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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Modern Christians have been sold... -- Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
Modern Christians have been sold numerous bills of goods. Many have been duped into
The writer of Hebrews frames... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
The writer of Hebrews frames pictures of people who lived by faith. He mounts those
If a life is so... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
If a life is so richly rewarded when one walks by faith -- why is it so rarely seen? I have
My recent reading included the... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
My recent reading included the story of the skilled carpenter who is asked to build a
Today's scripture from Hebrews is... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
Today's scripture from Hebrews is one of the purple passages in the Bible. The great roll
The immune system is a... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
The immune system is a network of cells that recognize and attack foreign invaders. The
Jesus' words about bringing division... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
Jesus' words about bringing division and peace brings to mind the words of a young
Nearly two years ago, Hurricane... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and the city of New
He owned several acres of... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
He owned several acres of rich farmland. Numerous destitute people lived near him so he
In The Red and the... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In The Red and the Black, French novelist, Stendhal, presented the main
In the third grade, I... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In the third grade, I was chosen to narrate the annual Christmas play in my elementary
Jeremiah, what is the worst... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Jeremiah, what is the worst sin you will deal with? In a way, he answered that question in
Here we are given the... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Here we are given the call of the great prophet, Jeremiah. That call was a strange one.
It is hard to explain... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
It is hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia, as it would be
Ralph had just purchased a... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Ralph had just purchased a piece of land on which sat an abandoned farmyard. It was his
Harriet had a persistent cough... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Harriet had a persistent cough that would not go away. For several months, she tried
I don't believe in the... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
"I don't believe in the old gods, I believe in science," said a beautiful, supposedly
In Guy Vanderhaeghe's novel, The... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In Guy Vanderhaeghe's novel, The Last Crossing, Charles Gaunt describes his
In talking with a young... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In talking with a young man one day about why he didn't come to church, he told me his
Jesus was aware of the... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Jesus was aware of the hypocrisy of those scolding him for performing healing on the
William Barclay has observed that... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
William Barclay has observed that this was the last time we hear of Jesus being in the
I was ecstatic. After months... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
I was ecstatic. After months of concentrated work, our young families were starting to
Scratch an addiction, and you... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Scratch an addiction, and you will reveal an idol, hiding underneath. The psychologist,
Asking Can a nation change... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Asking "Can a nation change its god?" in Jeremiah's day is akin to asking, "Can a leopard
Michelle was at a turning... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Michelle was at a turning point of sorts in her personal life. The past year had been

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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
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”.

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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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