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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Doing our part -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B
My four-year-old daughter wanted to be near her daddy the other day, even though I was busy in the g
School of rock(s) -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- William H. Shepherd -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Christianity is, among other things, an intellectual quest. The curriculum to know God truly.
The Greatest Space Shuttle of All -- Ephesians 5:21-31, John 6:60-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
In this series I have put much emphasis on the matter of keeping body and mind and spirit, heaven an
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.
God's promise is true -- Acts 13:15-16, 26-33, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
The fourth Sunday of Easter grounds the new life in Christ in the ancient promise of God.
Tramplers, kings, crooks ... and others of note! -- Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Why is it that so many of the headlines in our newsprint and time slots on our newscasts are hogged
The Impact Of Our Self-Images -- 2 Kings 13:14-20a, Luke 12:13-21, Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Some great philosopher declared, "I think, therefore I am." He might well have said, I think, theref
Kings, Commoners and Foreigners -- Psalm 21:1-7, 2 Kings 5:1-15ab, Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Today's selections could not have been better chosen for their ability to reveal something of the br
The Pursuing God -- Psalm 77:11-20, Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
How many times do you hear people speak of God and give you the idea that God is a bit stingy with h
Read the manual -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- William H. Shepherd -- Third Sunday of Easter - A
My friend was overwhelmed by his first church convention.
Story versus Message -- Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
Christmastime is a wonderful time.
Fireworks and waterworks -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Psalm 30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
Independence Day is picnics and barbeques and the faint memory of throwing off tyranny like tea into
Changing times -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Advent reminds us of the flow of time. We are all bound by time.
The God of Initiative -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9, Ephesians 6:10-20, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
The God portrayed in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the life of Jesus is not only extraordinarily diff
An eye to the future -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-12 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Without a doubt one of the strangest questions asked again and again in the weeks just after the ter
The seven last words of Pilate -- Good Friday - A
Some stories in the Bible are so essentially visual that they almost demand that we act them out to
Responding to Our Gifts -- Psalm 95:6-11, 2 Timothy 1:3-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A
Too many of us, I think, spend too much time blaming our past and the gifts we have received from ot
Look backward! Move Forward! -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
How things do change over time!
Home for Christmas -- Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12), John 1:1-14, Psalm 98 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
My living room contains a painting of the great race between a horse and a steam locomotive by the C
But what if it is broken? -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14 -- David Kalas -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Conventional wisdom says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That's fair advice.
The future is now -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Isaiah has been called "the prophet of the holy." His personal encounter with God, described in
Living in faith -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
After Christmas, with its striking combination of trying human circumstances and glorious divine rev
Affirming a mystery -- Proverbs 8:22-31, Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
The Holy Trinity is a mystery indeed.
Share the joy reach out and include -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.
People you can count on -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20, Psalm 124 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Some years ago, a major research firm conducted a survey to determine what people would be willing t

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

So Jesus and his disciples go up a mountain -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
"So Jesus and his disciples go up a mountain, where they meet up with Moses and Elijah…" It almost s
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book on nursing that was titled, Notes on Nursing: What It
We all have those strange dreams... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
We all have those strange dreams.
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
In 2006, in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, Charles Carl Roberts IV entered a sma
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Leah Thompson -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
The poem "Poor Angus" by children's poet Shel Silverstein is written as if it were a conversation be
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
In January of 2011, when Dan Uggla signed the contract to be the coach of the Atlanta Braves, he did
NULL -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
Volunteering is often a thankless job.
NULL -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
NULL -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I must admit, I do enjoy watching legal dramas on television.
NULL -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Before dictionaries, people spelled things… well, however they wanted to.
NULL -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Rudyard Kipling, best known as the author of The Jungle Book, wrote a poem titled The Whit
NULL -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden in New York City was abuzz.
NULL -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Exodus 17:1-7
NULL -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I have no problem with aging and getting older.
NULL -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In word processing programs, one of the formatting choices is the "justification." Options include l
NULL -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Elie Wiesel is most often recognized for his book Night, in which he recounts his captivity a
NULL -- John 4:5-42 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
One of the "holy grails" of modern technology is the long-lasting battery.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Genesis 12:1-4a
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mohandas Gandhi once said, "Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
"I will bless you so that you will be a blessing." Are you blessed with special talents?
NULL -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Sometimes I wish I could have been there in the room with Thomas Edison when he heard the first reco
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
When the sixteenth-century explorer Ferdinand Magellan came to the shores of South America, his crew
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mother Teresa once said, "Be kind and merciful.
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
1 Samuel 16:1-13

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For May 19, 2024:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Pentecost accents the belief that the Christian church is a Spirit movement, not another world institution. Imagine a pastor who is on the denomination committee for examining pastoral candidates that are on various points along their journey toward ordination either before, during or just after completion of seminary/Bible college training. All the pastoral candidates are excited about their future of making a positive change and impression on the churches they serve.
Mark Ellingsen
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Acts 2:1-21
Martin Luther viewed Pentecost as a day of celebration, as on a sermon in the topic he noted “it was on this present Pentecost Day that the joyful blessed and lovely kingdom of Christ was established, a kingdom filled with joy, courage, and certainty.”  Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.152) Awareness of the Holy Spirit is a big part of the joy and certainty Pentecost brings.  John Wesley, then, offers a timely warning about how not to lose a sense of the Spirit and the joy and confidence this insight offers.  He wrote:

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Peter Andrew Smith
“I’m not sure why we’re doing this,” Ollie muttered to himself as he took his place on the bandstand. He unpacked his guitar and played a few chords to make sure that it was in tune. “The acoustics are better in the church building.”

“They may be,” Todd said raising his voice over the sounds of the busy park. “Going to be a noisy afternoon from the sounds of it.”

“Huh?” Ollie looked over at his smiling friend. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“You’re just saying what we’re all thinking, isn’t he Wendy?’

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John Jamison
Object: Today’s message will include a role-play. You will need one child to play the role of the shepherd and the rest of the children will be the people from town. I usually pick an outgoing child for my shepherd so they will act out a bit. Encourage everyone to have fun and ham it up a bit.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
As I recall, there was a mighty, rushing wind at the last Bank Holiday weekend. It didn't herald the coming of God quite as much as the coming of a mighty, rushing rain, and for many unfortunate people, substantial flooding. And it was accompanied by considerable power, for it uprooted and destroyed one of our laburnum trees.

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Mark Ellingsen
Theme of the Day
The Holy Spirit gets around. Historically the church has also commemorated its origins on this festival. In some traditions, confirmation is celebrated.

Collect of the Day
Petitions are offered that the Spirit come and transform the faithful to give them language to proclaim the word. The Holy Spirit, Justification (by Grace), Sanctification, and Evangelism are emphasized.

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
* Hymn to God the creator; praise for God's providential interventions.
James Evans
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Day Of Pentecost, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)

Elizabeth Achtemeier
On the previous Sundays of this Eastertide, we have heard the risen Christ tell his followers to remain in Jerusalem until he sends the Holy Spirit upon them. That will enable them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Having promised that, he ascended into heaven, to rule over all at the right hand of the Father. That promise was spoken during the forty days that the Lord was with the apostles and disciples after his resurrection.
Arthur H. Kolsti
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord to the breath, prophesy mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
-- Ezekiel 37:4-10
Ron Lavin
The Holy Spirit is called "your Advocate" in the New English Bible translation of John 15:26. Other translations may be helpful in understanding the meaning of the Holy Spirit. The King James Version uses the term "The Comforter." The Revised Standard Version and the New International Version use the term "The Counselor." The Phillips translation and the Barclay translation call the Holy Spirit "The Helper." I like the title "The Advocate" best of all. This term "The Adovcate" includes comforting, counseling, and helping.

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