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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Emory, an old homeless wino... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Emory, an old homeless wino, was picked up with a bunch of other men at a local bar
It's possible to be blind... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
It's possible to be blind physically and yet to have tremendous insight, isn't it? Helen
Karen sat quietly in the... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Karen sat quietly in the back row of a huge cathedral-type church. She liked the old
Judy's grandmother imparted many words... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Judy's grandmother imparted many words of wisdom, but the one that Judy remembers
The sixty-year-old son... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
The sixty-year-old son of Norman Vincent Peale was speaking at a conference for pastors
The French writer, Antoine de... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
The French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, was a
There was great celebration when... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
There was great celebration when Barry died. The service was simple, per Barry's
Everyone liked Abe and he... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Everyone liked Abe and he liked everyone he met. At the retirement home, the staff, as
Many communion services are glum... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Many communion services are glum affairs. Somberness prevails. Worship leaders act
A new heaven and a... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
"A new heaven and a new earth": It's hard enough for people to get used
A pastor thought it clever... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
A pastor thought it clever to add a new section to the church's monthly newsletter. He
Even today, when the French... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Even today, when the French think of Charles de Gaulle they know that no one has
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was an American pilot serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Vern was 48 when he... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Vern was 48 when he contracted a rare form of cancer. He was told that treatment rarely
Jody viewed her life as... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Jody viewed her life as both a gift and a miracle. Having suffered a near-fatal heart
Imagine a doctor who regularly... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Imagine a doctor who regularly neglects one part of a standard three-part procedure. His
In WWII, Nora Lam's family... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
In WWII, Nora Lam's family fled from Japanese-occupied China. After 37 days and
The journey from Moab to... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The journey from Moab to Bethlehem was no small undertaking, especially for an elderly
Some unknown writer left these... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Some unknown writer left these beautiful words about friendship:
Most pastors cringe when a... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Most pastors cringe when a couple comes to get married and requests this scripture to be
William Willimon tells a story... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
William Willimon tells a story that took place at the Field Museum in Chicago, where his
The fair was coming to... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The fair was coming to town and with it came the midway -- rides, cotton candy, and
The pastor noticed a middle... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The pastor noticed a middle-aged man kneeling near the altar following his first Sunday
He was an agnostic, and... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
He was an agnostic, and his wife an atheist. After receiving a direct-mail flier from our
When constructing a building, it... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
When constructing a building, it must be plumb and level. It must be perfectly vertical

Political Pulpit

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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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21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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