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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

God loves me just... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
"God loves me just the way I am," Allen said with a tinge of doubt.
The message to each... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The message to each group mentioned in the text is particular to the temptations with which th
The judge in Washington... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The judge in Washington, D.C., noticed the change in the 15-year-old before him.
Growing up in a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Growing up in a home where both of my parents were ordained clergy in the Salvation Army, I wa
The year is 1941... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
The year is 1941, and Hitler's armies are on the march.
The prime minister of... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
The prime minister of Australia, Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, was running for re-election when,
Charles Schulz, the recently... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
Charles Schulz, the recently deceased creator of the comic strip Peanuts and recipient
On October 18, 2002... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
On October 18, 2002, Jake Porter, 17, scored a touchdown in a game between McDermott (Ohio) No
Our friends moved recently... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
Our friends moved recently to a retirement village.
Christian writer Tony Campolo tells... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Christian writer Tony Campolo tells the story of a man who used to make his wife miserable.
The French painter, Henri Matisse... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The French painter, Henri Matisse, sometimes created art that left his admirers scratching their hea
There's a story about a... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
There's a story about a group of women who were studying Malachi 3.
Niagara Falls is a most... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Niagara Falls is a most popular and beautiful spot to visit.
Few things are as powerful... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Few things are as powerful as the power of recollection.
Reluctantly the young man went... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Reluctantly the young man went to the worship service. Jim was all alone in a new town.
Many will remember the adages... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Many will remember the adages from Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac: "Haste makes w
Bible scholar and preacher Eugene... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Bible scholar and preacher Eugene Peterson tells of a time when he experienced wonder at the birth o
Those who encountered John the... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Those who encountered John the Baptist must have been astonished by his costume.
Each year, the government of... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Each year, the government of Australia sets aside one day as a National Day of Forgiveness.
One wonders if the work... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
One wonders if the work of a leveler is always fraught with danger.
I'll drink to that -- an... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
"I'll drink to that" -- an expression often said when someone utters a pleasing or truthful statemen
On May 18, 1980, at... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
On May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. on a Sunday morning, Mount St. Helens became a mountain of death.
Not all mountains are for... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
Not all mountains are for all people. Mount Everest certainly isn't.
Nations take pride in their... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
Nations take pride in their mountains.
Weight Watchers is a proven... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
Weight Watchers is a proven program of losing weight through moderate and selective eating.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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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
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
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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