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Early one Saturday morning, a...

Illustration
Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A
Romans 6:1b-11
Early one Saturday morning, a man heard thieves breaking into his home. He was upstairs at the time. He quickly called the police. When the police arrived, whoever had broken into the house was gone. The kitchen door did show signs that someone forced their way into the house.

That's not the end of the story. As the man, along with the police officers, checked out the house to see if anything was taken, television or electronic equipment, the police discovered that the man was growing a large amount of marijuana in his basement. They
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Bethany Peerbolte
Ron Love
Mary Austin
George Reed
Dean Feldmeyer
For August 16, 2020:
  • An Outsider’s Determined Push by Chris Keating — Last week, a 44-year old single mother, nurse, pastor, and political activist in St. Louis demonstrated determination similar to the woman seeking help for her daughter from Jesus.

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Contents
“Howling Good News For Some” by David O. Bales
“Unity” by David O. Bales


Howling Good News For Some
by David O. Bales
Genesis 45:1-15  

“Calm down. Calm down. I know what’s going on,” the chief steward said. Beside him a handful of Joseph’s Egyptian servants stood outside the royal complex looking around nervously. Joseph, already acting strange this morning, without explanation had swept his arms toward his servants and shouted, “Everyone out. Everyone out.”

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Ron Love
Bill Thomas
Genesis 45:1-5
This is a lesson about forgiveness. Martin Luther reminds us how Joseph’s forgiving actions were functions of God’s grace:

Therefore the Holy Spirit and grace are a medicine, so to speak, for nature – a medicine by which what had been ruined or destroyed in the original corruption through sin is set to right and restored. (Luther’s Works, Vol.8, p.16)

Elsewhere he makes the point in another, related way:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
In today's gospel reading, Jesus seemed reluctant to heal the Canaanite woman's daughter. He told her that he wasn't sent to help foreigners, but only his own people, the Chosen Race. The words sound unnecessarily harsh, but perhaps this is an interpretation unique to Matthew, for this story only appears in Matthew's gospel, which was written for Jews.

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
As a seminary intern in St. Louis, Missouri, I was part of a Jewish-Christian Dialogue group. We were seeking to understand one another's traditions, work together for the good of our neighborhoods, and promote tolerance and respect in society. I had been invited into the group by a member of the church at which I was serving. She grew up Jewish, and in recent years had, in her words, "completed my faith" by gaining an understanding that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the prophets of Israel.

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to eat? (let them answer) What is your favorite food? (let them answer) Do you know what a bird eats? (let them answer) Very good. They eat bugs, all kinds of bugs. Today, I brought with me this jar of bugs. They are pretty colorful, and in some ways they look almost good enough to eat. Have you ever eaten a bug? (let them answer) I wonder what a bug tastes like? Is there anyone here who is hungry enough to eat a bug? (let them answer)

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