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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Relationships are important to us... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Relationships are important to us. In the past, relationships defined a person.
From the mouth of babes... -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2009
From the mouth of babes: Little Kimmy, aged five, was trying to deal with the death of her grandfath
In Mark Twain’s Life on... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
In Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi, his chapter “A Cub-Pilot’s Experience” portrays a young man
Roberta needed a change of... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Roberta needed a change of scenery. Her husband died following a brief illness.
Why do Sunday school teachers... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Why do Sunday school teachers glory in this incident, blithely making spiritual points about armor t
It's been said, The second... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2009
It's been said, "The second kick of the mule won't teach anybody." Clearly, if one doesn't learn the
In Mark Helprin's best-selling... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2009
In Mark Helprin's best-selling novel, A Soldier of the Great War, the character, Alessandro G
My wife and her friend... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
My wife and her friend, Tina, attended university in Spain for their senior year.
Greg Mortenson’s group of mountain... -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2009
Greg Mortenson’s group of mountain climbers failed ascending K2.
Stephen came from a small... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
Stephen came from a small, rural town, but through hard work and ambition, he became a successful CE
One of the most dramatic... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
One of the most dramatic scenes the pastor ever witnessed was the day a mother was reunited with her
Marsha’s college friends had set... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Marsha’s college friends had set her up for a date, and now they fluttered around her, helping her w
Isaiah's suffering servant underscores the... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2009
Isaiah's suffering servant underscores the paradox that Jesus must suffer humiliation and physical p
Books are continually being published... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2009
Books are continually being published and seminars taught on techniques for being a successful, inno
By raising Christ from the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
By raising Christ from the dead and by seating him at God's own right hand, God has indeed "raised u
A little learning is a... -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2009
A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow d
The people in Jesus’ hometown... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
The people in Jesus’ hometown had failed to respond to his messiahship, but he still intensified eff
It sounds like one of... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
It sounds like one of those courtroom dramas: The lawyer stands up and, instead of directly answerin
Picture with me David putting... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Picture with me David putting on King Saul’s armor and then trying in vain to walk.
The common mind of the... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2009
The common mind of the people of God is not the mind of one person or few people dominant over the r
Unfold a road map of... -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2009
Unfold a road map of Scotland and look at the west country, over by Loch Lomond, and you'll find a s
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told me a story about a large statue of Christ in front of the Castle
How often does God appear... -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2009
How often does God appear in a dream and ask us what wish we would prefer to have granted?
There’s a Hasidic tale about... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
There’s a Hasidic tale about a famous rabbi who accepted an invitation from a small village to come
In Port Angeles, Washington, my... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In Port Angeles, Washington, my wife and I waited to board a passenger ferry to Victoria, British Co

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Bridges, Not Walls! -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Durwood L. Buchheim -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
One of the more obscene things that I have seen in my lifetime
Show And Tell -- Luke 24:36-48 -- Charles Michael Mills -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Show and tell. A commercial opens in a classroom. The teacher
Send Me -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Charles Curley -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1993
It was the year of the dying of the king, when Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up in the incens
Wheel Within The Wheel -- Acts 1:15-17; 21-26 -- Durwood L. Buchheim -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
In our text for this last Sunday in the Easter season, we are
The Voice Of Command -- John 10:11-18 -- Charles Michael Mills -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
Each of us has one. Each of them is different and distinct. It
Listen -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Charles Curley -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1993
It was a time of distrust and disillusionment in the land of Israel.
All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Durwood L. Buchheim -- Good Friday - B -- 1993
In the middle 1960s, a seminary student interned in a Lutheran
A Branch Office -- John 15:1-8 -- Charles Michael Mills -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
You can bank on it! A bank that does well will often establish
The Way Of The King -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- Charles Curley -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1993
This sermon is built around a question, a question which I am not even going to try to answer.
The Covenant Of Amazing Grace -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- Durwood L. Buchheim -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1993
"The earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption
A World News Update -- John 15:9-17 -- Charles Michael Mills -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1993
"Come, Christians, join to sing ... Loud praise of Christ our
As Mortals See -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Charles Curley -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1993
I made a big mistake when I began to read and study in preparation for this sermon on 1 Samuel 15:34
Jesus: The Ultimate Ordinary -- John 18:33-37 -- Thomas Peterson -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1990
Once again Jesus gives a curious, cryptic teaching that leaves us wondering.
When Matters Hang in the Balance -- 2 Samuel 12:15b-24 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1990
When our son was very small, he developed a strange disorder that manifested itself in an excruciati
Of Seeing and Hearing -- Mark 7:31-37 -- Thomas Peterson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1990
A jungle tribe walks down a path.
Runaway Lives -- 2 Samuel 18:1, 5, 9-15 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1990
For cowboy lovers, the 1950s were golden.
You Did That for Me! -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Thomas Peterson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1990
A friend and I were having lunch.
From Mourning to Morning -- 2 Samuel 18:24-33 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1990
It was a perfectly lovely day and we had no reason to suspect that it would be anything but a typica
Enter God -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Thomas Peterson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1990
When Jesus put the child on his knee, he acted out a parable.
Swansong as Themesong -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1990
Have you ever fantasized about what you might say, if given the opportunity, on the last day of your
In Search of a Leader -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1990
Anyone who has served on a nominating committee knows how crucial talented leadership is to any grou
The Needle's Eye -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Thomas Peterson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1990
No mistake. This is a hard text.
Music as Prescription -- 1 Samuel 16:14-23 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1990
Let's suppose you have been feeling distressed and fatigued of late and this has manifested itself i
A Road Map to the Kingdom -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Thomas Peterson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1990
I hope for each of you that your journey on planet earth has been a good one and will continue to be
A Song Sung Blue -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Robert A. Noblett -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1990
Years ago, Neil Diamond wrote and recorded a song that became quite popular; it was entitled "Song S

Stories

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Advent 3
30 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 4
32 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christmas!
24 – Sermons
100+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For December 21, 2025:

SermonStudio

Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson
Pastor: Advent God: We praise and thank you for the word of promise spoken long ago by your prophet Isaiah; as he bore the good news of the birth of Immanuel–so may we be bearers of the good news that Immanuel comes to be with us. God of love:

Cong: Hear our prayer.
Dallas A. Brauninger
1. Text

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this
way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.18 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.19 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the
James Evans
(See Advent 1, Cycle B, and Proper 15/Pentecost 13/Ordinary Time 20, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

The recurring phrase, "let your face shine" (vv. 3, 7, 19), offers an interesting opportunity to reflect on the meaning of God's presence in our world. This reflection takes on a particular significance during the Advent season.

Richard A. Jensen
Our Matthew text for this week comes from the first chapter of Matthew. Matthew's telling of the Jesus' story is certainly unique. Matthew tells of the early years of our Savior stressing that his name is Jesus and Emmanuel; that wise sages from the East attend his birth; that Joseph and Mary escape to Egypt because of Herod's wrath. No other Gospel includes these realities.
Mark Wm. Radecke
In the Jewish tradition there is a liturgy and accompanying song called "Dayenu." Dayenu is a Hebrew word which can be translated several ways. It can mean: "It would have been enough," or "we would have been grateful and content," or "our need would have been satisfied."

Part of the Dayenu is a responsive reading that goes like this:

O God, if thy only act of kindness was to deliver us from the bondage of Egypt, Dayenu! -- It would have been enough.
Stephen M. Crotts
Some years ago I was in a London theater watching a Harold Pinter play. The drama was not very good really. I was getting bored. Then right in the middle of the play the theater manager walked on stage, excused himself, and made an announcement. The actors stared. The audience looked shocked. Me? I thought it was all part of the play. Such interruptions are rare in a theater. But nonetheless, the stage manager felt that it was necessary this time. His announcement was nothing trivial like, "Some owner has left his car lights on." Nor was it a terrifying message like, "Fire! Fire!
Timothy J. Smith
It is easy to get so caught up in the sentimentality and nostalgia of Christmas that we neglect the true reason we celebrate. We receive Christmas cards portraying a cute infant Jesus lying in a manger filled with straw. The Baby Jesus is pictured in the center with Mary and Joseph on one side, the shepherds and Magi on the other. We know this scene: animals are in the background, in the distance angels can be seen hovering, as a star shines brightly overhead. However, there is more to Advent and Christmas than celebrating the birth of a baby.
William B. Kincaid, III
If we cannot relate to Joseph and appreciate his situation, then our lives are simple, easy lives indeed. Now, by relating to Joseph or understanding what he endured, I don't mean to suggest that we all either have been engaged or married to someone impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Even in our frantic search for ways to explain how such a thing might have happened, we probably didn't think of blaming the Holy Spirit!
R. Glen Miles
"The Lord himself will give you a sign" is the way Isaiah begins his recitation of the promise containing all promises. Isaiah is talking to Ahaz. Ahaz is the king who is stuck in a political mess. It looks like Assyria is about to invade some of the countries neighboring Judah. Isaiah is recommending that the king refuse to sign on with these other countries and their armies and trust only in Yahweh, the Lord of all. Today's reading is a reminder of the promise of God to be with Ahaz and his people, no matter what happens, no matter who invades.
John T. Ball
Religion is a mutual relationship. We pledge loyalty and devotion to God and God blesses us. This is how Moses worked it out with Yahweh and his people who had recently escaped from Egyptian captivity. If the Israelites prove loyal to this mysterious Sinai god, then God would bless them with prosperity and well being. Those who deal with many gods are no different. Even though they have gods for various concerns, they still expect blessings and security in exchange for loyalty.
Susan R. Andrews
According to tradition, Joseph was the strong, silent type - an older carpenter who willingly submitted to impotent fatherhood - a second--string player in the drama of God's human birth. But according to scripture, none of this is true. All that is actually recorded in the Bible is that Joseph was a dreamer - a righteous man who transformed the meaning of righteousness by taking seriously his dreams.
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (UM211, PH9, LBW34, CBH172, NCH116)
The God Of Abraham Praise (UM116, PH488, NCH24)
O Hear Our Cry, O Lord (PH206)
Hail To The Lord's Anointed (UM203)
Blessed Be The God Of Israel (UM209)
Emmanuel, Emmanuel (UM204)
People Look East (PH12, UM202)
Savior Of The Nations, Come (LBW28, CBH178, PH14, UM214)
The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy (CBH202)
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (PH1, 2,UM196, NCH122)

Anthem

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Just before the first Christmas, an angel appeared to Joseph to tell him that Jesus would also be called "Emmanuel", meaning "God With Us." Let us listen to the guidance of the angels today as we prepare to receive God With Us once again.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, fill me with the awe of Christmas.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, fill me with the mystery of Christmas.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, fill me with Emmanuel -- God with us.
Lord, have mercy.

StoryShare

Argile Smith
C. David Mckirachan
Scott Dalgarno
Stan Purdum
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Samantha" by Argile Smith
"I'm Pregnant" by C. David McKirachan
"You'd Better Watch out..." by C. David McKirachan
"Terribly Vulnerable to Joy" by Scott Dalgarno
"The Great Christmas-Tree Battle" by Stan Purdum


What's Up This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Over the years, I grow more cynical about Christmas and just about everything that goes along with it. I have not become a scrooge, although the advancing years have made me more careful with my pennies. It is not that I cannot be moved by the lights, the music, and the fellowship of the holidays. I have not become an insensitive, unfeeling clod. My problem is that the language and the images and the music seem to have fallen short in expressing what must have been the feelings of the real human beings going through the events recounted in this story.

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What an exciting day this is! Today is the day before Christmas and tonight is Christmas Eve! People have different ways of doing things. Some people open their presents on Christmas Eve. How many of you do that? (Let them answer.) Others open their presents on Christmas Day. Which of you will open your presents tomorrow? (Let them answer.) Some open gifts on other days. Would any of you like to share another time when you open presents? (Give them the opportunity to answer.)

Why do you suppose we open gifts at this time of the year? (Let them answer.)

Special Occasion

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