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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Isaiah 61:10--62:3br... -- Luke 2:22-40, Galatians 4:4-7, Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2008
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Management and life-planning guru... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Management and life-planning guru, Stephen Covey, wrote a book several years ago
Count the stars, if you... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
"Count the stars, if you are able," was the Lord's challenge to Abram. Abram, of course,
Laurie Beth gave her life... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Laurie Beth gave her life to Christ when she was seventeen years old. She asked Jesus to
I've had big enemies and... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
I've had big enemies and small ones. Some threatened me with violence. A few wanted
During WWII, Americans of Italian... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
During WWII, "Americans of Italian lineage" or "Americans of German lineage" weren't
Saint Paul wrote about modeling... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Saint Paul wrote about "modeling" the faith. A billboard at a church that I saw one day
When Russell Conwell left Yale... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
When Russell Conwell left Yale to fight in the Civil War, a youthful admirer, Johnny
Paul wrote to a very... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Paul wrote to a very troubled congregation. No earth-shaking problems but just little
My first prayer was about... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
My first prayer was about Jerusalem. The first lullaby my mother used to sing me was
Jesus likened himself to a... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Jesus likened himself to a broody hen when he said he longed to gather Jerusalem under
Several people from church began... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Several people from church began serving meals to people in the community. They
My friend spoke of the... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
My friend spoke of the many young women he'd observed over the years who came to
Past performance does not guarantee... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Past performance does not guarantee future returns. This statement is necessary to
When Christians gather for Sunday... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
When Christians gather for Sunday worship, it often seems we have arrived for a
Have you ever really been... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Have you ever really been thirsty? Today in the USA almost every community large and
Many scholars think that Isaiah... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Many scholars think that Isaiah 55 was written during the end of the terrible years of
If you feel God has... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
If you feel God has gone away on vacation and left you on your own, go straight to him.
The children of Israel experienced... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
The children of Israel experienced hard times as they trekked from Egypt to the promised
Bill and Tom are cousins... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Bill and Tom are cousins born only ten days apart. Growing up they became best friends
It's an assumption we make... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
It's an assumption we make often. We're standing firm. We know we're right and God's
A Christian said to a... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
A Christian said to a suffering person, "God must have a reason." Such speculation ranks
Hope -- I was visiting a... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Hope -- I was visiting a patient one day at the hospital following a major setback
In Luke 13, Jesus answers... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
In Luke 13, Jesus answers a question everyone struggles with. Are disasters God's way of
Since the book of Job... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Since the book of Job, people have been pointing fingers at the sufferer. The old Jewish

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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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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