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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Amos' countrymen faced imminent disaster... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Amos' countrymen faced imminent disaster because of their disobedience. Few of his
Philosophy teachers swap stories about... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Philosophy teachers swap stories about the sophomore summarizing all of existence in
When I speak about First... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
When I speak about First Church, I usually say, "My church that I serve is First Church."
Winfred Grenfell was a medical... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Winfred Grenfell was a medical student in London when he responded to the invitation of
We are unsure of exactly... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
We are unsure of exactly what heresies or sub-Christian practices troubled the church at
Someone once asked a great... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Someone once asked a great man who had risen out of humble beginnings, "What did
Martha did what was expected... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Martha did what was expected of her, indeed, what most hostesses would have done if an
Betty is an amazing woman... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Betty is an amazing woman. When people hear all that she does for her church, they have
When discussing the Mary-Martha... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
When discussing the Mary-Martha incident with groups, I like to take polls. "How many
A friend and his wife... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
A friend and his wife are both over fifty years of age. They've been married over thirty
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was... -- Hosea 1:2-10<br> -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished by being forced to roll a huge rock up a
I have the habit of... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
I have the habit of blaming God and others when my life becomes a complicated mess of
Hosea was not blessed with... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hosea was not blessed with the message of the love of Christ. He would have rejoiced to
Hosea has been a difficult... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hosea has been a difficult book for many believers. Why would God ask a prophet to
Emptiness and fullness at first... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Emptiness and fullness at first seem complete opposites. But in the spiritual life we find
Skyscrapers are amazing sights to... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Skyscrapers are amazing sights to behold, soaring so high. But what one often doesn't
Hope Church is a small... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hope Church is a small, non-denominational church in a small town. The church has
He taught guitar for forty... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
He taught guitar for forty years, instructing many students. He wasn't the best teacher, but
Richard Nixon's special advisor, Chuck... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Richard Nixon's special advisor, Chuck Colson, was convicted for breaking into the
Television interviewer and journalist, Larry... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Television interviewer and journalist, Larry King, describes three farmers who gather
Can you imagine every day... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Can you imagine every day sleeping with your whole family in one room? And also
Prayer is at the heart... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Prayer is at the heart of our faith. No wonder they called that prayer Jesus gave his first
Believers have tried on many... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Believers have tried on many images for God, from "rock" to "judge" to "builder" to
In the movie, As Good... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
In the movie, As Good As It Gets, Simon Bishop gets viciously beaten by a
The teenagers who live in... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
The teenagers who live in the rehabilitation center know they are there because they

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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
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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