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Nobody ever said forgiving our...

Illustration
Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Matthew 18:21-35
Nobody ever said forgiving our enemies, or even one another, would be easy. A pattern has been set for the modern church by citizens of South Africa who, tempted to murder their white persecutors, chose instead to implement an amazing "truth and reconciliation" process. South African Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu championed the movement, which confronted evil directly. Those who had persecuted native Africans were given the opportunity to confess and repent. Their victims had the opportunity to declare their forgiveness openly. Remarkably, the system worked, and great healing resulted.
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For November 16, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

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* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

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Whoever does not work should not eat!
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Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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