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Third Sunday of Advent - C

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A new member of a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
A new member of a synod staff was leading a worship service in one of the congregations of the Syno
It was near closing time... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
It was near closing time, about 8:45 p.m.
Shortly after President Clinton came... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Shortly after President Clinton came into office in 1993 a poll was taken.
Sometimes what we request from... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Sometimes what we request from God is not always what is best for us.
The mockingbird is known for... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
The mockingbird is known for its joyous song.
Paul reminds us that in... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Paul reminds us that in Jesus Christ we have peace which passes all human understanding.
Here's an interesting question to... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Here's an interesting question to ask a worship committee: "What one feeling or emotion would you wa
Luke and Acts is the... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Luke and Acts is the story of salvation history through Jesus, so the emphasis in this passage for t
A young man was given... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
A young man was given the part of John the Baptist in a church play.
As a professor in a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
As a professor in a professional faculty in the local university, my friend is asked each year to wr
In the movie, Mass Appeal... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
In the movie, Mass Appeal, the parish priest dares to have a Sunday series titled, "Dialogue Sermons
This time of year provides... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
This time of year provides multiple opportunities to become worried and dispirited.
Have no anxiety about anything... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Have no anxiety about anything?!
The very recent tragedy of... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
The very recent tragedy of the tornadoes which wrought widespread destruction in Georgia and the Car
Ed went to the hospital... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Ed went to the hospital to visit his friend Jack. "How's it going, Jack?" Ed asked.
Stephen W. Hawkins, the brilliant... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Stephen W.
How can we grasp the... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
How can we grasp the sheer joy of the day of the Lord?
It was two weeks to... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
It was two weeks to the end of the school year when three seniors decided to tempt fate and skip sch
One of the basic principles... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
One of the basic principles of science is known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
When two football teams are... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
When two football teams are battling for victory in a close contest, most fans get pulled into the m
It is different to get... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
It is different to get excited about celebrating a promise in a day when promises are cheap.
We are no different from... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
We are no different from the people of Israel: we prepare for the Lord's coming with a song in our h
Have no anxiety about anything... -- Philippians 4:4-13 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let
One of my favorite Russian... -- Philippians 4:4-13 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
One of my favorite Russian authors is Fyodor Dostoevski who spent years of exile in Siberia.

The Immediate Word

Prepare Or Beware! -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Carter Shelley -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Dear Fellow Preacher,

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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