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Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In order to be useful... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
In order to be useful, a symbol has to be understood by both the people using it and the people obse
A fellow wanted a job... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
A fellow wanted a job as a signalman on the railway.
There continues to be a... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
There continues to be a debate in the Christian community about what it means to be "poor in spirit.
A piano looks ominous to... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
A piano looks ominous to us when we first sit down at the keyboard. White keys, black keys.
No mercy! None expected, none... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
"No mercy!
Juana crouched down. She knew... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
Juana crouched down.
She once asked Mother Teresa... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
She once asked Mother Teresa if she could come to Calcutta and serve with her there.
A local television station presented... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
A local television station presented a Family Health and Fitness Fair, a public service to educate p
These are powerful words that... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
These are powerful words that remind us that God is able to work through our weakness.
The rock group Chumbawamba has... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
The rock group Chumbawamba has a hit song called "Tubthumpin'." I heard this song used before a bask
A pastor once asked an... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
A pastor once asked an adult Bible study class what their favorite part of the worship service was.
There are 85 people listed... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
There are 85 people listed as Santa Claus in telephone directories in the United States.
Some memories seem never to... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
Some memories seem never to fade away.
The Jameson family was large... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
The Jameson family was large and close.
I once asked an adult... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
I once asked an adult Vacation Bible School class what their favorite part of the worship service wa
A couple from a congregation... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
A couple from a congregation I served one day visited another family in the congregation.
Whatever else might characterize God... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
Whatever else might characterize God, Frank was convinced that an outrageous sense of humor was one
I once knew a man... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
I once knew a man who was a very bright and successful doctor.
It is natural for a... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
It is natural for a person to boast, almost without knowing it, as he fulfills an inner desire to te
William Blake's Clod And The... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
William Blake's "Clod And The Pebble" illustrates 2 kinds of love: "Love seeketh only self to please
On a Saturday afternoon in... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
On a Saturday afternoon in November 1994, a Methodist minister officiated at a wedding in Bridgeport
One preacher reflecting on a... -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
One preacher reflecting on a required college course, "PH100: Introduction to Philosophy," tells abo
Among all my patients in... -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
Among all my patients in the second half of life, that is, over 35, there has not been one whose la
She was right: dignity was... -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
"She was right: dignity was important. But so was the impulse to get rid of it ...
The Judeo-Christian tradition lifts... -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
The Judeo-Christian tradition lifts up this scripture passage as one of its flagship affirmations.

Preaching

Sermon

The Village Shepherd

The Foolishness Of The Cross -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
I recently watched a televised tribute to Dame Judi Dench, who really is an outstanding actr
Justice For All -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Janice B. Scott -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
In 1999, a young couple lost their baby son to cot death at the age of eighteen weeks.

Stories

Worship

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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