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Richard A. Hasler

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
The very difficult story about God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac and then at the las
In The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevski tells... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Richard A. Hasler -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
In The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevski tells the terrifying parable of the "Grand Inquisition.
NULL -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2011
Why did the man with only one talent hide it and not invest it like the others did?
NULL -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
The Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles was an important Christian manual that
The Pilgrims, even before they landed at Cape Cod... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
The Pilgrims, even before they landed at Cape Cod in the winter of 1620 while still at sea, formed t
NULL -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2011
John A.
NULL -- Romans 7:15-25 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
Augustine in his Confessions tells of an incident in his boyhood when he decided to steal pea
NULL -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2011
One year Robert Coles, Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Humanities at Harvard University, deliver
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed by order of Hitler... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed by order of Hitler shortly before the Allies rescued prisoners from th
In his days as an Augustinian monk... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
In his days as an Augustinian monk Martin Luther had a great fear of the Law as set forth in the scr
A little boy went to his first symphony orchestra concert... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
A little boy went to his first symphony orchestra concert.
In Revelation 7, the angels, the elders... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
In Revelation 7, the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures begin to sing: "Amen!
NULL -- Genesis 25:19-24 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
James Harnish contends that no single fact is more basic to his life's narrative that this: "I have
Philip Yancey praises Monika Hellwig's 10 "advantages of the poor"... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Richard A. Hasler -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
Philip Yancey praises Monika Hellwig's 10 "advantages of the poor":
NULL -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
On the day Abraham Lincoln was born his older cousin Dennis Hanks went over to see the newborn baby.
NULL -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
As Americans we have inherited a beautiful land, a promised land.
NULL -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2011
Tony Campolo notes that Christians and environmentalists, those who love the Creator and those who l
NULL -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
I heard of a bishop who preached at the chapel at Yale University.
NULL -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
Mark Feldmeir in his Testimony to the Exiles tells the story of Lance Armstrong.
According to the apostle Paul... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Richard A. Hasler -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
According to the apostle Paul, God has given "spiritual gifts" to the church.
NULL -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2011
William J.
What is the connection... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- Richard A. Hasler -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
What is the connection between Mark's depiction of the last day and the life, death, and resurrectio
NULL -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2011
Despite the apostle Paul's conversion to Christianity he did not abandon the heart and essence of hi
Rob Bell, in his controversial book Love Wins... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Richard A. Hasler -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Rob Bell, in his controversial book Love Wins, comments:
NULL -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2011
Ira Progoff, in his book At a Journal Workshop, tells the story that in the middle of the nin

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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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