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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Lloyd flew to the Oregon... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Lloyd flew to the Oregon coast to interview for a call as pastor. From the airport, he was
How do we prepare ourselves... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
How do we prepare ourselves and others to withstand temptation? There's no one "cure-
Greek mythology has a fascinating... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Greek mythology has a fascinating story about the power of temptation. Certain areas
Abram received his call from... -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Abram received his call from God late in life. Robert Raines, in a little book called
There is a prayer that... -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
There is a prayer that is often used by Lutheran Christians at a time of transition: taking a
Dick and Millie were listening... -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Dick and Millie were listening to the sermon one Sunday morning when they felt God
Abram's response to God's command... -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Abram's response to God's command brings to mind the benediction: Lord God, you have
For thousands of years, natives... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
For thousands of years, natives on the northwestern American coast celebrated with
Many Christians I know have... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Many Christians I know have trouble relating Christ and the law of Moses. They see the
Victor Frankl, a Jew who... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Victor Frankl, a Jew who spent three years in the jail at Auschwitz, and other Nazi prison
Spirit, in the Greek language... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
"Spirit," in the Greek language, is the word, pneuma. Literally, it means "wind"
As translators in Papua, New... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
As translators in Papua, New Guinea, came to the end of translating the New Testament
The choir reluctantly agreed to... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
The choir reluctantly agreed to sing at the local nursing home on a Sunday afternoon.
Nobody can see the wind... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Nobody can see the wind, but thanks to the Canadian Wind Energy Atlas, companies and
Chaplain Trent called on Kay... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Chaplain Trent called on Kay for two days. She remained in the hospital after surgery
Any church leader who becomes... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Any church leader who becomes impatient with the flock should read and reread what
The famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
The famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger, was asked what he would do if he knew he
A great many people -- particularly... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
A great many people -- particularly those involved with twelve-step programs -- are
One June 11, the feast... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
One June 11, the feast of Saint Barnabas, I went to the animal shelter. I was not looking
Last summer, the Talbott family... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Last summer, the Talbott family rode their bikes from coast to coast, from Oregon to
In his book, The Greatest... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
In his book, The Greatest Generation, news reporter, Tom Brokaw, makes the
In my first year of... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
In my first year of seminary, I lived near my friend, Cornell. A couple times a week we'd
Ever notice the audiences when... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Ever notice the audiences when well-known televangelists speak? Cameras usually pan
A large boat filled with... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
A large boat filled with tourists and travelers was near the mouth of the mighty Amazon
Though badly hurt at times... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
Though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

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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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