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Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Charles Lamb was a noted... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Charles Lamb was a noted nineteenth century English essayist, poet, and literary critic.
The happy spontaneity of the... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
The happy spontaneity of the child may eventually become the sour misery of the adult.
Christian professor and psychologist John... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Christian professor and psychologist John Powell uses two analogies to help us see the difference be
We are not Jesus. Thank... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
We are not Jesus. Thank God. Nor are we called to do his work, but rather to follow in his way.
Woody Allen, actor, movie director... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Woody Allen, actor, movie director, and producer, is reported to have said, "I don't want to achieve
While Nero fiddled, Rome burned... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
"While Nero fiddled, Rome burned."
The Hebrews were constantly complaining... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
The Hebrews were constantly complaining to Moses as they made the journey through the desert toward
To be embraced by God's... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
To be embraced by God's salvation as a free gift, we must first abandon all trust in ourselves, all
Anne was a battered child... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Anne was a battered child.
A man's gotta do what... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." That slogan has gone from a statement about manhood to a c
Martin Luther, the great sixteenth... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Martin Luther, the great sixteenth century reformer, in his book The Bondage of the Will, des
We watch the pool balls... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
We watch the pool balls rolling around the table.
Alcoholism tends to run in... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Alcoholism tends to run in some families.
How easy it is to... -- Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
How easy it is to see the mistakes of other people, especially those who lived long ago.
A pastor tells of attending... -- Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
A pastor tells of attending, some years ago, a seminar in Basel, Switzerland, conducted by the famou
Kate had never understood the... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
Kate had never understood the maliciousness of the bullies who had confronted her and her brother th
A few years ago there... -- Wisdom 1:16-2:1 (6-11) 12-22 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
A few years ago there was much discussion about whether to put warning labels on music records and c
Perfect wisdom has four parts... -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
"Perfect wisdom has four parts; wisdom, the principle of doing things aright; justice, the principle
A couple decided that their... -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
A couple decided that their two boys had finally reached the age where they could be left unsupervis
In the movie It's A... -- Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
In the movie It's A Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart plays a man who is trying to do the best he can to
John Wesley found words about... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
John Wesley found words about his mother Susanna written by his father Samuel.
There are many songs that... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
There are many songs that have been written about the tasks that make a woman into a good wife.
A city feller was visiting... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
A city feller was visiting in the hills of Kentucky.
This poem at the end... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
This poem at the end of the book of Proverbs speaks of the characteristics of a perfect wife.
John Dominic Crossan in his... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
John Dominic Crossan in his book, The Historical Jesus, cites papyrus fragments that indicate infant

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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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