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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Preaching The Psalmbr... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Preaching The PsalmPsalm 126
Much of the Old Testament... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
Much of the Old Testament wisdom literature is concerned with what we would call "being clever," not
Here are some additional thoughts... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
Here are some additional thoughts that the writer of Ecclesiastes might have about time if he lived
Time. Right now we are... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
Time.
I love reading Southern fiction... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
I love reading Southern fiction and one of my favorite authors is Ferrol Sams, a Georgia physician.
There is a longing for... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
There is a longing for the new that's especially powerful in our society.
Helen knew in her heart... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
Helen knew in her heart that she needed to make a change in her life.
On April 18, 1906, a... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2008
On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake rocked the city of San Francisco.
Looking back on his life... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - B -- 2008
Looking back on his life, Maurice described himself at seventeen as the town's most competitive at e
Today is a celebration of... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - B -- 2008
Today is a celebration of a new year -- and what New Year's celebration would be complete without th
Most of us come to... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - B -- 2008
Most of us come to church to hear a word of hope, a word of encouragement.
Henri J. M. Nouwen, examining... -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
Henri J. M.
The scripture speaks of God... -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
The scripture speaks of God returning a remnant of his people to the land of Israel.
In preparation for graduation, the... -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
In preparation for graduation, the pastor who would deliver the baccalaureate message requested a me
After the US-lead invasion... -- Jeremiah 31:7-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
After the US-lead invasion of Iraq, thousands of doctors fled that country due to killings and kidna
In Stephen Harrigan's novel, The... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
In Stephen Harrigan's novel, The Gates of the Alamo, the character Edmund remembers his mothe
Paul proclaims a time of... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
Paul proclaims a time of thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus Christ.
Do not save me from... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
"Do not save me from death; save me from life!" the character Lilia cries to Joshua in Cecil DeMille
We are who we are... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
We are who we are, not because of our own doing, but by the grace of God.
What would a Christmas pageant... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
What would a Christmas pageant based on the gospel of John look like?
There's a story about a... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
There's a story about a kindergarten teacher who asked a boy what he was drawing.
An outdoor billboard, near a... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
An outdoor billboard, near a busy interstate highway, has the message, "Jesus is Real" in large lett
Rachel worked hard to establish... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2008
Rachel worked hard to establish a new support group.
In Hollywood, some movie premiers... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
In Hollywood, some movie premiers are accompanied by massive searchlights rotating across the sky.
Many years ago in England... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
Many years ago in England a circus elephant named Bozo was very popular with the public.

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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
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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
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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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