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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries in the unevangelized world today.
Preaching professor Tom Long... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Preaching professor Tom Long tells a story about shopping in a grocery store one day.
An old brain-teaser... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
An old brain-teaser: "A man and his son are on a fishing trip when their boat capsizes.
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx: "What creature goes on four legs in the mornin
Carol Burnett was struggling financially... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Carol Burnett was struggling financially to remain at UCLA as a drama student.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2011) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
Joshua 3:7-17
God provided a way through the Jordan River... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
In this passage, we see a genuine miracle.
The novelist Thomas Wolfe... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
The novelist Thomas Wolfe who wrote the classic You Can't Go Home Again, wrote the following
At local taverns, pubs, and bars... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers.
The Johnsons owned a hardware store... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
The Johnsons owned a hardware store and they devoted their lives to their business -- tracking what
In the popular game show To Tell the Truth... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
In the popular game show To Tell the Truth, a celebrity panel would ask questions to a group
John Ambrose Wood... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
John Ambrose Wood, father of author Catherine Marshall, was a pastor who served mostly rural churche
From a secular perspective... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
From a secular perspective, leadership is viewed as a measurement of status or charisma, a sign that
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Day (2011) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ladies wore corsets... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front.
Two types of laws... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
We can think of two types of laws: external and internal.
If you live in Ohio... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Leah Thompson -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
If you live in Ohio, you don't walk around saying, "Hey! Do you know about Ohio?
There are very few guarantees in this world but one is sin... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Craig Kelly -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
I recently found a website that I found amusing (http://www
In his days as an Augustinian monk... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
In his days as an Augustinian monk Martin Luther had a great fear of the Law as set forth in the scr
It's warm and bright... -- John 8:31-36 -- Leah Thompson -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
It's warm and bright. You're basking contentedly when someone walks up to you. "Here," they say.
Five weeks before Benjamin Franklin's death... -- John 8:31-36 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Five weeks before his death, Benjamin Franklin received an inquiry about his beliefs from a Congrega
America places an enormous emphasis on freedom... -- John 8:31-36 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Like many other nations, America places an enormous emphasis on freedom.
In Revelation 7, the angels, the elders... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
In Revelation 7, the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures begin to sing: "Amen!
One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Craig Kelly -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is the parade of nations during the opening ceremo
Children show only a hint of what they will become... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- Leah Thompson -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
Children show only a hint of what they will become.

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John Jamison
Object: A colorful flower like a Bird of Paradise or something with an interesting-looking blossom. If you are not near a florist, many grocers have flowers like these available. Just change the name of the flower in the message as you talk about it.

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StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. (v. 26)

Ernie Vohland was the baker in Montello, Wisconsin, when, fresh out of seminary, I was appointed to serve as pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in 1978. He was one of the first people I met on Sunday morning, and later at Leone’s Bakery when I stopped in for sweet rolls the next day. Ernie wouldn’t let the new preacher pay. 
Frank Ramirez
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (v. 25)

Did you ever think about the word “earworm?” The very idea of a literal earworm, some sort of parasite caught inside your ear is such a disturbing image I hate to even think of it. I apologize, but if you some of you need to get the wiggles out go ahead and shake your shoulders a bit.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 33:14-16
God proclaims that the promises made to Israel will be kept. It brings to mind the question, “How good am I at keeping promises?” Do I blithely make a promise and then forget about following through? Do I make a few promises and diligently keep every single one? Do I avoid making promises, so I don’t have to keep them? I’m not sure in which category I fit and maybe the category changes from day to day and circumstance to circumstance.
Mark Ellingsen
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Bill Thomas
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:21-27
Andrena Sawyer once wrote, “God’ s restoration will go beyond what was, to set a new standard for what is good.” Restoration and renewal are important concepts for us as human beings.
Frank Ramirez
Thanksgiving is one of the most blessed, most anticipated, and most dreaded holidays on our calendar. The expectations are so high, and oftentimes we’re the ones setting the bar against which we measure ourselves. In the midst of giving thanks, these three scriptures give us a different perspective.

Joel 2:21-27

SermonStudio

Mary Austin
As this Advent season begins, what have you promised yourself about the holidays this year? Are you vowing to have a simpler Christmas? Planning to make time for some activity you love, or time with beloved people?

What promises are ahead for your family? Do you know some kids who are waiting eagerly to see what Santa will bring? Adults who are waiting eagerly to collapse, and finally get some rest? People who find this time of year hard, and are just hoping to get through it?
Wayne Brouwer
"Screw your courage to the sticking-place," says Lady Macbeth to her doomed husband in Shakespeare's tragedy, "and we'll not fail." But fail they do and no amount of courage in the world can save them or turn them into heroes.

Courage is a funny thing. It's a bit like happiness: the more you seek it, the more you demand it, the more you try to call it up, the less it shows its face.

Richard A. Jensen
It had been a tough week for Glenda Kruse. Glenda was a real estate agent and she had sold only one home during the entire month of November. She was getting desperate. She had to make a living after all.
James Evans
There is perhaps no greater challenge to the life of faith than suffering. There is an implicit expectation that God, who is strong and loving, will protect those who are weak. When tragedy befalls the innocent, it is hard not to wonder about God's strength or goodness, or both.

Stephen M. Crotts
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on it. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by being anxious add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing?
Mary S. Lautensleger
In the parable of The Giving Tree, a young boy would gather his favorite tree's leaves on mild autumn afternoons. He fashioned them into a crown for his head and played king of the forest. The tree was fun to climb, and he loved to eat its delicious apples. The boy enjoyed swinging from the tree's branches, and discovered a shady resting place beneath those same branches on hot summer days.
John A. Stroman
Joel informs the people of Judah that God has willed that humankind should have abundant life. This abundant life is characterized by good relationships with others, with all of God's creation, as well as the land and all its creatures. He points out that this abundant life of relationships is possible by first having a harmonious relationship with God. The prophet warns Judah if they desert God, making God unnecessary, and turn to other sources for life, then Judah is faced with hopelessness and the threat of annihilation.
Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
A minister held an administrative position in a major university in a large city. Part of his responsibility was overseeing the program for minority students in that school. The counselor for minority students and the faculty members teaching and working with minority students were under his supervision. The program had not been well run, so prior to his arrival the school had terminated the entire staff. He had to employ a new part-time director for the program.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

As we enter the dark season of Advent, representing the darkness of the world before the light of Christ came at Christmas, let us hold before God any darkness and suffering we ourselves experience, whether at school or at work or in our home lives. (Pause for a few moments silence.) Let us remember that Jesus Christ takes our darkness and suffering and transforms it for us.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, darkness can be scary. When we are afraid, Lord, have mercy.

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