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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the fall of 2003... -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
In the fall of 2003, northwestern Africa received higher than average rainfall. The rains
Kay and Paul have been... -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
Kay and Paul have been married for over 65 years. In addition to raising their large
Joel is a brief, classy... -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
Joel is a brief, classy book -- a literary gem -- tucked away in the midst of the minor
An older man came into... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
An older man came into a new boat showroom. He ran his hand along a sleek fishing
In his letter to Timothy... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
In his letter to Timothy, Paul mentions that he knew that his hour of death was near. This
Each of the two young... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
Each of the two young boys selected role models by which they governed their lives. One
Second Timothy contains this powerful... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
Second Timothy contains this powerful truth: "But the Lord stood by me and gave me
Back when most of us... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
Back when most of us were kids, we'd get into contests of strength with the neighbor
There once was a teaspoon... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
There once was a teaspoon and a ladle that lay side-by-side in the kitchen drawer. The
There are times when we... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
There are times when we in the church have a difficult time relating to people for whom
Jesus intended this parable for... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2007
Jesus intended this parable for folks who trusted "in themselves that they were righteous
Jovana Jovanovic is a woman... -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
Jovana Jovanovic is a woman who spent more than four years in a "collective center"
Abraham Lincoln is said to... -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
Abraham Lincoln is said to have had a poignant dream a few weeks before he died.
Craig's father died earlier this... -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
Craig's father died earlier this year. The past several years had been difficult for Craig,
What happens when a person... -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
What happens when a person is displaced to a world of strange language and customs?
The movie, The Hiding Place... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
The movie, The Hiding Place, depicts events during the Nazi occupation of
Have you considered how much... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
Have you considered how much power you have available to you? In Christ, the potential
What inheritance are you going... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
What inheritance are you going to pass or have you passed on to your family? What
After the eccentric billionaire, Howard... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
After the eccentric billionaire, Howard Hughes, died, secluded in a Las Vegas penthouse,
The late novelist, Kurt Vonnegut... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
The late novelist, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., was commenting on recent cases of constitutional
I've heard the Beatitudes so... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
I've heard the Beatitudes so many times that I am usually tempted to tune out when I hear
The family gathered for a... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
The family gathered for a reunion. As children and grandchildren gathered around her,
Julia Neuberger, an ordained rabbi... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2007
Julia Neuberger, an ordained rabbi and member of the British House of Lords, posted the
In the Bible, God offers... -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2007
In the Bible, God offers us answers about life. God also leads us to answers in life. The
Though he was a prophet... -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2007
Though he was a prophet, Habakkuk had difficulty understanding God's ways. Like many

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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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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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