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Craig Kelly

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In 2008, Rajo Devi Lohan of India made worldwide headlines... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
In 2008, Rajo Devi Lohan of India made worldwide headlines by becoming the world's oldest new mom at
When my nephew was very young... -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
When my nephew was very young, I tried teaching him how to play checkers.
How many times have we seen grown men crying... -- John 2:13-22 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
How many times have we seen grown men crying after winning a Super Bowl or the World Series?
We celebrated Christmas sometime back... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
We celebrated Christmas sometime back, and of course, one of the common sights at Christmas is the t
The United States has seen three distinct instances... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
The United States has seen three distinct instances of religious revival in its history, known as Gr
In a couple of months... -- John 12:20-33 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
In a couple of months, the world's eyes will look to a lit cauldron atop a massive stadium in the ci
Having majored in English in college... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2012
Having majored in English in college, I have a deep affection for literature.
So many different holidays... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2012
It's interesting how we have so many different holidays on our calendar, many of which have little r
Whether it's from the perspective of the prosecution... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Whether it's from the perspective of the prosecution, such as Law and Order, or from the defe
It is so easy for us to look at our bank accounts and think that we're not making a lot of money... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
It is so easy for us to look at our bank accounts and think that we're not making a lot of money.
Whenever immigrants to the United States become naturalized citizens... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Craig Kelly -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Whenever immigrants to the United States become naturalized citizens, they are required to take an o
We don't have professional foot washers... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Craig Kelly -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2012
We don't have professional foot washers in twenty-first-century North America, so it's rather diffic
I love going to concerts... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
I love going to concerts. It always thrills me to hear bands I love playing my favorite songs live.
Our system of justice is... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - B -- 2012
Our system of justice is based to a great degree on testimony.
There is something fascinating about illusionists... -- John 20:1-18 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - B -- 2012
There is something fascinating about illusionists like David Copperfield or Penn and Teller.
I wonder why it is that so many... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
I wonder why it is that so many in the body of Christ see so many events in scripture as only being
Ever watch one of those paranormal investigation shows... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Ever watch one of those paranormal investigation shows, like SyFy's Ghost Hunters?
When the British monarch is coronated... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
When the British monarch is coronated, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland gives the new king or
Not all of us farm or tend gardens anymore... -- John 15:1-8 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Not all of us farm or tend gardens anymore, so for some, this illustration may not be quite as illum
We live in a politically correct world... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Craig Kelly -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
We live in a politically correct world. Tolerance is a key word in today's society.
In classic western films... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2012
In classic western films, there is the cliché ending of riding off into the sunset.
I've grown to really enjoy cooking over the years... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Craig Kelly -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2012
I've grown to really enjoy cooking over the years.
Why do we live as Christians?... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
Why do we live as Christians?
It's funny how looking at the ideal of something... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Craig Kelly -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2012
It's funny how looking at the ideal of something shows us how far away we are from it.
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.

Stories

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The Bike And The Box Turtles -- John 20:19-31, Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, Psalm 133 -- Keith Hewitt, Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Contents"The Bike and the Box Turtles" by Keith Hewitt
Deliverance -- John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Psalm 66:8-20 -- Craig Kelly -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Contents"Deliverance" by Craig Kelly
Leap Of Faith -- Matthew 14:13-21, Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Psalm 17:1-7, 15 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Craig Kelly -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2011
Contents"Leap of Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
Found In Darkness -- Matthew 4:12-23, Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- John E. Sumwalt, Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2011
Contents"Found in Darkness" by John Sumwalt "Sold Out" by Craig Kelly
Judgment -- Matthew 6:24-34, Isaiah 49:8-16a, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Psalm 131 -- Craig Kelly, Peter Andrew Smith -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - A -- 2011
Contents"Judgment" by Craig Kelly "Into Perspective" by Peter Andrew Smith
Your Choice -- Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 32 -- Frank Ramirez, Craig Kelly -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Contents"Your Choice" by Frank Ramirez "The Trial" by Craig Kelly
No Respecter Of Persons -- John 20:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Craig Kelly, Peter Andrew Smith -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Contents"No Respecter of Persons" by Craig Kelly
God, Faith, And Science Fairs -- Matthew 28:16-20, Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Psalm 8 -- Craig Kelly, Keith Hewitt -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2011
Contents"God, Faith, and Science Fairs" by Craig Kelly
Glorious -- Matthew 22:15-22, Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 99 -- Craig Kelly, David O. Bales -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Contents"Glorious" by Craig Kelly "All This Over a Coin?" by David O. Bales
I Tertius, The Writer Of This Letter -- Matthew 18:15-20, Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Psalm 149 -- David O. Bales, Craig Kelly -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Contents"I Tertius, the Writer of this Letter" by David O. Bales
The Bubble -- Matthew 25:1-13, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Psalm 78:1-7 -- Keith Hewitt, Craig Kelly -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2011
Contents"The Bubble" by Keith Hewitt "Tell Me a Story" by Craig Kelly
The Visitor -- Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Psalm 29 -- Craig Kelly, Keith Hewitt, C. David Mckirachan -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2011
Contents "The Visitor" by Keith Hewitt
Big Mike And The Harmonica -- John 17:20-26, Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, Psalm 97 -- Craig Kelly, Keith Hewitt, Constance Berg -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Big Mike and the Harmonica" by Craig M. Kelly
Somebody Else's Treasure -- Luke 7:36--8:3, 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a, Galatians 2:15-21, Psalm 5:1-8 -- Frank Ramirez, Craig Kelly -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2010
Contents"Somebody Else's Treasure" by Frank Ramirez
I Have Loved You… -- Luke 11:1-13, Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Psalm 85 -- Craig Kelly, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
Contents "I Have Loved You..." by Craig Kelly
Thirsty For Living Water -- Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Psalm 81:1, 10-16 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Craig Kelly -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2010
Contents"Thirsty for Living Water" by Peter Andrew Smith
The Decision -- Luke 18:1-8, Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Craig Kelly, C. David Mckirachan -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2010
Contents"The Decision" by Craig Kelly "Growing Up" by C. David McKirachan
A Regrettable Necessity -- John 20:19-31, Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, Psalm 118:14-29 -- Keith Hewitt, Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "A Regrettable Necessity" by Keith Hewitt
Reasons For Rules -- John 2:13-22, Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Psalm 19 -- Larry Winebrenner, Craig Kelly, John S. Smylie -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Reasons for Rules" by Larry Winebrenner
Love In Deed -- John 10:11-18, Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, Psalm 23 -- Craig Kelly, Frank Ramirez -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Love in Deed" by Craig Kelly
God's Ledger -- Mark 5:21-43, 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Psalm 130 -- Craig Kelly, John E. Sumwalt -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "God's Ledger" by Craig Kelly
Hard Sayings -- John 6:56-69, 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 84 -- Craig Kelly, Peter Andrew Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2009
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Hard Sayings" by Craig Kelly
Be Joyful -- Luke 17:11-19, Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Psalm 65 -- John S. Smylie, Craig Kelly, David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Be Joyful" by John Smylie
Be Joyful -- Matthew 25:31-46, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Psalm 100 -- John S. Smylie, Craig Kelly, David O. Bales, Keith Hewitt -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week "Be Joyful" by John Smylie
The Days After Christmas -- Luke 2:22-40, Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Psalm 148 -- Peter Andrew Smith, Craig Kelly, Bryan Meadows -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2008
ContentsWhat's Up This Week
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Advent 2
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120+ – Illustrations / Stories
35 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Advent 3
32 – Sermons
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Advent 4
28 – Sermons
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
For December 6, 2020:
  • Hype Man for Disruption by Mary Austin — John the Baptist kicks off Mark’s gospel as the hype man for Jesus, drawing the crowds out to the Jordan River, and proclaiming that something new is coming.
  • Second Thoughts: We Need A Little Comfort by Chris Keating — Isaiah declares the promised tenderness of a God who has heard the cries of suffering and whose comfort is beyond measure.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Back in the 80’s, when I pastored a multiracial church in Chicago, there was one African American family with Cajun roots who had the tradition of preparing a huge pot of filé gumbo every Christmas Eve. Gumbo includes just about everything imaginable, and all the flavors slosh around to create something even greater than all the great stuff that goes into it.
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Ron Love
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 40:1-11
Wilfred Brimley died on August 1, 2020, at the age of 85. The actor was gruff and burly, yet very lovable. His best-known movie role was in Cocoon. Others may remember him for his Quaker Oats commercials with his famous tagline, “It’s the right thing to do.” He was also in the movies The Natural, The China Syndrome, and played Shannen Doherty’s grandfather on NBC’s Our House. Once when he was asked how he prepares for a role, Brimley replied, “I get up in the morning and I get dressed.”

StoryShare

Keith Hewitt
C. David Mckirachan
Contents
“The Estranged” by Keith Hewitt
“The Greatest Story Ever Told” by C. David McKirachan


The Estranged
by Keith Hewitt
Isaiah 40:1-11

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Note: This sermon is the second in a series you can continue through Advent. This is a great opportunity to have some fun with the children as you lead up to Christmas. The series is designed to end on Christmas Eve, but you can end it on the 4th Sunday of Advent if you do not have a children’s cermon on Christmas Eve. The most important part of this series is that the more fun you have with it, the more fun everyone else will have too!

Objects: You will need three objects:

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Sam was the envy of all his friends. His dad was a farmer, so he drove a tractor. On rare occasions Sam was allowed to sit in the tractor cab and even help drive.

Sam's dad was entering a ploughing competition, so he was spending quite a lot of time in the tractor practising ploughing in straight lines.

SermonStudio

Wesley T. Runk
(Appropriate for Advent)

Elizabeth Achtemeier
To understand this rich passage, the preacher must first understand its setting. Historically, this is the message addressed to the Judean exiles in Babylonia, between 550 and 538 B.C., and it takes the place of the call of the prophet known as Second Isaiah, who is himself among the exiles. That prophet's preaching is found in Isaiah 40-55.
Robert J. Elder
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
-- Mark 1:1a

The four gospels each have very different ways of introducing the story about Jesus. Matthew begins his gospel with a long genealogy, tracing Jesus' lineage -- "son of David, son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1-16) from the time of Abraham through fourteen generations, through the line of Mary's husband, Joseph, all the way to Jesus.

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