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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A family was seated in... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
A family was seated in a restaurant. The server took the order from the adults, then turned
Six-year-old Andrea had... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
Six-year-old Andrea had an innocence as well as a sincerity about her as she answered
What can you do when... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
What can you do when you're treated unfairly? Go to any bookstore and you'll find books
In 1990, Jeremy Irons won... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
In 1990, Jeremy Irons won an Oscar for his portrayal of Claus von Bulow in the film,
Every year, Tony would bring... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
Every year, Tony would bring his family to the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars dinner
There is the story of... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
There is the story of a young Parisian woman who wanted to marry an allusive and rather
What do people do when... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
What do people do when they realize the error of their ways and want to make up for it
The women's group watched a... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
The women's group watched a video about making Jesus and the church a higher priority
Larry Dossey, M.D., has written... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
Larry Dossey, M.D., has written a bestseller called Healing Words: The Power of
Mike and Sue had three... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
Mike and Sue had three children and were minimally involved in the church. As the kids
Salt is good; but if... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
"Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in
It was a cold, wintry... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
It was a cold, wintry night when an older lady was on her deathbed. There were no
The temperature hit the low... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2006
The temperature hit the low 100s for the third day in succession. Kelsey sat listlessly on
It is easy to be... -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
It is easy to be a Christian when life is going well. Denny was a Christian who was
Patty had been through so... -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
Patty had been through so much, she survived a scare with cancer, undergoing radiation
Job is a man who... -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
Job is a man who "walks in his integrity." That word "integrity" is a rich one. Literally,
The Lord told me.... That's... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
"The Lord told me...." That's a favorite line by many pastors and especially televangelists.
A powerful movie came out... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
A powerful movie came out in 1993 titled A River Runs Through It, based on a
On a snowy day, a... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
On a snowy day, a young boy asked his dad why the family goes to church. After all,
As kids growing up, Barry... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
As kids growing up, Barry and Doug were inseparable. One of their favorite projects was
One of the harder issues... -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
One of the harder issues that many church leaders continue to face is when couples get
Sam is just thirteen years... -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
Sam is just thirteen years old but has not had an easy time with frequent moves to new
When it comes to the... -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2006
When it comes to the sort of love that sustains marriage, a celibate Roman Catholic nun -
Jerry wanted his day in... -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2006
Jerry wanted his day in court. He was convinced there was no way the state trooper could
Years ago, a newspaper printed... -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2006
Years ago, a newspaper printed an article about professional complainers you could hire

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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
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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