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Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It's a wonder that Moses... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
It's a wonder that Moses lived at all.
Early in her pregnancy, Shelley... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Early in her pregnancy, Shelley and Mark learned that their baby would have serious life-
Jack told his pastor this... -- Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Jack told his pastor this age-old lament: We tried to warn our daughter about Damon. But
Although God communicated with Paul... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Although God communicated with Paul somehow about spiritual gifts, maybe Paul's
We usually think of worship... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
We usually think of worship as something we do in a church service while we sit, kneel,
A friend told about the... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
A friend told about the following experience that took place in a restaurant in Tennessee.
If you were to stop... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
If you were to stop a person on the street, at random, and ask him or her, "Show me the
Jesus uses the term Son... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Jesus uses the term "Son of Man" in our gospel lesson for today. What does he mean by
Rene remembers the class she... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Rene remembers the class she had in early American literature. Much of the early
A game that we like... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
A game that we like to play in our confirmation class is "Who Am I?" The students read
Exodus 1:8--2:10br... -- Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Exodus 1:8--2:10
A seminary student received his... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
A seminary student received his assignment for a faculty sermon, the date it was to be preached befo
When we are transformed, we... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
When we are transformed, we begin to see everything differently.
The pastor closed the door... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
The pastor closed the door quietly after he counseled the couple.
People take control all the... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
People take control all the time. At the most basic level, babies do it.
After three miscarriages June was... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
After three miscarriages June was once again pregnant. She didn't know how she should feel.
A recent study of congregations... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
A recent study of congregations and pastors trying to renew and redevelop showed an interesting real
A teacher asked his students... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
A teacher asked his students to identify the most satisfying thing in life.
The director of Christian education... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
The director of Christian education in a 5,000-member church makes an appeal for Sunday school teach
Knowing the identity of Jesus... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1999
Knowing the identity of Jesus is like using a plumb line to build a straight wall.
Sometimes we would like to... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1999
Sometimes we would like to be the flies on the wall, hearing what people really think about us witho
Who do we say Christ... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1999
Who do we say Christ is?
The 1981 publication by Philip... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1999
The 1981 publication by Philip Kopper, Volunteer! O Volunteer!
Dr. A. B. Mackey was... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1999
Dr. A. B.
Tom, a publisher, needed a... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1999
Tom, a publisher, needed a successor.

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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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