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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Leah Thompson -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
As Peter Pan reminds Wendy, John, and Michael, we must "think happy thoughts!" before we can fly.
NULL -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Lou Holtz, the renowned coach of Notre Dame, concluded his autobiography with this message: "God ans
NULL -- John 20:1-18 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
I remember once as a kid, my family went to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta.
NULL -- Acts 2:14-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Acts 2:14-32
NULL -- Acts 2:14-32 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
A very long and controversial hearing was held in the Senate before Clarence Thomas was approved as
NULL -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Many people are frightened of cemeteries.
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I hated art class as a kid.
NULL -- John 20:19-31 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Rebecca wanted to go out to dinner with all of her friends, but had to work instead.
NULL -- John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
On January 14, 2011, President Barack Obama issued his proclamation for Religious Freedom Day.
NULL -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
NULL -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
History is full of inspiring speeches and inspiring orators.
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Marshall and Nathan are brothers, and sometimes they drive each other crazy.
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
During the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords in Tucson, six other individuals were kil
NULL -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I occasionally like to try my hand at puzzles. However, I'm notorious for not finishing them.
NULL -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Acts 2:42-47
NULL -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Fairy tales always end the same way: "And they lived happily ever after." But we all know that this
NULL -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Coincidentally at the time of the Tucson assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords, a report w
NULL -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Persecution of Christians is as alive and well today as it was when Peter wrote these words.
NULL -- John 10:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In the mid 1800s, Gustave Dore wore a book on his observations of life in London.
NULL -- John 10:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Bethany is too stubborn to follow the rules.
NULL -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Acts 7:55-60
NULL -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Aurelius Augustinus was a very unruly young man.
NULL -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
The book Nation by Terry Pratchett is a young adult novel set on a tropical island in the 180
NULL -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Sarah Palin placed on her website a map indicating the districts where liberal congressmen must be r
NULL -- John 14:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
It is never easy leaving someone behind.

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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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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