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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

On being a nuisance -- Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Jeremiah 31:27-34 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C
Revealed through his parables is the unique ability of Jesus to present us with cameo glimpses of th
Lost and found -- Joshua 5:9-12, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
This week the Old Testament lesson might remind us of homeless people who have found a decent place
Judges and Judgment -- Zephaniah 3:1-9, Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Reformation Sunday - A
By taking a swatch of Scripture here and there, many have created much confusion when it comes to ta
The True and the False -- Jeremiah 28:1-9, Luke 13:22-30, Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Much of the guidance given in Scripture has to do with enabling us to distinguish the true from the
Kings, servants and the Savior! -- Isaiah 7:10-14 (15-17), Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
In the play St.
Rejection -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-32 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
The debilitating effects of rejection may be felt by the unemployed and the homeless, by deserted or
When the grip begins to slip! -- Genesis 32:22-30, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
Who hasn't seen the sign on a billboard or auto bumper, "He is coming soon!" The "He" is obviously J
Getting to yes -- Isaiah 43:18-25, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B
A number of years ago, a colleague and I were in a kind of leadership stalemate.
Hide and seek -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
Hide and seek may be a child's game, but we adults spend a lot of time playing our own version of it
Keeping Others in Mind -- Isaiah 35:4-7a, Mark 7:31-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Those of you who read my material know that I am always insistent that we keep the people and the ev
What makes a king? -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
By the time this issue of Emphasis reaches your desk, we will probably know whether Peter Jac
Beyond compare -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44, Psalm 127 -- David Kalas -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Much of the rest of our culture is unapologetic about sacrifice.
The power of life and death -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30, Psalm 23 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
In the sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), the alien Klaatu, having been sho
Goal or gift -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C
The ethical injunctions in the gospel lesson from Luke for this Sunday, like their parallels in the
Called before born -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42, Psalm 40:1-11 -- William H. Shepherd -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
"Who's your family?" Southerners know this greeting well, but it is not unheard of above, beside, an
What triumph? -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, 9:9, 10, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B
A scared band of disciples anxiously watching out of the corner of their eyes as they come into Jer
Cross and church -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Holy Week always makes me realize how inadequate I am in finding ways to express or even to think ab
Renewal -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
Since the Sundays in Lent are a time for renewal, rather than for mourning or self-negation, the scr
New Things -- Acts 14:8-18, John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
To hear some people talk, one might conclude it is the task of the church to call people back to som
Are we great enough? -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
Can we measure up to Christmas?
Family privilege -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A
My daughters know the direct access code to my office phone.
And now, introducing ... -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
In the United States just now, we're in the period between the election and the inauguration of the
And then what? -- 2 Kings 13:14-20a, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
The focus of the lessons for the final three Sundays in July honed in on the dimensions of responsib
Signs -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Why does God make things so difficult for us?
The foundation of all that goes before -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Easter Day - C
"According to all I've studied, the essential belief in Christianity is the virgin birth.

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Did you notice two interesting things about this passage... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Bob Ove -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2012
Did you notice two interesting things about this passage that can make you wonder?
Sermon Illustrations for Ash Wednesday (2013) -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Martin Luther began his famed Ninety-Five Theses with this statement: "...
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Martin Luther King Jr. affirmed the majesty of God in a telling speech.
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
There are 193 ambassadors from other countries to the United States.
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Bob Ove -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
When we think of Jesus as having no sin and yet being tempted in every way that we are, I think of P
NULL -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Jesus never spoke of equality with God.
NULL -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Jesus is right. Our piety is full of hypocrisy.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2013) -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
NULL -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Jeremiah Denton, a Navy pilot who was held captive in the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War, under
NULL -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
The American Dream seems to be in shambles today.
NULL -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
NULL -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Where is your citizenship? Day to day we think only of what we are going to do this day.
NULL -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
John Calvin calls attention to the implication that Jesus' reference to being like a hen who gathers
NULL -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
July 18, 1965.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2012) -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
Isaiah 40:21-31
100 billion stars... -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
It's estimated that there are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy.
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians who would sail to the American colo
What is the first thing we do in the morning?... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
What is the first thing we do in the morning? Turn on the coffee maker? Read the paper?
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 6 (2012) -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
2 Kings 5:1-14
Lynn Caines and lifelines -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
Lynn Caines, in her autobiographical Lifelines, tells how in the midst of her struggle to ove
During the NFL lockout... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
This past summer during the NFL lockout, coaches and staff were prohibited from working with the pla
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2012) -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen, Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
Note: Because of a scheduling error, we are highlighting these illustrations from 2012.
Sermon illustrations for Transfiguration Sunday, Cycle A (2011) -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
Exodus 24:12-18
Let the record show... -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
"Let the record show..." Parliamentary procedure can be an arduous process.

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The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
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For June 2, 2024:

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Object: This message includes a game to play together. Have fun with having the children shout out their answers. It makes the message memorable.

* * *

Hello, everyone! Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) But instead of just telling you the story, I thought it would be more fun if we played a game that told the story. Are you ready to play the game? (Let them respond.)  

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Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” (v. 4)

Back in those days dark was dark.

Really dark.

In a moonless sky, the stars would shine brighter than most of us have ever seen, all the more awe-inspiring their majesty, paradoxically emphasizing all the more the darkness that reigned.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
The call to prophecy came directly to Samuel. We all have a calling from God and living out that call is what life is all about. Billy Graham once made that point:

Our world is obsessed with success. But how does God define success? Success in God’s is faithfulness to his calling.

John Calvin offers reflections on how responding to God’s call makes life easier and meaningful, no matter how routine the job seems to be. The Genevan reformer wrote:
From one point of view in his time, Jesus played fast and loose with the law. We, who believe in his deity, might easily explain that he was superior to all human institutions. While that element is present in his teachings, he did not intend his uniqueness to destroy the proper role of law.

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Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
-- Deuteronomy 5:12

Schuyler Rhodes
There's something about someone who knows you really well. It is a state of grace that slices across all other interactions. Sit across the table from a spouse of twenty years, a best friend of half a century, a sister or brother who has grown with you through the victories and the defeats. It's an amazing moment to look into the eyes of such a person and know ... that they know.
Michael D. Wuchter
Out of darkness the light shall shine! God's glory shining in the face of Christ. Yet we who have this spiritual gift are like common clay pots.
-- 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (paraphrased)

Charles Curley
It was a time of distrust and disillusionment in the land of Israel. People did not trust those who governed them. Those in positions of leadership were thought to be inept or corrupt, and often both. There was a lack of vision about the future of the people. Because those in leadership seemed helpless, hopeless and corrupt, God looked outside the tents of power to find new leadership with vision.
William G. Carter
A few years ago, I was asked to serve as the worship leader at a regional church conference for teenagers. The enthusiastic recruiter told me about the wonderful experience I could expect from the gathering. "Every summer," she said, "the conference brings together about a hundred or so young people at a camp that has no swimming pool. We gather during the dog days of August. The conference is so much fun, nobody misses the pool!"

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