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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Fred was the new pastor... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Fred was the new pastor at a 400-member suburban, affluent church.
One way to characterize Jesus... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
One way to characterize Jesus' actions at the temple is to say he was housecleaning.
Once there was a congregation... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Once there was a congregation that was having a meeting to discuss a building expansion program.
Jamie just got his learner's... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Jamie just got his learner's permit, and took his dad's car out alone for a joyride before he was le
Joanne was a worker in... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Joanne was a worker in the church.
Russ, his wife, and his... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Russ, his wife, and his children all volunteer at the local food pantry where unemployed families an
Russ, his wife, and his... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Russ, his wife, and his children all volunteer at the local food pantry where unemployed families an
The movie, Dead Man Walking... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
The movie, Dead Man Walking, came out in 1995.
Maewyn Succat, although born to... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Maewyn Succat, although born to Christian parents, did not follow in their faith.
Ten-year-old Freddie went... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Ten-year-old Freddie went out in his backyard for some batting practice.
There are many things in... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
There are many things in life that never end. There is dishwashing. There is getting the car fixed.
After his young brother's terrible... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
After his young brother's terrible accident and death, Craig could no longer believe in a God who wo
I made a mistake, Phil... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
"I made a mistake," Phil admitted to his pastor describing how a bad choice made some years before l
God loves the world? Have... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
God loves the world? Have you seen it lately?
Cindy made some mistakes in... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Cindy made some mistakes in raising her first son.
In the movie Christmas Story... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
In the movie Christmas Story, the film about young Ralphie and his experiences surrounding on
DNA has been called the... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
DNA has been called the molecule of heredity because it contains most of our inherited traits, rangi
Under New Management read the... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
"Under New Management" read the sign outside a local restaurant, which previously had been known mos
The management of a certain... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
The management of a certain department store had a great deal of difficulty with one of their emerge
In the Mel Gibson movie... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
In the Mel Gibson movie, We Were Soldiers, Lt. Col.
Cindy was in a traffic... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Cindy was in a traffic accident that would leave her disabled.
Tim O'Brien, Vietnam veteran, writes... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Tim O'Brien, Vietnam veteran, writes about the "burden of being alive" in his collection of short st
Church councilman Bill would always... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Church councilman Bill would always exclaim, "Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to
Sally was scared to death... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Sally was scared to death.
Driving down the highway in... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
Driving down the highway in northern Saskatchewan toward the town of Nai-cam, one can see a cross, o

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture -the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response – to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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