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Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Tevye, in Fiddler On... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 1998
Tevye, in Fiddler On The Roof, faces the dilemma of honoring his daughter's desire to marry t
The concept of hell presented... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 1998
The concept of hell presented in this account of the Rich Man and Lazarus spotlights choice.
In our materialistic culture the... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 1998
In our materialistic culture the sirens of commercialism urge us to buy and consume more so that we
The Reverend Mr. Clark had... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
The Reverend Mr.
Although Ellen is a minister... -- Joel 2:23-30 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Although Ellen is a minister in the unitarian universalist Church today, her journey into institutio
It was a stunning defeat... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
It was a stunning defeat! The citizens of the district had decided that enough was enough.
A new hospital chaplain reflected... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
A new hospital chaplain reflected on his training.
John was co-owner and... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
John was co-owner and manager of our local department store.
There was a prudent country... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
There was a prudent country pastor who maintained a notebook throughout his long ministry.
When the Berlin Wall came... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
When the Berlin Wall came down newspapers and journals reported the church's part in pushing for ref
A certain farmer needed money... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
A certain farmer needed money. He went to the bank and asked for a meeting with the banker.
A Colorado public school teacher... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
A Colorado public school teacher was ordered by his superiors to remove his personal Bible from his
While in prison for the... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
While in prison for the final time, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflected on those who are tragically "at ea
Have you ever made a... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Have you ever made a time capsule?
Amos was a layman. He... -- Amos 6:1a, 4-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Amos was a layman.
Urban flight to the suburbs... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Urban flight to the suburbs created a major economic crisis in many cities.
Two questions: First, what is... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Two questions: First, what is a scoffer?
There was a college student... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
There was a college student who worked in the college dining hall, and on his way to work at 5:30 ev
I will not forget the... -- Proverbs 9:8-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
I will not forget the time when I tested the strength of a relationship.
How much money is enough... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
How much money is enough money?
A very popular newscaster seemed... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
A very popular newscaster seemed to have everything he needed.
Polls indicate that more than... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Polls indicate that more than 50 percent of the work force do not enjoy their work.
Former Methodist Bishop Gerald Kennedy... -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Former Methodist Bishop Gerald Kennedy mentions moving to a new location as a pastor in his early da
Investing in land during a... -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Investing in land during a time of war and conquering armies is either a sign of ignorance or delusi

The Immediate Word

God's Investment Advice -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- Carter Shelley -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Dear Fellow Preachers,

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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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