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Fifth Sunday in Lent - C

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

After reciting the victory over... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
After reciting the victory over the Egyptians when they drowned, Isaiah says "Do not cling to events
She was a sinner no... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
She was a sinner no doubt about it. I wonder what Jesus wrote in the ground?
I once read in a... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
I once read in a scholarly work that the most amazing thing about the civilization of ancient Egypt
In 1864, a crowded train... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
In 1864, a crowded train was pulling away from Jersey City station when the son of President Lincoln
In the movie Sophie's... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
In the movie Sophie's Choice, Meryl Streep plays the part of a woman who is haunted by the me
Isaiah here does not speak... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Isaiah here does not speak of the physically blind, or deaf, or dumb.
I saw a bumper sticker... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
I saw a bumper sticker on a sports truck the other day that said, "Whoever has the most toys when th
Imagine driving your car only... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Imagine driving your car only looking through the rear view mirror.
The great golfer Walter Hagan... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
The great golfer Walter Hagan was once asked how he can manage after a poor shot to keep his concent
In the free society of... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
In the free society of our time, it is very easy to rebel against any notion of a divine plan.
The legendary coach Vince Lombardi... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
The legendary coach Vince Lombardi once wrote, "We know how rough the road will be, how heavy here t
In our religious history, the... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
In our religious history, the historical people of faith resided in the desert wilderness.
I consider everything a loss... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord .
John Denver made popular a... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
John Denver made popular a song titled "On the Road." It tells about a family that didn't know who t
A text considered the earliest... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
A text considered the earliest writing by an African American slave is entitled The Uncommon Suff
A father told his son... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
A father told his son he should give up something for Lent as a way of remembering the sacrifice of
I looked at the group... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
I looked at the group that I was supposed to lead up the twenty-six mile trail to the top of the Pik
Penitentiaries, reformatories. That's what we... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Penitentiaries, reformatories.
Several years ago I was... -- John 20:19-31 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Several years ago I was a member of the Arkansas delegation attending a Jurisdictional seminar in Da
A certain pastor I... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
A certain pastor I knew a number of years ago would frequently refer to his previous assignmen
Since the state of Israel... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Since the state of Israel has had control of the Negev, a miracle has occurred.
Doug had it made. He... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Doug had it made.
God is in the redeeming... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
God is in the redeeming business and the way of the Lord must be prepared.
Few things amaze so much... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Few things amaze so much as "a new thing." A fascinating book published in the last few years is
Panic at the checkout counter... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Panic at the checkout counter. Chaos at the cash register.

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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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