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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

John begins, as was the... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
John begins, as was the custom of ancient letter writing, by placing the return address in
The titles we give people... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
The titles we give people are very important. They communicate power, authority,
During the Civil War, Sherman... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
During the Civil War, Sherman was making progress in his march to Atlanta. General
Many things happen because of... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Many things happen because of Easter. Lions lie down with lambs. Swords are turned
No doubt, the resurrection was... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
No doubt, the resurrection was a spectacular miracle. But who says all miracles have to
When Greg MacAleese, a police... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
When Greg MacAleese, a police officer in Albuquerque, came up with his idea of having
Roy and Andrea had just... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Roy and Andrea had just joined the church. They were new to the community and found
If you ask most believers... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
If you ask most believers about how they express their faith, they usually mention that
Once upon a time, the... -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Once upon a time, the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed to be the best,
In many churches, holy communion... -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
In many churches, holy communion is served from the "common cup" rather than or in
Neighborhood teenagers began hanging out... -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Neighborhood teenagers began hanging out on the weekends on the steps of a city
Our world suffers color, ethnic... -- Acts 11:1-18 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Our world suffers color, ethnic, and racial divisions. The early church faced prejudice
We're used to infomercials with... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
We're used to infomercials with their "But wait..." Before television, marketers printed
Have you ever gone shell... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Have you ever gone shell hunting at an ocean beach? I well remember the beautiful shells
Several years ago, a movie... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Several years ago, a movie came out titled, Cocoon. It was the story of some old
It is said that Albert... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
It is said that Albert Einstein kept two pictures of great scientists on his office wall: Sir
It was Bill's first night... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
It was Bill's first night at college, his first night away from home. As he walked across
Over the years, Frank and... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Over the years, Frank and Sarah had drifted away from the church. They were not upset
How can she be so... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
"How can she be so stupid?" I asked my wife. Driving east, we came to a four-way stop.
God created heaven and earth... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
God created "heaven and earth," one aspect of which means what is invisible to us
Three powerful truths stand out... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Three powerful truths stand out: 1) obedience to the heavenly vision, 2) women are
Often God speaks to us... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Often God speaks to us in the dark. In fact, sometimes we can see and hear clearer
Through all the accounts in... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Through all the accounts in Acts of Paul's missionary journeys, there is a clear sense of
This brings me to the... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
"This brings me to the other sense of glory -- glory as brightness, splendour, luminosity.
In the movie, Insomnia, Al... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
In the movie, Insomnia, Al Pacino's character, detective Will Dormer, gets sent

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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
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22 – Worship Resources
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2 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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