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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A part of our preparation... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
A part of our preparation for Christmas should include a word of joy. Some of you have
An article, published in the... -- Isaiah 35:1-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
An article, published in the Atlantic Monthly magazine, tells of a valley near the
Of all the descriptions in... -- Isaiah 35:1-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Of all the descriptions in this passage about wonderful things (healed bodies, water
A small group gathered for... -- Isaiah 35:1-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
A small group gathered for their first meeting. As a way of introduction, they began
One of the most amazing... -- Isaiah 35:1-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
One of the most amazing ironies of nature is the blooming desert. The desert is a dry and
The old Scot's Golf Manual... -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The old Scot's Golf Manual advised, "No matter how far you are behind, never
One of the worst human... -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
One of the worst human maladies is impatience for justice. We think that everything
Susanna Wesley, the mother of... -- James 5:7-10 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Susanna Wesley, the mother of seventeen children, including John and Charles, taught
For a brief time, I... -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
For a brief time, I was acting dean at Phillips Seminary. It was for fifteen months. That's
At the beginning of this... -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
At the beginning of this century, in Germany, a brilliant young man began studying
Christmas Day was approaching too... -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Christmas Day was approaching too fast for Pam. She was feeling the stress of the season
Collectors of ancient coins need... -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Collectors of ancient coins need to know if the coin they are buying is genuine or if it is a
Humans long for signs from... -- Isaiah 7:10-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Humans long for signs from God or from the Bible. Ernest Gordon, a prisoner of the
The conversation between God's prophet... -- Isaiah 7:10-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The conversation between God's prophet Isaiah and King Ahaz is difficult to understand
In Chungking, China, in November... -- Isaiah 7:10-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
In Chungking, China, in November 1950, Methodist missionary, Francis Olin Stockwell,
Daniel Webster was one of... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Daniel Webster was one of America's greatest orators during the nineteenth century. In
My mom and dad have... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
My mom and dad have lived in the same small town for over seventy years. After being
The past twelve months have... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The past twelve months have been difficult for Rose. First, she lost her job, due to
Choir tryouts were a nerve... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Choir tryouts were a nerve-racking experience for the students. The day the choir was
In the thirteenth century, Francis... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
In the thirteenth century, Francis of Assisi regained the experience and energy of
Do you find it difficult... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Do you find it difficult to trust your spouse, your children, or your friends? Consider
They shall name him Emmanuel... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
"They shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.' " I know and you know
It is precisely when every... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
"It is precisely when every earthly hope has been explored and found wanting, when
I was at a clergy... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
I was at a clergy conference in a remote, rural location when lightning struck and all the
People have been stopping to... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
People have been stopping to see Mr. Green's Christmas lights for many years. Each year

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
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22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
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34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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30 – Commentary / Exegesis
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and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
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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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