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Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Lou Proctor referred to himself... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Lou Proctor referred to himself as a baseball player, and the Baseball Encyclopedia carried h
Third Street United Methodist Church... -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Third Street United Methodist Church was hosting the organizational meeting for a new chapter of Hab
One of the most telling... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
One of the most telling books on the nature of our wasteful American society is David Halberstam's s
As the day of a... -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
"As the day of a tree ..." wrote Isaiah.
Each year about late October... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Each year about late October a small group of unmarried Mennonite men set off from Lancaster County
The modern welfare attitude that... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
The modern welfare attitude that has emerged in many countries today would not have developed under
It had been a long... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
It had been a long day for Jim. The family farm was just barely surviving.
One of the most abiding... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
One of the most abiding images of overwhelming affection comes near the conclusion of Steven Spielbe
Paul refers to the challenge... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Paul refers to the challenge not to be lazy.
At noon, October 1, 2003... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
At noon, October 1, 2003, citizens of Ecuador synchronized their watches for the first time in their
In the metropolitan area where... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In the metropolitan area where I live, I sense a growing weariness in doing good.
Norman was in his mid... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Norman was in his mid-seventies.
A few years ago, a... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
A few years ago, a biblical scholar and sometime-archaeologist published the fruits of years of his
William Warburton, bishop of Gloucester... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
William Warburton, bishop of Gloucester, was praising the idea of the divine right of kings.
Most of the preaching I... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Most of the preaching I have heard on this passage in the past couple decades has focused, not on th
Whether the adversary is external... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Whether the adversary is external or from within, Jesus' words hold true: "By standing firm you will
Prayer of Abandonmentbr... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Prayer of AbandonmentCharles de Foucald
There have been times when... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
There have been times when I have wanted to write an article or do a television interview and apolog
Among the most moving moments... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Among the most moving moments during a study tour of Israel were those spent standing at the western
Ephraim Cabot is a pious... -- Malachi 4:1-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Ephraim Cabot is a pious, self-centered, mean spirited character in O'Neill's play Desire Under t
In his book Talks... -- Malachi 4:1-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
In his book Talks To Teachers on Psychology, William James has a chapter titled, "The Laws of
What will daybreak bring? For... -- Malachi 4:1-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
What will daybreak bring?
Martin Luther, with characteristic bluntness... -- Malachi 4:1-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Martin Luther, with characteristic bluntness, once observed, "There is no more sin in a man's sex li
After all is said and... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
After all is said and done, the heart of God's message to creation is a message of obedience to God
A quote from Kierkegaard on... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
A quote from Kierkegaard on Christian persecution:

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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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