites had just witnessed the devastation of an enemy under whom they'd chafed
In the movie Ben-Hur... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
In the movie Ben-Hur, there is a chariot race. Charlton Heston, representing the
The Greek-speaking church fathers... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The Greek-speaking church fathers had a very useful word they used in situations of
Sally made some bad choices... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Sally made some bad choices. She was arrested for driving under the influence of
The trouble began when Bob... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The trouble began when Bob, a very charismatic and influential man, went to a
Kings and slaves were stock... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Kings and slaves were stock characters in Semitic stories. So it's not hard to understand
How often should I forgive... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
"How often should I forgive?" Few questions are so pertinent. At least Peter asked. Some
In Matthew, Jesus tells the... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
In Matthew, Jesus tells the fascinating story of a man hiring people for a day's wage, and
Some of us remember the... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Some of us remember the heyday of station wagons: those versatile, all-purpose vehicles
When I was in China... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
When I was in China a few years ago, I asked one of our tour guides what most Chinese
Many families are experiencing financial... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Many families are experiencing financial difficulties with the downturn of the economy
Americans are now approaching a... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Americans are now approaching a 0% saving rate, meaning that we are overspending and
Betty Lou taught piano to... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Betty Lou taught piano to elementary school students for twenty years. She said her
Most people I know struggle... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Most people I know struggle to find standards for their lifestyles. As we waited for a
Do you lead a life... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Do you lead a life worthy of the gospel? Children of parents who are pastors, or have
Even when we know that... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Even when we know that the blessings that come to us have been delivered to the wrong
Life seems so unfair!br... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Life seems so unfair!
First Church had been declining... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
First Church had been declining in membership and attendance for years. Twenty years
A recent website offering labor... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
A recent website offering labor advice cites this scenario: A nurse was hired to work at a
The testimony of experts states... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The testimony of experts states that methamphetamines are instantly addicting. Most
Moses had the most frustrating... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Moses had the most frustrating job ever. The Lord picked him to lead a large group of
The Amazon River is larger... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The Amazon River is larger by monumental proportions than the rock from which Moses,

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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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