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Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It is usually my nose... -- 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
It is usually my nose, not my ears, that sometimes itches during a church service, more often than n
We wrestle with the Incomprehensible... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
We wrestle with the Incomprehensible One who has revealed himself to us; yet he is still mystery bey
A woman felt she had... -- Luke 18:1-8a -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
A woman felt she had a legitimate grievance against a photographic company.
One of the conditions that... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
One of the conditions that causes the most wrestling with God is an over-dependence upon feelings.
A modern example of vindication... -- Luke 18:1-8a -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
A modern example of vindication was reported in the May 30th edition of Jet Magazine which fo
In the story of Jacob... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
In the story of Jacob wrestling at the Jabbok, Jacob readily tells his adversary his own name, but t
Professor Benjamin Bloom of the... -- Luke 18:1-8a -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Professor Benjamin Bloom of the University of Chicago recently led a group of researchers in a study
It is much easier to... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
It is much easier to wrestle against a visible opponent than it is to wrestle with conscience.
You can't walk on water... -- Luke 18:1-8a -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
You can't walk on water because water gives.
The Dec. 15, 1982, edition... -- Exodus 17:8-13 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
The Dec.
In Alfred Hitchcock's famous thriller... -- Micah 1:2; 2:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
In Alfred Hitchcock's famous thriller Rear Window, a man idly peering into apartment windows
I asked famed Southern Baptist... -- 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
I asked famed Southern Baptist teacher and author, Dr.
Norman Cousins wrote in the... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Norman Cousins wrote in the Saturday Review, "What holds men back today is not the pressure o
Please read verses 10-13 before... -- 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Please read verses 10-13 before you get into this reading for today.
The time is out of... -- Genesis 32:22-32 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
The time is out of joint; O cursed spite, That I was ever born to set it right! Shakespeare i
While serving as an exchange... -- 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
While serving as an exchange minister on the Isle of Man during the summer of 1983, I had occasion t
In John Osborne's play, Luther... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
In John Osborne's play, Luther, the papal representative Cajetan comes to Luther to work out
They ought always to pray... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
"They ought always to pray and never lose heart." For many years I have received a Christmas letter
It was more the brazenness... -- Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
It was more the brazenness of youth than wisdom which caused a young pastor to confront the fifty-ye
God hears our prayers and... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
God hears our prayers and answers in one of three ways: "yes," "no," or "not yet." But if we do not
Augustine struggled long and hard... -- Kings 5:14-17 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Augustine struggled long and hard against the pull of the world and the pull of the spirit.
The pastoral concern of Luke... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
The pastoral concern of Luke is clear, "losing heart." For two thousand years we have been praying,
Washing in the Jordan seven... -- 2 Kings 5:14-17 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Washing in the Jordan seven times seemed too simple to Namaan, the leper.
The widow in today's parable... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
The widow in today's parable is praised for her persistence in presenting her requests before an unj
Promoting the desire and the... -- 2 Kings 5:14-17 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A
Promoting the desire and the expectation of something-for-nothing mentality: "At United we don't thi

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Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For September 21, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or else the weather, pests, rabbits, or our own laziness conspired to make this year’s garden less than a success. But at one point we had to get started and actually plant seeds for the future.

Jeremiah is looking back from the perspective of our spiritual well-being and laments than our spiritual harvest has all been for naught. He wonders if it is now too late for a recovery. Is there no healing, no balm in Gilead, to apply to our wounds?
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
In the spring as farmers and gardeners prepare to plant we are looking at a summer of possibilities. Hard work, to be sure, but also potential. What will happen? What will this season be like? At summer’s end there will be no more questions. We’ll know. Maybe it was a great season, and we have canned or frozen many vegetables. Maybe the farmers have brought in a bumper crop and they got a good price besides.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will be based on a game you will play. See the note below.

NOTE: Ask three or more adults to come up and play the role of Simon for your group. Tell them to all speak at once, asking the children to do different things. The goal is to create a nice bit of confusion for the children to experience.

* * *

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

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey!” Annie waved at the woman standing next to the open doorway. “Can you come here?”

The woman made her way past the other nursing home residents and stood next to Annie’s wheelchair.

“What can I do for you?”

“You look familiar.” Annie squinted at her. “Do I know your name?”

“I’m Brenda.” The woman pointed at her name tag. “I work in the kitchen and sometimes help serve the meals when they are ready.”

“That’s right. I think we’ve met before.” Annie tapped her lips with her finger. “You have the nice smile.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” In our worship today let us remember the little things in our lives and ask God to help us to be utterly faithful in them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we pretend that little sins don't matter.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we imagine that you don't notice little sins.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
This poignant prayer of lament and community grief gives expression to what it feels like to suffer as a person of faith. If we believe we are truly part of God's community, then the destruction of that community -- as was the case with Israel in 587 B.C. -- becomes a time for doubt, anger, and confusion. Furthermore, if we believe we are individual members of that community, our personal suffering also creates an opportunity for a crisis of faith: "Why didn't God protect me?" Of course, it does not take a national catastrophe to raise those sorts of questions.
Kirk R. Webster
If feedback is the breakfast of champions, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our prayer habits. If you have ever heard someone use The Just Really Prayer, you know exactly what problem we are talking about.

That prayer goes something like this, "Lord, we just really thank you for this day. We come before you and just really pray for mercy. We offer ourselves to you and just really ask that your will be done in our lives. Amen." I'm thankful this particular Just Really prayer was mercifully short, unlike the next example, The Good Guilt-Based Prayer.
John W. Wurster
Another season has come and gone. Promises that were made have not been fulfilled. Good intentions haven't yielded any tangible results. Dreams have not come true. High hopes have proven to be only wishful thinking. Nothing has really changed; nothing has really improved. The time keeps moving along, but we seem stuck in the same ruts. Old routines remain, prejudices persist, dullness and anxiety continue to be constant companions. Lingering in the air is that nagging sense that things aren't quite right, not as they could be, not as they should be.
R. Robert Cueni
In the scripture lesson for today Jesus tells a perplexing parable about a thoroughly dishonest employee who was praised for his dishonesty. In this story Jesus not only seems comfortable suggesting that it is acceptable to compromise with moral failings, but our Lord appears to commend his disciples to "go and do likewise." For centuries, preachers, commentators, and scholars have struggled to make sense of this outrageous tale.

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