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Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Ann and Jim were just... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
Ann and Jim were just ordinary parents who recently were blessed with the gift of a little son.
In the second century, there... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
In the second century, there was an actor who converted to the Christian faith.
He never hesitated to tell... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
He never hesitated to tell me that he was a good Christian.
Doctors who smoke; police officers... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
Doctors who smoke; police officers who ignore the seat-belt laws; veterinarians who hunt and kill an
The kids in the neighborhood... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
The kids in the neighborhood decided to play team tag. Two sides were selected.
God promises to help us... -- Hebrews 2:14-18 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
God promises to help us when we are tested, not to remove the test.
So often people find it... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
So often people find it entertaining to see a problem and to see it get worse.
What was his voice like... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
What was his voice like? Gentle? Commanding?
This story seems to be... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
This story seems to be filled with words like, astonished and amazed.
Not long ago, a farmer... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Not long ago, a farmer was dreading his annual winter visit with his banker.
Many people in our society... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Many people in our society have a fascination with evil spirits and the confusion and terror they ca
Occasionally you will find a... -- 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Occasionally you will find a race horse with blinders on.
If you avoid marriage, you... -- 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
If you avoid marriage, you avoid encumbrances, and you can devote yourself to the Lord's work witho
You have all heard the... -- 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
You have all heard the expression, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." If you don't believe
During 1992 at least 11... -- 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
During 1992 at least 11 people perished while attempting to climb the slopes of Mount McKinley in Al
Little do we know how... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Little do we know how our words will affect someone who hears them.
An old beer commercial shows... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
An old beer commercial shows a fellow looking into the camera saying, "When I have the friends ove
It is good to remember... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
It is good to remember how important our example may be to another person, both in positive and neg
Knowledge puffs up, but love... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Paul is sharing his gospel in the epistle that love is
Our generation has been treated... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Our generation has been treated on several occasions to the kind of false prophet the writer of Deut
Comedian Pat Paulsen says, Bill... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Comedian Pat Paulsen says, "Bill Clinton worries me because he's only a heart-beat away from the pre
There was a crazy summer... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
There was a crazy summer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; it was during the 1950s.
Preachers and prophets, prophets and... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Preachers and prophets, prophets and preachers; the Word comes through human agents.
Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was influential... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1991
Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was influential as a peacher at Trinity Church, Boston.
When people listened to Jesus... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1991
When people listened to Jesus speak, they recognized an inherent authority in his words: "He speaks

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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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