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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It was a particularly frustrating... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
It was a particularly frustrating church meeting. Nancy and Mary Jane had been friends
Jayne was a simple country... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Jayne was a simple country girl, with a heart as big as the Saskatchewan skyscape. Her
Even after more than twenty... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Even after more than twenty years "One of Our Fifty Is Missing" remains a popular
Friend, how did you get... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
"Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?" This question troubles many
The parable in Matthew 22:1-14... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
The parable in Matthew 22:1-14 tells how the Jews who were the first to be invited
If we are not going... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
If we are not going to deny our children the darker side of life, we owe it to them to show
In our lesson for today... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
In our lesson for today, God says three very encouraging things to Moses -- and to us.
One day Dan shared what... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
One day Dan shared what he felt God had put on his heart, to raise money for a rural,
In a box of children's... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
In a box of children's book at a garage sale, I found a Golden Book that became one of
About twenty years ago, there'd... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
About twenty years ago, there'd been an attack in Jerusalem by Palestinians. The nightly
Paul often linked three great... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Paul often linked three great Christian qualities as he did here: "Your work of faith, labor
On a construction site, the... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
On a construction site, the workers had just placed explosives for a large explosion where
Christianity stands or falls with... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness
Jesus says to us in... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Jesus says to us in our gospel lesson for today, "Give to God the things that are God's."
Diane has a heart for... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Diane has a heart for mission. She asked if she might have a "Mission of the Month" that
Joanne was a thoughtful, energetic... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Joanne was a thoughtful, energetic woman. She worked in the church as a Sunday school
Moses led the Hebrews in... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Moses led the Hebrews in their escape from Egypt. The Hebrews had always lived in
Moses came to the juncture... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Moses came to the juncture many Christian leaders reach. At what point do they turn over
As Moses looked into the... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
As Moses looked into the holy land, not being able to enter it, he had many memories.
Who steals my purse steals... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Who steals my purse steals trash -- 'tis something -- nothing,
It's all too easy for... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
It's all too easy for us to think that it's too hard for us to be the witnesses to our
Sara took a course on... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Sara took a course on spiritual practices. While she was not majoring in religion she
At a Veteran's Day event... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
At a Veteran's Day event at an elementary school, a student asked the aged soldier why
On a tall stack of... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
On a tall stack of large boxes at the pharmacy each box carried a huge red sign: Bend
Recently I met with a... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Recently I met with a group of people from another church who wanted to query me

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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
and more...
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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30 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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