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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Our Iceberg Is Melting, by... -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
Our Iceberg Is Melting, by John Kotter is a delightful tale of penguins living on
For my people are foolish... -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
"For my people are foolish, they do not know me; they are stupid children, they have no
The storm was predicted for... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
The storm was predicted for two days. Alan's family watched it coming and reviewed
From a single sentence of... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
From a single sentence of prayer, Walter C. Smith found in this passage an entire hymn.
There's a story about a... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
There's a story about a runaway boy writing a letter home to his mother. The letter hopes
Truly our Lord is merciful... -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
Truly our Lord is merciful beyond comprehension. There are rare situations when
There's one thing you'll find... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
There's one thing you'll find in most public organizations: a "Lost and Found." Whether
On October 9, 2005, five... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
On October 9, 2005, five Mexican fisherman set out from San Blas, Mexico, to look for
One day, Andrea received a... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
One day, Andrea received a call from someone she did not know. The person asked if she
Now all the tax collectors... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2007
"Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. The Pharisees
At 94, Father Pierre (Henri... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
At 94, Father Pierre (Henri Groues) died in France 1/22/07. His life and ministry in many
No one is immune to... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
No one is immune to the kind of dismay and discouragement that Jeremiah expressed --
Emma, by all standards, was... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
Emma, by all standards, was a good mother. She raised her children with love, provided
Although the American Indians had... -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
Although the American Indians had no written language before the white man arrived
In his novel, The River... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
In his novel, The River Why, David James Duncan tells of an old fisherman
Paul applies the name of... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
Paul applies the name of mediator to Jesus' role. According to modern definitions, a
In the days following last... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
In the days following last spring's tragedy at Virginia Tech, students gathered on
First of all, then, I... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be
Jesus proclaims a principle of... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
Jesus proclaims a principle of how life operates naturally as well as how God's kingdom
Jamie, fifteen, had never been... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
Jamie, fifteen, had never been partnered with 58-year-old Mr. Johnson before, but at
The Hungarian novelist, Ferenc Molnar... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
The Hungarian novelist, Ferenc Molnar, allowed his love of money to rob him of the joys
Jesus tells about an unjust... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2007
Jesus tells about an unjust property manager who has major responsibilities. When his
In 1929, as the stock... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
In 1929, as the stock market crash was at its worst, representatives of the richest banking
Myrtle was scheduled for open... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
Myrtle was scheduled for open-heart surgery. There was a great deal of nervousness in
It was a homecoming to... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
It was a homecoming to remember when the bus full of solders arrived as the high school

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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
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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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