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2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The gruesome martyrdom of a... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
The gruesome martyrdom of a family that this text reports especially strikes us as unreal.
One of the most dangerous... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
One of the most dangerous parts of any manned space voyage is the reentry into earth's atmosphere.
Fundamentally Easter declares that we... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Fundamentally Easter declares that we are God's children in life and in death and that no condition
Several animals, such as crabs... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Several animals, such as crabs, oysters, lizards, earthworms, and starfish are able to regrow amputa
When a citizen of the... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
When a citizen of the 1980's reads of the inhumane tortures in our text of the seven brothers, we ca
Issues of justice and judgment... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
Issues of justice and judgment are tough to deal with in real life, or in terms of biblical teaching
Some religious groups today still... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A
Some religious groups today still maintain ancient styles of dress, refuse to use motor vehicles, wo
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The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For October 26, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I am a scoreboard watcher. I follow a lot more games than I actually watch, but since technology makes it easy to check scores on a moment’s whim, I watch a lot of scoreboards of teams and games that I am at least mildly interested in. And as I check those scores, I find myself having immediate reactions: “Great!” “Oh, that's too bad.” “Excellent!” “Nuts.” And in the midst of that sports-fan roller coaster, I must continually remind myself that not all scores are final.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:22-32
Martin Luther sings the praises of God’s love revealed in this lesson. He wrote:

The love of God which lives in man loves sinners, evil persons, fools and weaklings in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 31, p.57)

John Wesley nicely summarizes the Spirit’s role in fighting the lure of our old sinful habits:

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. You will need two children to play the roles of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I usually ask two children if they will help me as they are all coming forward for the message, but you may select them however you choose.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
(vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

We all dislike people who blow their own trumpets, although sometimes we may be in awe of them. Jesus too deplored such behaviour and was never in awe of those who practised it. In our worship today let us open ourselves to Jesus, allowing him to see what is in our hearts.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we allow other people's behaviour to intimidate us.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we refuse to reach our own fullest potential because we are afraid.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Every morning when sleep leaves and waking comes there is cause for praising God. Caught up, as we are, in the currents and eddies of our lives, this is easy to forget. This wonderful psalm is a reminder. God's bounty and abundance spill into our lives like waters over a causeway. God's delight in creation explodes in a million different colors. In every moment there is reason to give God praise.
Robert R. Kopp
When I was a little boy growing up in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania's First Presbyterian Church, one of those Christian chalk artists with black light, neon colors, and black felt canvas who made pictures of Jesus look like those Elvis portraits for sale on the side of the road at the beach showed up as entertainment for a Sunday evening potluck dinner.
John E. Berger
Today's sermon begins with this little one-person drama.
Mark Ellingson
Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope? Sometime during the years of 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. that is the way the people of Judah felt. It seems that their land had been ravaged by a plague of locusts which had had catastrophic consequences.

Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start.

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