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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

At the University of Maryland... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
At the University of Maryland Medical Center's Maryland Heart Center, a new procedure
If anyone is in Christ... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
"... If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see,
A homeless man was sitting... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
A homeless man was sitting across the street from an artist's studio. The artist saw him,
Earl and Ruth were raising... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Earl and Ruth were raising a small family. Their oldest son seemed to lie around and drag
Ed watched in dismay as... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Ed watched in dismay as young families gradually left the church. The people of the
The super discount store chains... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
The super discount store chains could hardly wait to move into Carl's county where he
Do a Google search for... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Do a "Google" search for David and Goliath and you will find a site that insists that boys
Jacob was a preemie with... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Jacob was a preemie with a birth weight of less than three pounds. He spent the first three
Shelley wrote a poem called... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Shelley wrote a poem called Ozymandias, part of which goes:
Every once in a while... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Every once in a while, in the world of photojournalism, there is an image that rises above
One day, a junior high... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
One day, a junior high boy told his grandfather that since he was confirmed, he might do
Melissa's life story made people... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Melissa's life story made people in the nice, respectable church uncomfortable. She was
Twin sisters lived together, after... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Twin sisters lived together, after their parents died, in the family home. They were
Sophie's husband drinks heavily. He... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Sophie's husband drinks heavily. He creates havoc when he drinks too much. He has been
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast with incredible force and did
On February 28, 1917, a... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
On February 28, 1917, a fire swept through the Crystal Theater in Ottawa, Kansas.
A story is told concerning... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
A story is told concerning how Charles Wesley wrote his famous hymn, "Jesus, Lover Of
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they
Ruth's friends were not sure... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Ruth's friends were not sure what would happen after her husband died. The couple was
As Israel would thrive as... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
As Israel would thrive as a nation, King David remains mindful that this was with a price
In order for people to... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
In order for people to give, there must be people to receive. Being the "giver" is often
Paul quotes Exodus 16 when... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Paul quotes Exodus 16 when conducting his stewardship campaign: the one who had
Old Faith Church is a... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Old Faith Church is a struggling congregation in a transitional neighborhood. Many of
Paul's topic here is stewardship... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Paul's topic here is stewardship. He is encouraging the Corinthians to give generously to
The movie star, Marilyn Monroe... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
The movie star, Marilyn Monroe, had a troubled upbringing, living in several different

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
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30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
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and more...
Easter 6
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180+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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