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1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Whatever else might characterize God... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
Whatever else might characterize God, Frank was convinced that an outrageous sense of humor was one
God is foolish, God gave... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
God is foolish, God gave fish noses but they breathe through gills; God is wise, fish smell with the
Viewed from an historical point... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Viewed from an historical point of view, the life of Jesus is the silly story of a foolhardy, imprac
The figure of the clown... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
The figure of the clown has gained increased significance in worship services during the last decade
If God could not look... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
"If God could not look on in anguish while Abraham sacrificed his son, would he then have suffered h
Charles Woessner shares the story... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Charles Woessner shares the story of a newspaper that published an incident about the conviction of
For the word of the... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
"For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is
The novella, or short novel... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
The novella, or short novel, The Argentine Ant, is an excellent example of how a contemporary
A brilliant young couple received... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
A brilliant young couple received as their second child an infant daughter with Down's syndrome.
Describing the conditions leading up... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Describing the conditions leading up to World War II, Paul Scherer describes the conditions under wh
I tell my son I... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
I tell my son I want to play with the blocks with him.
The ways of the world... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
The ways of the world are so contrary to the ways of Christ.
A six-year-old boy... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
A six-year-old boy saved his mother from an assailant by bluffing him with an empty rifle.
We preach Christ crucified (and... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
We preach Christ crucified (and risen), and the cross cannot be robbed of its meaning or importance.
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For September 28, 2025:
  • Money! Money! Money! by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. “This is the even-handed dealing of the world! There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind. He had a very healthy self-image and wasn’t concerned about how people might take him. At one of the graduation ceremonies, he stood at the podium, looked out over the huge crowd of people, shook his head, and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course), “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The lesson makes clear that God is present in the world of business, in our daily work.  John Wesley offered thoughtful reflections on the nature of work; he noted:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (vv. 14-15)

One morning last October, Bruce Klemm got up and sang a song to his wife, Virginia, as he has done every morning of the 42 years they have been married. Little did he know that within a few hours, he would be calling her to say goodbye.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar to illustrate the way in which we fail to notice those who are poor. In our worship today let us remember the poor and ask God to teach us a real concern for them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail notice some people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we deliberately leave people out.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we care only about ourselves.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Lent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 9-16.)

The writer of this psalm deftly employs a striking image, that at once offers us hope in times of trouble -- but at the same time, redefines for us what it means to be a human being in the world.

Schuyler Rhodes
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
It always amazes me when I read about a sports figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. I heard one player say to a reporter on Sports Center, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

Chrysanne Timm
As we conclude several weeks of readings in the book of the prophet Jeremiah and next week look at the companion text from the book of Lamentations, a common thread begins to emerge. It is the thread of grief. Jeremiah has been called by God to a truly thankless job -- that of accompanying the people of his homeland into a time of loss and grief. Because of decades of idolatry and treaties with neighboring nations, the people of Judah will lose the land God once graciously gave to their ancestors.
R. Robert Cueni
The lesson for today continues the discussion on the proper use of material possessions by describing what happens when a person tries to "serve both God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Today's Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus leaves us repulsed by the gory details, puzzled by the literal description of eternal life, and hopeful that the Lord didn't really mean all those terrible things about the punishment due us "Haves" for our treatment of the "Have Nots."

CSSPlus

Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some coins with me this morning. (Show the coins.) How many of these coins would it take to be rich? (Let them respond.) I think it would take millions of these coins before you would really be rich. How many of you would like to be rich? (Wait for show of hands.) I think most of us would like to be rich. What would you think if you had a wish that everything you touched turned to gold? (Let them respond.) You would soon have lots and lots of gold and you would quickly be very, very rich. There's a famous story about a man who had

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