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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

George McDonald years ago wrote... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2006
George McDonald years ago wrote:They all were looking for a king
In Corrie ten Boom's book... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2006
In Corrie ten Boom's book, The Hiding Place, Corrie tells of her first encounter
When the primal Celtic tribe... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
When the primal Celtic tribe of Tuatha de Danaan first established their people in Ireland,
The young boy asked his... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
The young boy asked his grandma why she was always so happy. It seemed strange to
Wally stood in the midst... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
Wally stood in the midst of his cornfield in disbelief. The night before, a thunderstorm
Do you picture God as... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
Do you picture God as a grumpy grandpa? Or as an irritable prude? A stern Superman
Signs beside the highway are... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
Signs beside the highway are scattered across the western United States informing
The author of 1 Timothy... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
The author of 1 Timothy urges us to pray for those in authority. The Episcopal church
There is a funny story... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
There is a funny story about Harry who was on his deathbed. He turned to his wife, Ethel,
George McDonald gives us something... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
George McDonald gives us something to ponder at Thanksgiving. "Let me, if I may, be
The writer, Annie Dillard, in... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
The writer, Annie Dillard, in one of her short but powerful books, tells the story of the ill-
The writer, Annie Dillard, in... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
The writer, Annie Dillard, in one of her short but powerful books, tells the story of the ill-
Babies cry for any number... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
Babies cry for any number of reasons. They might be colicky -- a condition that leaves
Anne invited her family to... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
Anne invited her family to her home for Thanksgiving. It was a huge undertaking -- her
What a day. I tried... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2006
What a day. I tried to find our septic tank lid. The former owner of our acreage told me
Fads rise and fade away... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Fads rise and fade away in clothing, housing, and car design -- also in scholarship. The
One of two accounts of... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
One of two accounts of King David's last words is found in this lesson. The passage
Last words are important. It... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Last words are important. It might be interesting to track down the last occurrences and
Joe Hale must be ranked... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Joe Hale must be ranked as, technically, one of the worst Sunday school teachers ever
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told me a story about a large statue of Christ in front of
John writes that Jesus is... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
John writes that Jesus is coming on the clouds and every eye will see him. In April 2005,
Debbie grew up in the... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Debbie grew up in the church and later, when she had her own family, she still attended
We saw a Hollywood friend... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
We saw a Hollywood friend while watching a television feature film. He portrayed a
Children do it more obviously... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Children do it more obviously. Spouses practice it more subtly: selective hearing. People
Pontius Pilate was never noted... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Pontius Pilate was never noted for his religious sensitivity. In fact, his lack of insight into

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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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
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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