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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

If you had known, in... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
If you had known, in the year 2000, what would happen at the New York City World
Because of what Jesus has... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
Because of what Jesus has done for us, we aren't the same people. We have the
A very popular newscaster seemed... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
A very popular newscaster seemed to have everything he needed. His program was
Polls indicate that more than... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
Polls indicate that more than 50% of the work force do not enjoy their work. That would
I am richer than you... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
"I am richer than you are!" A poor man told a very rich individual. "That cannot be," the
In her book, 25 Windows... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
In her book, 25 Windows into the Soul, Joan Chittister tells the story of a Zen
When, in 1943, Jan Karski... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
When, in 1943, Jan Karski, a member of the Polish underground, stood before President
When we all get to... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!" is the refrain of a
This text about the rich... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2007
This text about the rich man and Lazarus is swamped and smoked in controversy.
During the March Madness of... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
During the "March Madness" of 1993, the University of Michigan's men's basketball
Herbert Marshall served in the... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
Herbert Marshall served in the British merchant marines during World War II. He
Tim was in sixth grade... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
Tim was in sixth grade when he was assigned a "Remembrance Project." Tim's
In Elie Wiesel's, The Town... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
In Elie Wiesel's, The Town Beyond the Wall, there is a rebellious character who
The book of Lamentations laments... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
The book of Lamentations laments the destruction of Jerusalem. The author had no
We should never underestimate the... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
We should never underestimate the value of faithful Christian parents and grandparents.
It had been a difficult... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
It had been a difficult year for Sharon, as her mother's health deteriorated and was placed
So do not be ashamed... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
"So do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord...." All ministers should
Nathan Soderblom was a pastor... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
Nathan Soderblom was a pastor, professor, and archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden.
Suppose a group of 100... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
Suppose a group of 100 people were given the ask of moving a piece of stone weighing
The problem of how to... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
The problem of how to have faith is common to all world religions. This insight from the
The lead story on the... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
The lead story on the evening news centered on the heroic act of a firefighter who
Only a fool would go... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
Only a fool would go digging randomly in the desert -- unless he knew his faith was not
In an earlier generation, a... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2007
In an earlier generation, a church was decidedly short on funds. A gentleman came to
Grant Wood, creator of the... -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2007
Grant Wood, creator of the famous painting, American Gothic, grew up in
When Stan accepted a job... -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2007
When Stan accepted a job on the Canadian prairies, necessitating a move from California,

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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
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30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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