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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Kelly had it made. He... -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Kelly had it made. He won $100,000 in a lottery and promptly quit his job. He began to
Kim was having a hard... -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Kim was having a hard time adjusting to the fact that her life had changed in a way she
Did you ever hope you... -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Did you ever hope you could be a hero? Save all the children on your school bus? Solve a
Alan described himself as a... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Alan described himself as a "fair to middlin'" church member. His family always attended
Entering the hospital room of... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Entering the hospital room of a dearly beloved parishioner who was dying, I knew it
Early in the spring, I... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Early in the spring, I planted some bean seeds. Being in a small "cold frame" they
This text reminds us that... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
This text reminds us that to encounter the living God is a momentous experience. Exodus
W. S. Gilbert, one-half... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
W. S. Gilbert, one-half of the famous "Gilbert and Sullivan" opera-writing team, was
Francis took a block of... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Francis took a block of wood, sat down at the picnic table, took out some carving tools,
Pastor Dennis arrived at ground... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Pastor Dennis arrived at ground zero in the days following the September 11, 2001,
For better or for worse... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
For better or for worse. For how long should those promises be kept? Honeymoons
Al, Fred, Carl, and Dan... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Al, Fred, Carl, and Dan were fraternity brothers. They were a "family" within the
I have always loved the... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
I have always loved the Fourth of July fireworks. I enjoy two views when watching them
A wealthy businessman had many... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
A wealthy businessman had many employees that kept up his large estate, garden, and
The great preacher, Phillips Brooks... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
The great preacher, Phillips Brooks, titled his sermon on this text, "Vision and Task." We
Have you ever heard of... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
Have you ever heard of a "three-hankie" movie? It's an old term, favored by Hollywood's
Rend your hearts and not... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
"Rend your hearts and not your garments," is Joel's challenge to God's people. Stop
The church played an important... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
The church played an important role in Paula's formative years. She attended Sunday
Do you dread making wrong... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
Do you dread making wrong decisions? Do you worry that bad choices lead to poor
In the middle of the... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
In the middle of the twentieth century, mainland China became officially Communist,
I had been visiting Martha... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
I had been visiting Martha for a few months as she was making her final journey in life.
A hailstorm when crops are... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
A hailstorm when crops are growing can be very devastating in Iowa or anyplace where
Ash Wednesday is a good... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
Ash Wednesday is a good time to ponder this enormously important biblical word,
One day, Gandhi stepped aboard... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
One day, Gandhi stepped aboard a train as it started to move, and one of his shoes slipped
For years, the church received... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
For years, the church received a substantial anonymous donation. It arrived early in

Political Pulpit

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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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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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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