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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Many people today are prisoners... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Many people today are prisoners. No, they are not living at a correctional facility, or in
As I write this, some... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
As I write this, some secret plans to blow up airplanes are making headlines. In contrast,
A story is told of... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
A story is told of the late King Hussein of Jordan. In the latter years of the king's reign,
Small or insignificant towns sometimes... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Small or insignificant towns sometimes produce legendary figures. Take the city of
What we learn during our... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
What we learn during our formative years can become a life lesson. Renee's father
The wise men presented gold... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
The wise men presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. Gold was a reminder of
William Faulkner's novel, As I... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
William Faulkner's novel, As I Lay Dying, presents a dysfunctional family on its
Fear -- it comes to many... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Fear -- it comes to many when they listen to the news, when they wait for grades, when
Sometimes a great treasure is... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Sometimes a great treasure is lost when we fail to realize the value.
Knee-deep in exile, the... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Knee-deep in exile, the Israelites had a lot to fear. They feared for their beloved country
One of the most remarkable... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
One of the most remarkable athletes of our time was the late Susan Butcher, who won
Software companies will sometimes offer... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Software companies will sometimes offer customers a trial version of one of their
It was evident from their... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
It was evident from their chance encounter that Dan was delighted to start college. It had
Ask any pilot. He or... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Ask any pilot. He or she will tell you that there are times when its difficult to know which
Steve walked into the airline... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Steve walked into the airline terminal to meet Gary. Together they'd have four days at the
Brennan Manning tells the story... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Brennan Manning tells the story of an 80-year-old Roman Catholic priest and his
Can you imagine anyone finding... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Can you imagine anyone finding good, or singing praise to God while your house is on
Weeks ago, we stood by... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2006
Weeks ago, we stood by the manger and heard the singing of angels. They told of good
Episcopal priest, Robert Capon, said... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
Episcopal priest, Robert Capon, said, "We are in a war between dullness and
For years, the Brewer boys... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
For years, the Brewer boys antagonized their fellow riders on the school bus. The
One of the leaders of... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
One of the leaders of the church asked to address the congregation one Sunday morning.
I recently attended a community... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
I recently attended a community theater play that we had seen before in a different
Centrifugal comes from the Latin... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
"Centrifugal" comes from the Latin: to flee the center. It means to impel outward,
One day, a hunter from... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
One day, a hunter from St. Louis was out hunting in Minnesota. He had been in his duck
A king at one time... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2006
A king at one time had many mirrors in his castle, but just a few tiny windows. Without

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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
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22 – Worship Resources
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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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