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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Katherine looked around the room... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Katherine looked around the room, taking in the characteristics of her audience: women, for the most
One of the marvels of... -- Hebrews 10:15-39 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
One of the marvels of the modern computer age is the ease with which we can rework manuscripts to su
The literary world always manages... -- Hebrews 10:15-39 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
The literary world always manages to attract a good share of horror tales.
But, Pastor, you don't have... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
"But, Pastor, you don't have to do that!" was the comment that Pastor Jim heard when he arrived, for
Through the act of washing... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Through the act of washing the feet of his disciples, Christ gave an example of humility and service
Ken went daily now to... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Ken went daily now to help Sam. Sam needed him; he was so weak.
This is really strange! mumbled... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
"This is really strange!" mumbled one of the adolescent boys, as he stripped off his shoes and socks
The main road from Exeter... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
The main road from Exeter to Plymouth winds along the seacoast, with villages below and farmlands an
A pastor went to visit... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
A pastor went to visit with one of her members who had stopped attending worship.
It probably is helpful when... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
It probably is helpful when considering these crucial and beautiful words of institution of the Lord
In his novel A Bed... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
In his novel A Bed By The Window, Scott Peck describes an encounter in a nursing home between Heathe
It is a crucial time... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
It is a crucial time. The last days of the revolutionary war.
I Wonder ...Would you... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
I Wonder ...Would you eat with me today, God?
Contemporary author Will Campbell has... -- Hebrews 10:15-39 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Contemporary author Will Campbell has written a novella, Cecelia's Sin: a short work about the Anaba
Helen has Alzheimer's Disease. Very... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Helen has Alzheimer's Disease.
In the early part of... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
In the early part of the century, an elderly rabbi was traveling by horse to a small town outside Bo
As a child birthdays were... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
As a child birthdays were exciting days.
The word of the Lord... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
The word of the Lord to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, as that word is expressed in the first
Jeremiah was written during the... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Jeremiah was written during the period of Babylonian exile at the close of the seventh century.
From childhood many of us... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
From childhood many of us have been told that we had to do this or that in order to please our paren
Of all the names for... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
Of all the names for Jesus, Christy's favorite was "Emmanuel," for it expressed so well how she thou
In 1993 there was quite... -- Luke 23:1-49 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
In 1993 there was quite a furor in the Netherlands when a nine-year-old girl drowned out on a lake.
In Children's Church School and... -- Luke 23:1-49 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
In Children's Church School and Vacation Bible School we delight in teaching songs about God.
George Orwell, in his book... -- Luke 23:1-49 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
George Orwell, in his book, 1984, tells of a world so manipulated by those who know how to use the m
Chaim Potok's novel The Gift... -- Luke 23:1-49 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
Chaim Potok's novel The Gift of Asher Lev is one of the author's usual sensitive and stirring portra

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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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