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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

One Sunday morning in 1988... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
One Sunday morning in 1988, as Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide (later to become president of Haiti) wa
At the entrance to the... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
At the entrance to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the Holy Land, there is a large sign t
Christmas Eve is always a... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
Christmas Eve is always a special time for Joe and Barbara as their adult children along with their
Kevin and Samantha were scheduled... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2007
Kevin and Samantha were scheduled to move into their new home at the end of the month.
In Ken Follett's The Pillars... -- Isaiah 63:7-9 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
In Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, the monk, Remigius, has been a lifelong enemy and
People sometimes come up with... -- Isaiah 63:7-9 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
People sometimes come up with some strange ideas about Jesus as companion and friend.
Isaiah demonstrates the difference between... -- Isaiah 63:7-9 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
Isaiah demonstrates the difference between ordinary folks and the extraordinary.
There's a story that comes... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
There's a story that comes out of the West Indies during the time of slavery.
The military is very quick... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
The military is very quick to refer to comrades in arms as brothers.
Justine dreads going to the... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
Justine dreads going to the store where she works at the mall the days following Christmas.
In Christianity's early days, the... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2007
In Christianity's early days, the slaughter of the babies (regarded as the first Christian martyrs)
Dick and Millie were listening... -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Dick and Millie were listening to the sermon one Sunday morning when they felt God speaking directly
The writer of the Song... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
The writer of the Song of Solomon had a strong case of spring fever. As she dreams of
Sherry developed alopecia when she... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Sherry developed alopecia when she was a young teenager and lost all her hair. An active
Spring is sprung, the grass... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
"Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is," goes a couplet most of
Lynn was a beautiful high... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Lynn was a beautiful high school freshman. She caught the eyes of all the boys in the
Walking one's walk is a... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Walking one's walk is a theme that we find in this text and throughout general and
Nick is the sort of... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Nick is the sort of person who thinks he knows what everyone likes or wants. He treats
When nineteenth-century missionaries began... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
When nineteenth-century missionaries began to penetrate into the interior of China, they
Jesus, it appears, was ahead... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Jesus, it appears, was ahead of his time. It is from within that the evil lurks was his
The pastor of a fair... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
The pastor of a fair-sized suburban church walked out in the middle of the evangelism
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines "scrupulous" as "having moral
Jed would raise a few... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2006
Jed would raise a few eyebrows when he came into church with his dark blue work
Whoever sows injustice will reap... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
"Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity," says the book of Proverbs. Yet we can all
In a couple of the... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
In a couple of the transitional episodes of changing characters in the television series

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For August 3, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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