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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

J. Winston Pearce has a... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
J. Winston Pearce has a wonderful story in his old book, I Believe [(Nashville:
In the Disney animated film... -- John 16:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
In the Disney animated film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, there is a scene
Leonardo da Vinci knew the... -- John 16:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2006
Leonardo da Vinci knew the centrality of Christ. The vanishing point of his painting of
Anyone who's ever booked a... -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Anyone who's ever booked a vacation is familiar with travel brochures. Sometimes the
It is generally known that... -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
It is generally known that when you chop down a tree, the roots stop growing causing the
Why Jesus? What makes him... -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Why Jesus? What makes him different? How is he unlike every other person? Why
Although the internet is the... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Although the internet is the repository of the transitory, a surprisingly successful function
More and more businesses today... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
More and more businesses today are doing their best to do away with meetings. Perhaps
Anyone who has expected a... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Anyone who has expected a child knows there is much work to do. A place must be
Fear has been much forgotten... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
"Fear has been much forgotten -- both by the world and by Christians in general. We rush
There are many signs that... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
There are many signs that tell us a new season is upon us. The first frost, changing leaves,
Nora had her grandson bring... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Nora had her grandson bring her Christmas decorations up from the basement. As she
Alcohol, drugs, and pornography grab... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Alcohol, drugs, and pornography grab our attention. So do eating disorders, gambling,
During WWII, in a small... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
During WWII, in a small town in Great Britain, Julian Cotton's parents were gripped with
See, I am sending my... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
"See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me," writes Malachi. This
Malachi begins his text by... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Malachi begins his text by talking about God sending his people a messenger. We all
In 1955, when Walt Disney... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
In 1955, when Walt Disney launched his Disneyland theme park, the section called
Undertaking a major writing project... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Undertaking a major writing project can be daunting. Eviatar Zerubavel, a sociology
Harold and Betty had supported... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Harold and Betty had supported missionaries for over thirty years, ever since there were
The Pilgrims and Indians couldn't... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The Pilgrims and Indians couldn't have guessed what they started. They could neither
Prepare yourself isn't what you... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
"Prepare yourself" isn't what you like to hear. You expect next, "Sit down, I have bad
The author of Luke was... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The author of Luke was careful to establish the exact dating of the events he records.
Our Lukan text for today... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Our Lukan text for today is a marvelous passage. It could well be a page out of USA
Rabbi Harold Kushner tells of... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Rabbi Harold Kushner tells of his yearly experience, looking out at a full synagogue on
Frank and Judy inherited the... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Frank and Judy inherited the family farm when Frank's father retired. For the first few

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
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29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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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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