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The conversation between God's prophet...

Illustration
Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Isaiah 7:10-16
The conversation between God's prophet Isaiah and King Ahaz is difficult to understand without having information from 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28. Ahaz was one of the most wicked and most perverse kings who ever ruled in Jerusalem. He even sacrificed his own son to a pagan god. Still, the Lord wanted Ahaz to change his heart and acknowledge him.

As evil as Ahaz was, the Lord loved the king and wanted him to believe. He told the obstinate monarch to ask for a sign. It could be "deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Ron Love
Mary Austin
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
Paul’s words in Galatians extol Christ’s gifts, ringing out like the chimes of liberty on July 4th: “For freedom Christ has set us free.”

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Arley K. Fadness
“When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (v. 51)

Good morning boys and girls,

Today I have some fun and interesting visual aids to show you.  I have a compass, and I have this flashing button I will wear on my (lapel, collar).

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I have just recently returned from an out-of-town trip, and as I read our selected passages for this week, I find myself reminded of the days leading up to that trip. With a few exceptions, most of the traveling that you and I do is known in advance and planned. And therefore the days leading up to our departure are filled with deliberate preparations.
Mark Ellingsen
Ron Love
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bob Ove
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
In an economy like ours that values flexibility, experience and loyalty matter less and less (Alan Wolfe, Moral Freedom: The Search for Virtue in World of Choice, pp.23ff .). The loyalty to legacy is what this story of Elijah and Elisha’s loyalty to the former’s prophetic legacy is all about.

Faith involves this kind of loyalty to roots. What Pope Paul VI once said about the liturgy could be applied to Christian life in general:

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Frank Ramirez

Contents
“Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus” by Peter Andrew Smith
“Continuing the Work” by Frank Ramirez

Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus
by Peter Andrew Smith
Luke 9:51-62

“This is unacceptable.” The woman opened the bags Kim handed to her over the food bank’s counter. “My kids are hungry and you expect me to feed them with this stuff?”

Linda peeked out from the back where she was putting bags together.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Cyril wormed his way through the soil to his brother Toby's side. "Toby," he pleaded, "tell me again what it's like out there."

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
I think that we are in a battle for the soul of the church. I'm not just talking about my Presbyterian denomination, although it certainly has its problems. I'm suggesting that we are in a battle for the soul of the whole church in our time.

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