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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In one of the... -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In one of the most favorite and annually repeated episodes in the cartoon Peanuts, Lucy
Jerusalem is anything but... -- Jeremiah 33:14-16 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Jerusalem is anything but safe these days.
Just as Paul was... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Just as Paul was so thankful for the joy he felt because of the Thessalonian Christian witness
Daniel Young, in a... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Daniel Young, in a speech at Hillsdale College, related how ermine -- small animals widely val
Years ago, while I... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Years ago, while I was a seminary student in Pittsburgh, I had the opportunity of a summer's e
Christianity is not a... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Christianity is not a faith of individuals.
Even when it's obvious... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Even when it's obvious the end is near, some of us will still not be ready.
My grandfather was a... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
My grandfather was a watcher. He watched nature for signs of what was to come.
Dr. Joseph B. Slowinski... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Dr. Joseph B. Slowinski was an expert on venomous snakes.
Watchfulness for the coming... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Watchfulness for the coming kingdom is a central theme for Advent.
What's that? Debbie asked... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
"What's that?" Debbie asked as she watched her grandma at the kitchen counter preparing supper
In the 2000 film... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
In the 2000 film, Chocolat (among those nominated for Best Picture), a mysterious stran
In the early 1970s... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
In the early 1970s, a psychology professor at Stanford University named David L.
I remember the first... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
I remember the first tuxedo I ever wore (junior prom in high school), the most important day w
Seated among the learned... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Seated among the learned rabbis in the temple, the young Jesus displays a remarkable awareness
Jesus' parents came to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Jesus' parents came to the rescue of the temple teachers just in time.
On his visit to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
On his visit to the Temple, Jesus amazed the Jewish teachers with his intelligent answers, and
Losing a child is... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare.
There is power in... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
There is power in prayer. Hannah experienced it. So did Julee.
We live in a... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
We live in a world that exploits children -- from child labor to pornography to entertainment
Paul Sponheim, a contemporary... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Paul Sponheim, a contemporary theologian, in his chapter "The God of Prayer" in the book A
Hannah dedicates her son... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Hannah dedicates her son to the Lord and will raise him accordingly.
Bob stood over his... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Bob stood over his wife's exhausted body, proud as punch at seeing his newborn son rest upon h
When the writer to... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
When the writer to the Hebrews encourages getting together and exhorting one another, he is re
In June 1919, Germany... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
In June 1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles formally ending World War I.

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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