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1 Samuel 9

KP
Kory Plockmeyer

Comments and Observations When preaching the story of Saul, we pastors have a hard time not beginning the sermon with the end in mind. We know where the story is going – we know who the man of God is and we know that by the end of the story the “message from God” (9:27)…

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Ezekiel 1

KP
Kory Plockmeyer

Comments and Observations Do you ever start telling a story but then get so bogged down in the details that you end up far astray from the actual point of the story you were trying to tell? Sometimes I find that I’ll tell a story for a particular reason but other people keep asking me…

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Psalm 36:5-10

Epiphany 2C

Doug Bratt Headshot
Doug Bratt

Verse 1’s reference to an “oracle” that’s in the psalmist’s heart about the wicked’s sinfulness may puzzle citizens of the 21st century who link Oracle to Internet technology. They may wonder if this is some sort of moral “Cloud.” That’s why it’s important to remember the term “oracle” generally refers to some kind of revelation…

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Isaiah 62:1-5

Epiphany 2C

Scott-Hoezee
Scott Hoezee

These first verses of Isaiah 62 are like a geyser erupting in hopefulness and wild abundance. This is like a prophetic fireworks display with a never-ending grand finale as color and light fills the skies, eliciting a long string of “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs” from those seeing the spectacle. This is one of those passages so…

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Genesis 19:1-29

AP
Al Postma

There’s a good chance that if you selected the entire chapter of Genesis 19 for your upcoming sermon, you’re questioning your choice. After all, reading these words in front of the entire congregation is rightfully uncomfortable; at the very least, it may feel best read after the children have been dismissed for Sunday School. Those…

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Exodus 5

JS
Joel Schreurs

Ten Seconds. I once read that this is the amount of time the CEOs of large corporations are encouraged to spend ignoring any subordinate who has the nerve to enter into his boss’s office and request a moment of her time.  How those ten seconds are spent does not matter.  A savvy CEO might shuffle…

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Daniel 1

JS
Joel Schreurs

There was a cheery sign beside the highway that led out of the small Midwestern town where I grew up.  The purpose of the sign was, ostensibly, to thank visitors for coming and to encourage them to return soon.  But according to my high school carpool buddy, Bryan, the sign also served a more important…

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Genesis 40:1-23

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments and Observations The narrative of Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and Baker falls within the broader narrative of the story of Joseph.  It’s hard to pull this out and look at it without placing it in the context of Joseph’s trials and tribulations thus far.  So, let’s review where Joseph’s been when we get to this chapter…

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Exodus 7:1-7

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments, Observations, and Questions to Consider As we all know, life is full of hard, impossible questions.  And the question “why?” often tops the list – especially when we’re looking at events that simply don’t make sense to our human brains.   We hear anguished parents cry it at the graveside of a child.  We hear…

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Joshua 6

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments and Observations I imagine if you were brought up in a faith tradition, at some point in your church education (Church School/Sunday School) you acted out this story from Joshua 6.  I have a very vivid memory of lining up with my classmates and quietly tip-toeing around a wall of cardboard boxes six times,…

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