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Divine And Human Partiality: A Christian Dilemma

Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Dear Fellow Preacher,

Carter Shelley, our lead writer in this issue of The Immediate Word, finds common and compelling motifs in three of the lectionary readings for September 7. These motifs center on the almost universal human tendency to show partiality to those who are like us. Most of us have at one time or another experienced both sides of the syndrome -- at times being the victims of exclusion and at other times the excluders. (The experience can be especially acute and traumatic for school-agers, who are struggling to develop a secure personhood.)
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pent. 18
23 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pent. 19
25 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pent. 20
23 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
36 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Quantisha Mason-Doll
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
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Elena Delhagen
For October 1, 2023:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message will include a simple role-play activity.

Note: For the role-play, pick three children you believe can have some fun with their roles. You can read their parts for them, or for more fun, feed them their lines and have them repeat them. A little over-acting by the two sons makes it more memorable.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ice storm on Saturday night! Everything was cancelled. Roads were closed and powerlines down.

Chad was the new pastor at Creekside Church. In fact, he was new to ministry leadership. His ordination service in this rural congregation happened only three months earlier.
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Exodus 17:1-7

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? (v. 2)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus was not afraid of anyone because his inner authority was so strong. In today's worship, let us consider how we too can develop inner authority.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
(See Proper 27/Pentecost 25/Ordinary Time 32, Cycle A, or an alternative approach to vv. 1-7.)

This is one of the "Wisdom Psalms," and part of the wisdom it extols is the importance of telling our children about our faith (v. 4), including telling them of the glorious deeds of God in the past (as, for example, vv. 12-16) as evidence for what God continues to do in the present.

Robert J. Elder
Recently, in a weekly Bible study, the group poured over this Exodus passage, and someone remarked, "I am impressed by how contemporary this sounds." The Exodus story? Contemporary? Generally we think of it as anything but contemporary! Near the dawn of recorded human history a band of primitive Middle Eastern Bedouins, having fled from Egypt, now makes its way on foot through the savage desert wilderness.
Marilyn Saure Breckenridge
Introduction
Tom M. Garrison
As we read the writings of the Apostle Paul, we begin to get a sense through the Spirit that we are given the privilege to overhear his heart and soul. Not only is he a dedicated disciple, but also a very confessional preacher. For Paul to stop and ask something from prison is not out of character for him. When Paul makes those personal requests, it is a red flag, signaling a time to pay close attention, for here is the heart of the matter. This is the key to understanding. Paul's statements of instruction are more than instructions. He will draw a line in the sand.
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Litany
Divide the congregation into four voices.

I: Traveling to see friends,
traveling to see relatives,
II: show me your way, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
III: To white-capped mountains,
and clear rushing streams,
IV: show me your way, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
I: Sometimes in new neighborhoods,
sometimes in familiar homes,
II: show me your way, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
III: Wherever we go, our path is the path of love;
our destination, your heart.

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