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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When I was in seminary... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
When I was in seminary, I lived on West 121st Street, in New York City between Broadway and Amsterda
Where are people truly equal... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
Where are people truly equal?In school?In the workplace?In appearance?
I once heard a preacher... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
I once heard a preacher, beginning with an obscure text in the Old Testament, make the point that on
H. Beecher Hicks' Preaching Through... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
H.
John was a riveting storyteller... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
John was a riveting storyteller and Amy could never quite tell where to draw the line between fact a
In 1954 Roger Banister was... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
In 1954 Roger Banister was the first person on record ever to break the four-minute mile, as he comp
In 1864 Sir Edward John... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
In 1864 Sir Edward John Poynter engraved the triumphant scene of rejoicing following the Exodus.
One of the things we... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C -- 1995
One of the things we may or may not especially enjoy about children is the way they enjoy having a g
A young high school junior... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
A young high school junior said to his friends one day, "When I die I want all of you to wear bright
Many denominations, and consequently congregations... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Many denominations, and consequently congregations within them, have the tradition of maintaining a
One late afternoon in Florence... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
One late afternoon in Florence, we got caught in a terrific downpour and found ourselves seeking ref
When I lift my heart... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
When I lift my heart in prayer,Uttering forth my every care --
Death, thou wast once an... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing, Nothing but bones,
Have you ever traveled on... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Have you ever traveled on a highway and suddenly, out of nowhere, three crosses appear?
The post office was trying... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
The post office was trying to run advertisements to get people to stop sending away for guaranteed f
Before the invention of steam... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Before the invention of steam and diesel engines, transoceanic commerce was conveyed in huge sailing
Have you ever had someone... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Have you ever had someone criticize you for something you could not help?
Leo Tolstoi, the Russian novelist... -- Hebrews 4:4-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Leo Tolstoi, the Russian novelist, is celebrated as one of the best authors of all time.
Wes was an 86-year... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Wes was an 86-year-old bachelor. He's quit school at an early age to go to work in the city.
Isn't it a joy to... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Isn't it a joy to discover what already is?
When the family gathered for... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
When the family gathered for their parents' golden wedding anniversary, preparations had been going
A cartoon shows three elderly... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
A cartoon shows three elderly women talking.
Don't you talk to me... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Don't you talk to me about compassion, God, until you know what it is like down here.
Church conventions can be some... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Church conventions can be some of the most down-and-dirty occasions in the church.
The imago dei of the... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
The imago dei of the suffering servant who brings salvation to the people of God is depicted by Isai

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The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 31, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
When one of our children was young, she pretended to throw something at me from close range, and then she cheerfully declared, “Ha! Made you flinch!” I remember from my own elementary years that that was always regarded as something of an achievement — to make someone blink or to make someone flinch. In reality, of course, it is little more than a test of one’s reflexes. It’s my reflex to blink or to brace when I think something is coming at me, and the reflex is a good one.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 2:4-13
Regarding verses 6-7 of the lesson John Calvin observes:

… there is nothing more common than for the ungodly when they are proved guilty, to have recourse to this subterfuge, that they acted with good intention, when they gave themselves up to their own superstitions. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.IX/1, p.78)

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (v. 2)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children. You will want a container of some kind of treat to give to all of the children.

Note: This is a fairly brief message as presented, but that may help keep an emphasis on the simplicity of the message if you stress it.

* * *

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

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus knew the importance of humility and used a banquet to teach people about it. As we feast on him today, let us make sure we come to him with unassuming spirits.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are unaware of our own arrogance.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we spot other people's haughtiness but fail to recognise it in ourselves.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are so humble that we become victims of inverted pride.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
-- Hebrews 13:1-2

James Evans
The writer of Psalm 81 employs a most interesting mixed metaphor. It is not mixed, however, because the psalmist was careless and neglected his subject matter. On the contrary, it is because of an important insight into human nature that the psalmist has us "eating with our ears."

Verse 10 rehearses what was, and is, the most basic confession of faith for followers of the Lord. God speaks and says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it."

Ron Lavin
There are three words I hope you will take home from church today. The words are "Only The Lonely." As you think about these words, the assurances of God's Word will comfort and strengthen you. But I'm getting ahead of my story. Before we get to these three words, we need to look at the full text of Luke 14:1, 7-14. That involves looking at three other words: humility, hospitality, and hope.

Humility
Chrysanne Timm
It is never a pleasant prospect to deal with someone who has a complaint with you. As a new pastor, and a very young one at that, one of the things I struggled with most was the experience of conflict with members. I remember as if it were yesterday a significant misunderstanding that developed between the congregation's "matriarch" and me very early in my time there. I prayed about the difficulty we were having, and I knew that I needed to go to her home and ask for the opportunity to talk things out.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
In this be confident: that the grace of God is active enough to forgive, and the love of God is powerful enough to transform.

Pastoral Prayer

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