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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

For more than a year... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
For more than a year, there has been a televangelist jousting tournament underway punctuated with mu
The greatest concentration of knowledge... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
The greatest concentration of knowledge in the world is found in the Library of Congress.
You have only to watch... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
You have only to watch the weather report each night to discover that some things, no matter how muc
George Nicholson writes in his... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
George Nicholson writes in his Faith at Work about Gladys Aylward, a British woman missionary
It is indeed a triumphant... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
It is indeed a triumphant and glorious image here: Jesus has become a great high priest, after the o
When a French army officer... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
When a French army officer had been successfully forced into a scapegoat role by a reactionary milit
The Only Helpbr... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
The Only HelpIt is not the many spoken words
This scripture directly challenges the... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
This scripture directly challenges the privatistic religion of our day.
Since we have a great... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
"Since we have a great high priest ... let us draw near ..." (Hebrews 10:21-22)
God's election and protection are... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
God's election and protection are not always seen as a blessing.
We are an extended footnote... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
We are an extended footnote to the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery.
The story is told of... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The story is told of a mason who was working high up in the tower of a large country church.
Pat Conroy, in the story... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Pat Conroy, in the story of The Prince of Tides, describes Tom running down the beach.
It was common knowledge during... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
It was common knowledge during the Depression of the 1930s that wanderers known variously as "bums"
This text about everyone's access... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Maundy Thursday - C
This text about everyone's access to the Holy of Holies in the Temple because of Jesus relates to ou
Often I hear some discussion... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Often I hear some discussion on the way we are to act when we receive the Eucharist.
There is a colorful Celtic... -- Hebrews 10:17-18 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There is a colorful Celtic allegory which tells of an angel who was sent to a certain saint to tell
There is a very amusing... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There is a very amusing episode of the television program Mash, in which Klinger, along with
An academic discussion of the... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
An academic discussion of the Lord's Supper seems pitiful, or even deplorable, given the pressing ne
The section quoted below is... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The section quoted below is by Owen Dodson from Three Choruses From A Verse Drama: Divine Comedy
The Lord's Supper and prayer... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The Lord's Supper and prayer have at least one thing in common -- they are both forms of communion.
There was a professor at... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There was a professor at a seminary who was like a walking encyclopedia.
Saint Francis of Assisi asked... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Saint Francis of Assisi asked a stone mason, "What are you doing, my friend?" He replied, "Well, I'm
Be gentle when you touch... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Be gentle when you touch bread.Let it not lie uncared for -- unwanted.
M. Scott Peck, the... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
M. Scott Peck, the psychiatrist, makes a plea for new approaches to community in The Diffe

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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