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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It was obvious to everyone... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
It was obvious to everyone that Mike did not want to attend the company Christmas
This question isn't for partygoers... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
This question isn't for partygoers. It's for church folks. Why aren't we having fun? "Have
By all accounts, President Warren... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
By all accounts, President Warren Harding wasn't an especially intelligent person.
Immediately before this lesson are... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Immediately before this lesson are two interesting lines, in Philippians 4:2-3. "I urge
W. H. Auden, in one... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
W. H. Auden, in one of his poems, challenges his readers to "practice their scales of
The commercial culture may have... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The commercial culture may have kidnapped the baby Jesus (or at least it may seem that
Slate: a fine-grained sedimentary... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Slate: a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash. It is easy to split
It would be Alice and... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
It would be Alice and Robb's first Christmas as a married couple. Both had children from
Did you ever have a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Did you ever have a minister call you and fellow audience members "venomous snakes"?
People throughout history have said... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
People throughout history have said they wanted peace. So many people have stated their
Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means "house of bread," was indeed a small town. But
Micah, scholars tell us, was... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Micah, scholars tell us, was a younger contemporary of Isaiah. The world of God's people
Some years ago, when the... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Some years ago, when the Duke University men's basketball team won back-to-back
In March 1917, under great... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
In March 1917, under great duress, Czar Nicolas II abdicated the Russian throne. A
It was a Saturday night... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
It was a Saturday night Darrel would not forget. He had been out drinking with some
What's your heaven strategy? One... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
What's your heaven strategy? One friend told me he was confident of going based on his
Elizabeth would give birth to... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptist and Mary to Jesus. Their meeting while
The little story about Mary... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
The little story about Mary and Elizabeth seems pleasant enough, doesn't it? Imagine the
Here is the story that... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2006
Here is the story that never grows old. An angel came to a little wisp of a girl and told her
Trying to explain salvation, Wendell... -- Isaiah 62:6-12 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
Trying to explain salvation, Wendell Berry tells a parable about a hunter who falls down
Julene's cubicle at work was... -- Isaiah 62:6-12 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
Julene's cubicle at work was directly under the cold air duct. Julene welcomed the air-
Volunteers from several area churches... -- Isaiah 62:6-12 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
Volunteers from several area churches enjoyed delivering hot meals to the elderly in their
No person's behavior ever received... -- Isaiah 62:6-12 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
No person's behavior ever received that much attention. Millions thought him innocent.
Christmas Day: Carols are sung... -- Titus 3:4-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
Christmas Day: Carols are sung, scripture read, presents opened -- presents we give to
An idealistic young man once... -- Titus 3:4-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2006
An idealistic young man once asked a pastor how to achieve salvation. The pastor told

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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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