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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Exodus 33:12-23 If... -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Exodus 33:12-23
Revelation's symbolic language gives early... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
Revelation's symbolic language gives early Christians the "inside information." They're undergoing p
Imagine Washington DC: government employees... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
Imagine Washington DC: government employees of every nationality; tourists from all over the world;
We know today that lambs... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
We know today that lambs are a sheepish lot, but paradoxically, Revelation 7 tells us that the Lamb
Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor of ancient Rome, once observed, "The soul is dyed the color
NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert died unexpectedly earlier this year.
How does one tell a... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
How does one tell a true painting from a fake?
A regular feature of American... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
A regular feature of American life is the yearly evaluation of the ten best cities to live in.
The Beatitudes are straightforward: Blessed... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
The Beatitudes are straightforward: "Blessed are the meek." "Blessed are the peacemakers." However,
If the devil were to... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
If the devil were to write beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:
There was a high-end... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
There was a high-end, custom-built sailing yacht that set out on its maiden voyage.
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed to head the caring ministry team at church.
When an owner of a... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
When an owner of a professional sports franchise is happy with his coaches and managers, he often gi
In the movie, Forrest Gump... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
In the movie, Forrest Gump, Forrest has many amazing abilities but has an IQ of about seventy
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard.
The apostle Paul models an... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The apostle Paul models an excellent work ethic through making tents.
Almost three-quarters of Americans... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Almost three-quarters of Americans who haven't darkened the door of a church in the last six months
The time had come for... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The time had come for Jeff to begin searching for another job.
Jocelyn was learning almost daily... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Jocelyn was learning almost daily in her school that smoking is bad for a person's health and that s
Because our modern world has... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Because our modern world has radio, television, and the internet, we're more aware of groups that wa
Going to college: mixing students... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Going to college: mixing students from dozens of different schools, cities, towns, states, families.
Joshua's stirring words, As for... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Joshua's stirring words, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," also call us to obedi
The Left Behind series of... -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
The Left Behind series of novels has been a publishing phenomenon, each one of them a huge be
Bob was pleased to discover... -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Bob was pleased to discover that his family had purchased a new barbeque grill for his Father's Day
My uncle usually had at... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
My uncle usually had at least two jobs at once.

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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
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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