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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The motto for the Boy... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
The motto for the Boy Scouts of America is "Be Prepared." Although Sheila was never a Boy Scout, she
Matthew tells us that watchfulness... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Matthew tells us that watchfulness is something we must have. But what exactly is watchfulness?
Christians have tended to approach... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Christians have tended to approach "salvation" as either a big game or a long season, each yielding
When Megan was a young... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
When Megan was a young girl, she would watch her mother share Jesus with just about everyone she met
French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), once said, "Reason commands us far more imperiously
I walk in the mornings... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
I walk in the mornings near the hospital. Sometimes I walk early and sometimes a little later.
A man was walking down... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
A man was walking down the road when he came upon a half-completed cathedral.
If we take Paul literally... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
If we take Paul literally and never close our eyes to sleep, soon we would not notice anything at al
As Pam was going through... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
As Pam was going through her mother's desk she happened upon a notebook full of names.
Because the pie was limited... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Because the pie was "limited" and already distributed, an increase in the share of one person automa
Matt and Keri shared with... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Matt and Keri shared with the congregation their experience with tithing, giving 10% of their income
In an article for Timesonline... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
In an article for Timesonline, September 30, 2007, Sir Peter Lampl documents how British chil
Your children are so talented... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
"Your children are so talented -- and yet they're so nice!" people often exclaimed to Janet.
During the exile, God's people... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
During the exile, God's people are scattered like abandoned sheep.
A widow trudges through a... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
A widow trudges through a cemetery, counting off the rows of headstones, until she reaches the one w
Throughout high school, Stephanie was... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Throughout high school, Stephanie was not open to talk about spiritual matters.
Vera is one of the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Vera is one of the most hope-filled people one will ever meet.
Henry van Dyke was an... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Henry van Dyke was an author, educator, and clergyman.
Just as you did it... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
"Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Is
Sandy and Kevin began a... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Sandy and Kevin began a prison ministry at the county jail.
Gratitude, said the Roman philosopher... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
"Gratitude," said the Roman philosopher, Cicero, "is not only the greatest of virtues, but it is the
Every Thanksgiving, Dawn and Kevin... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Every Thanksgiving, Dawn and Kevin will invite people from their church or community to share Thanks
Melvin was a bachelor who... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Melvin was a bachelor who lived near a small prairie town.
Leonard and Dean hadn't seen... -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Leonard and Dean hadn't seen one another much after graduating from college forty years before.
There was once a congregation... -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
There was once a congregation of farmers suffering from a drought.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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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
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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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