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Craig Kelly

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

My wife's family has some German in their background... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
My wife's family has some German in their background, so after I married her I was introduced to the
NULL -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
There has been some controversy in recent months regarding full body scanners.
One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Craig Kelly -- All Saints Day - A -- 2011
One of my favorite parts of watching the Olympics is the parade of nations during the opening ceremo
Many churches recite a creed as part of their liturgy... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Many churches recite a creed as part of their liturgy, either the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Cree
NULL -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
When I came to this country from Canada eight years ago, the US was still reeling from the effects o
NULL -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Craig Kelly -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
When reading this passage, it is saddening how much it parallels our own history.
I had my own preconceptions about what I would find... -- Exodus 16:12-15 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
I have to admit, when I first started looking into this, I had my own preconceptions about what I wo
NULL -- John 20:1-18 -- Craig Kelly -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
I remember once as a kid, my family went to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta.
NULL -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Craig Kelly -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2011
One may not think that ingratitude is a problem in our society but consider this: I have worked with
You've probably heard about deathbed conversions... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
You've probably heard about "deathbed conversions" where someone comes to faith in Christ just befor
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I hated art class as a kid.
It's always tough waiting for the big reveal... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
It's always tough waiting for the big reveal.
'Are we there yet? Are we there yet?' -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" is an often-heard line on long trips.
We live in a society dominated by the American dream... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
We live in a society dominated by the American dream.
NULL -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
History is full of inspiring speeches and inspiring orators.
When I was a child, one of my favorite Disney movie... -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
When I was a child, one of my favorite Disney movies was The Sword in the Stone.
Impeachment is a process... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
Impeachment is a process in which a government official is removed because of unlawful activity comm
NULL -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
I occasionally like to try my hand at puzzles. However, I'm notorious for not finishing them.
Merriam Webster's first definition of witness... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Merriam Webster's first definition of witness is "attestation of a fact or an event." It then
There have been many historical inspirations... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
There have been many historical inspirations for our current system of law and jurisprudence.
NULL -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Persecution of Christians is as alive and well today as it was when Peter wrote these words.
Everyone seems to want to know the future... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2011
Everyone seems to want to know the future.
When reading through a book... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When reading through a book like Foxe's Book of Martyrs or DC Talk's Jesus Freaks, you
NULL -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Aurelius Augustinus was a very unruly young man.
It may be hard to believe but the longest reigning... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Craig Kelly -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
It may be hard to believe but the longest reigning monarchy on earth is in Japan, where its emperors

Stories

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For October 19, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 31:27-34
John Calvin makes very clear why a new covenant is needed according to this text. He observes:

… the fault was not to be sought in the law that there was need of a new covenant, for the law was abundantly sufficient, but that fault was in the levity and the unfaithfulness of the people. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.X/2, p.130)
David Coffin
What happens when one’s past life narrative or goals in life have drastically shifted or collapsed? How do they rebuild hope? For Israel, they lost their land, monarchy, and national identity. In the days of the New Testament,they could easily be identified as living in the “fourth world” country. That is, existing in substandard conditions in one’s own native land?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Rose sat back in her chair and opened her magazine. She heard the thump of the stairs and caught a glimpse of her daughter and son in the corner of her eye. She turned her head as they put water bottles in their backpacks.

“What are you two doing?” she looked over at the clock. “Don’t you have homework?”

“All done,” Paul and Linda announced at the same time.

Rose ignored Linda but locked eyes with Paul. He met her gaze for a few moments and then sighed.

“Okay, I’m almost done but still have some math questions,” he admitted.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told us that we should always pray and not lose heart, for God is on our side. In our worship today let us pray to the Lord for the needs of others and for all our own needs.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes you don't seem to be there when I pray and I feel like I'm talking to myself.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes my prayers seem so dry and boring that I give up.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Psalm 119 is well-known as the longest chapter in the Bible. The poem is actually an extended, and extensive, meditation on the meaning of the law. Given the sterile connotations often associated with "law" and "legalism," it's hard sometimes to appreciate the lyrical beauty of these reflections. One thing is for certain, the writer of this psalm does not view the law as either sterile or void of vitality.

Schuyler Rhodes
There is perhaps no better feeling than knowing that someone "has your back." Having someone's back is a term that arose from urban street fighting where a partner or ally would stay with you and protect your back in the thick of the fray. When someone has your back, you don't worry about being hit from behind. When someone has your back you can concentrate on the struggle in front of you without worrying about dangers you cannot see. When someone has your back you feel protected, secure, safe.
David Kalas
I wonder how many of us here are named after someone.

Chances are that a good many of us carry family names. We are named for a parent, a grandparent, an uncle, or an aunt somewhere on the family tree. Others of us had parents who named us after a character in the Bible, or perhaps some other significant character from history.

All told, I expect a pretty fair number of us are named after someone else.

John W. Clarke
Our reading today from the prophet Jeremiah is one in which the Hebrew people, not knowing what else to do in terms of addressing their predicament, decide to blame it all on God. They believed their problems to be the result of their sins and the sins of their fathers. Of course, one person's sin does indeed affect other people, but all people are still held personally accountable for the sin in their own lives (Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:2).
Donna E. Schaper
As usual, the epistle is a little more graphic than we can quite grasp. Itchy ears: what a concept just in physical terms. Experience it for a minute. You itch, you scratch, you sort of know you shouldn't scratch because it will only make the itch worse. But still you scratch, while wondering how the itch ever got started in the first place. What a concept: itchy ears as a vehicle for spiritual truth.

John E. Berger
Did Jesus ever do comedy? Indeed he did, and the Parable of the Unjust Judge is partly comic monologue. The routine began with a probate judge so ridiculously dishonest that he announced, "... I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone...." (There must have been a gasp of disbelief from Jesus' audience.)

The Unjust Judge was nagged by a widow, however, who had every right to nag, because she had been cheated by somebody in the community. A good judge would have helped the widow, but remember, this judge "neither feared God nor had respect for people."

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And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? (v. 7)

Good morning, boys and girls. Yesterday, I was riding in my car and I kept hearing this noise. I call it a squeak. Do you know what a squeak sounds like? (let them answer) Squeaks are very annoying. It is hard to find a squeak in your car, so it is still squeaking.

I also have a chair that has a squeak and I brought it in with me today because it is

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