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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Behold I make all things... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2007
"Behold I make all things new." Today we stand at the gate of a new year. God offers his
A wealthy Christian went along... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2007
A wealthy Christian went along on a trip to India, sponsored by an organization called
An Irish king was looking... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2007
An Irish king was looking for a successor who would love God and his fellow human
Cassie had been thinking about... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2007
Cassie had been thinking about returning to college to finish her degree for several
On the Canadian prairies, where... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2007
On the Canadian prairies, where pastureland is at a premium, the government set aside
Isaiah's proclamation that your light... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Isaiah's proclamation that "your light has come," makes most sense after Jesus has
Israel was in desperate circumstances... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Israel was in desperate circumstances during Isaiah's time, the late eighth century BC.
The world-famous artist, Bertel... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
The world-famous artist, Bertel Thorwaldsen, made an impressive clay sculpture of the
When the writer of Ephesians... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
When the writer of Ephesians speaks of the "mysteries" of the Christian faith, he is not
I have a friend who... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
I have a friend who, for everything she doesn't understand or can't explain, has a simple
Julie and Craig looked forward... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Julie and Craig looked forward to their winter vacation for months. It would be the first
Unsearchable riches. In the history... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Unsearchable riches. In the history of humankind, there have been several commodities
Church consultant, Lyle Schaller, identifies... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Church consultant, Lyle Schaller, identifies congregations that are realistically in
Herod had more power than... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Herod had more power than any governor or president in the United States. He answered
they knelt down and paid... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
"... they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasurer chests, they
It is very easy to... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
It is very easy to be servants of the word without disturbing the world: a very
On a recent trip to... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
On a recent trip to a war-torn area in Central America, the visiting bishop was presented
A local service club announced... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
A local service club announced that it had invited the mayor of a rural town to speak
In compiling one's genealogy, surnames... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
In compiling one's genealogy, surnames are given the most attention. However, as Angus
Peter, who had denied his... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Peter, who had denied his Lord three times, summarizes his Lord's earthly ministry and
God shows no partiality. Peter... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
"God shows no partiality." Peter said this about 40 AD in the house of Captain Cornelius.
Dr. Neighbor recalls a baptism... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Dr. Neighbor recalls a baptism, when the candidate for baptism said, "Please wait one
Many voices ask for our... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Many voices ask for our attention. There is a voice that says, "Prove that you are a good
Soapy Williams, the governor of... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Soapy Williams, the governor of Michigan from 1948-1960, was the sole delegate at the
A retired pastor was visiting... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
A retired pastor was visiting one of the churches he served years ago. Since his pastorate

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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
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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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