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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

What a gruesome text! Evidently... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
What a gruesome text! Evidently, King Herod knew what he was about to do (having
In one of the episodes... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
In one of the episodes of the television show M*A*S*H, Lt. Col. Henry Blake
Tom was a successful pastor... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Tom was a successful pastor in a large mainline denomination. He had the "touch" when
One doesn't have to search... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
One doesn't have to search too long to find the top sports dynasties. The Boston Celtics,
Sometimes the most impressive temple... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Sometimes the most impressive temple is the one not built. Consider the monumental,
In over 100 years of... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
In over 100 years of intense missionary activity prior to 1949, the number of Protestant
For a number of years... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
For a number of years, the adopted son lived gratefully in the home of a family where he
Tom ran into Cindy one... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Tom ran into Cindy one day at a coffee shop in town. At one time, Tom worked with
Lou wonders where he fits... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Lou wonders where he fits in among the "Type-A multi-tasker" younger employees at his
Phil had been a pastor... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Phil had been a pastor at the same church for 32 years. He was well liked and respected
There is no doubt about... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
There is no doubt about it -- Jesus had celebrity status. Everywhere Jesus went, the
Charlie Brown frequently expresses feelings... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Charlie Brown frequently expresses feelings that many of us have. One emotion he often
Elie Wiesel once told the... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Elie Wiesel once told the story of a man who is in a boat, out on the open sea. There are
The amazing thing about Richard... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
The amazing thing about Richard Nixon was the inner conflict he suffered with his
It started off innocently enough... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
It started off innocently enough, like any new hobby. Ed began "chatting" with people
Finally, Tim was about to... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Finally, Tim was about to get his big break! He had been working in a small midwestern
The kids in the back... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
The kids in the back of the car were having a great time trying to outdo each other with
Tree roots are very important... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Tree roots are very important to tree growth. There are basically two types of tree roots:
In verse 17, the writer... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
In verse 17, the writer of Ephesians speaks of Christ dwelling in our hearts. In The
There's an old story about... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
There's an old story about a village that was planning a great celebration. The village
Jason recently completed the third... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Jason recently completed the third grade. It was last spring that he learned that one of his
Summers have been difficult in... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Summers have been difficult in terms of attendance for some congregations in a
Today's lesson reminds us that... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Today's lesson reminds us that even the good guys sin. Well-intended leaders do stray
High profile arrests hardly seem... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
High profile arrests hardly seem peculiar anymore. The fourth highest ranking member of
Neil was a man who... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Neil was a man who despised waste. When it came to the wasteful company practice of

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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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