Wayne Brouwer is a pastor of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and is an Associate Professor of Religion at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, as well as a member of the faculty of Western Theological Seminary. Brouwer has been the lead pastor in three different congregations. He is a graduate of Dordt College and holds degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary and McMaster University. Over 700 of his articles have been published as well as over a dozen books. Previous CSS Publishing titles by Pastor Bouwer include Political Christianity and Humming Till the Music Returns. He has been a consistent contributor to Emphasis: A Preaching Journal since 2004 and is one of several authors featured in Navigating the Sermon. Pastor Brouwer resides in Holland, Michigan, with his wife Brenda and they are the parents of three daughters.
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Peter Andrew Smith
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"Redefining Fair" by Peter Andrew Smith
"How Great Thou Art!" by John Fitzgerald
Redefining Fair
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 20:1-16
“Are you boys finished with your chores yet?” Linda called out from the kitchen.
Paul put two full bags of plastic containers next to the garage door. “I finished everything and Joey is almost done.”
"Redefining Fair" by Peter Andrew Smith
"How Great Thou Art!" by John Fitzgerald
Redefining Fair
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 20:1-16
“Are you boys finished with your chores yet?” Linda called out from the kitchen.
Paul put two full bags of plastic containers next to the garage door. “I finished everything and Joey is almost done.”
The Immediate Word
Mary Austin
In this week’s lectionary gospel passage, Jesus tells a parable that at first glance seems antithetical to modern sensibilities. A vineyard owner is hiring day laborers to work in his fields, and early in the day he hires several workers at the usual going daily rate. Later in the day, the owner sees additional workers still standing at their gathering place, hoping for even a small job, and he tells them to go to the vineyard as well. Yet at the end of the day, the workers who labored for only a few hours receive a full day’s earnings.
CSSPlus
Arley K. Fadness
...I chose to give to this last the same as I give to you...so the last will be first and the first will be last. (v. 14b, 16)
Good morning boys and girls,
It's so fun to see you here at church and especially to see you come up and sit and visit with me. Thanks for listening. How are you? You look wonderful and happy.
Good morning boys and girls,
It's so fun to see you here at church and especially to see you come up and sit and visit with me. Thanks for listening. How are you? You look wonderful and happy.
Emphasis Preaching Journal
Ron Love
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Bob Ove
Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Exodus 16:2-15
“God will provide.” We’ve all heard that expression. Probably we’ve said it a few times too. Those are the easy parts, hearing it and saying it. Trusting that he will can be a different matter. I read the following story in a missionary magazine, and thought it would be a great way to illustrate this passage.
“God will provide.” We’ve all heard that expression. Probably we’ve said it a few times too. Those are the easy parts, hearing it and saying it. Trusting that he will can be a different matter. I read the following story in a missionary magazine, and thought it would be a great way to illustrate this passage.
David Kalas
I heard a story once of a custodian who worked at a certain university. Among his responsibilities, he emptied the wastebaskets in the administration building where the president of the university had his office. The school underwent a change in presidents during this custodian’s time there, and he found that his experience of his job changed. “I didn’t mind emptying Dr. Wilson’s garbage,” he remarked, referring to the former president.
The Village Shepherd
Janice B. Scott
Recently I noticed in the media that the government are planning to give each teenager in England a gift of up to 10,000 pounds on reaching the age of eighteen. My first reaction was one of horror, imagining what most teenagers of my acquaintance would do with that kind of money!
SermonStudio
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
So this fellow up in Sonoma County, not far from wine-growing Napa County, anxiously watched the weather forecast. Heavy rains of November were on the way across the Pacific. The grapes were mature and ready for harvest. Having no regular work crew, he went in to the union hall to get day laborers to do the picking. They agreed to work for ten dollars per hour. But the work didn't go fast enough and the sky was darkening with black clouds. Several times during the day he added more and more workers until the harvest was safely in the winery's barn.
