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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Two parents disagreed about how... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Two parents disagreed about how Linda should teach eighth grade Sunday school. One
I remember my uncle telling... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
I remember my uncle telling about going to an infant baptism in the Greek Orthodox
Carson McCullers, the writer, once... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Carson McCullers, the writer, once observed, "It is a strange thing about the human race
There is an old legend... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
There is an old legend, of mysterious origin. It says that when God decided to create the
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once... -- Galatians 3:23-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once sent a telegram to the exclusive Friar's Club in
It's a strange story, this... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
It's a strange story, this healing of the demon-possessed man in the country of the
Helen was a young mother... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Helen was a young mother who was returning to work for the first time since her first
On the surface, Carlos seemed... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
On the surface, Carlos seemed like a nice young man. His job involved long hours at a
Return to your home and... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
"Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you." Many folks become
The eighteenth-century Polish rabbi... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The eighteenth-century Polish rabbi, Baal Shem Tov, began what would be called the
Mr. Holland's Opus is a... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Mr. Holland's Opus is a touching movie about a music teacher who spent 35 years
The Old Testament lesson tells... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The Old Testament lesson tells of one of the most sensational transfers of power from the
Isaac Newton, looking back over... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Isaac Newton, looking back over his achievements said, "If I have seen further than
William Willimon tells the story... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
William Willimon tells the story of a bishop from Angola (the former Portuguese colony
The Canadian Charter of Rights... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms defines four fundamental freedoms of
This Independence Day weekend we... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
This Independence Day weekend we celebrate our freedom. Fireworks will light up the
Do not use your freedom... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
"Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence." Many contemporary
Upon the Montana prairies few... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Upon the Montana prairies few rises or gullies break the landscape. There, tractors have
I spend a great deal... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
I spend a great deal of time driving to hospitals due to the distance and the various
In third-world countries, the... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
In third-world countries, the use of a plow pulled by horses, oxen, or water buffalo is still
In this text, we find... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
In this text, we find two pointed illustrations of how demanding this discipleship business
Kermit Roosevelt, son of President... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Teddy Roosevelt, once said of his father, "The trouble
Financial advisors shudder when they... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Financial advisors shudder when they hear of people who take a shotgun method to
Little did actor Stephen Baldwin... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Little did actor Stephen Baldwin know that his life was about to change when he and his
The proud commander, Naaman, suffered... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
The proud commander, Naaman, suffered an incurable malady. He had ordered burly

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
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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
and more...
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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