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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Ralph shared with his Sunday... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
Ralph shared with his Sunday school class how his sister and her husband lived and
The man on the street... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
The man on the street asking for money was easy to ignore. He was not attractive. He
In today's world, following James... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
In today's world, following James' advice of accepting all others can be risky. Certainly,
Suppose you learned that actress... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
Suppose you learned that actress Julia Roberts was coming to your worship service next
Courtney worked hard in math... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
Courtney worked hard in math while in high school. Every good grade she got, she
And then there was what... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
And then there was what I remember as one of the worst nights in my life. It was 3 a.m.,
This text points to a... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
This text points to a recurring theme in Mark's Gospel that the "outsiders" (the
Prior to the release of... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2006
Prior to the release of the movie, The Da Vinci Code, author Dan Brown was
Most students, at one time... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
Most students, at one time or another, are given a "test" in which the instructions are
The late Konrad Adenauer, an... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
The late Konrad Adenauer, an anti-Nazi activist who was elected the first Chancellor of
George enrolled in a trade... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
George enrolled in a trade college and took the classes he needed in order to start up his
Each August, the Canadian National... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
Each August, the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto presents a spectacle of color,
James reminds us that the... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
James reminds us that the way we use our tongue can either be part of the problem or
Dirk remembers working one summer... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
Dirk remembers working one summer while he was in college at an assembly plant in his
The tongue is a fire... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
"The tongue is a fire" -- Adolf Hitler knew all about that. Just look at that old
Joe was ambitious. Growing up... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
Joe was ambitious. Growing up without a lot of the things his friends had, Joe vowed to
You don't have to be... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
You don't have to be around people long to realize everyone is something of a mystery.
Kathy has a choice to... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2006
Kathy has a choice to either go to the local shopping mall with her friends on Saturday, or
It was the television commercial... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
It was the television commercial many of us loved to hate. A working woman comes
In a time when skin... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
In a time when skin-deep beauty is placed almost on a level of a modern goddess, today's
CNN's Soledad O'Brien claims that... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
CNN's Soledad O'Brien claims that faith played an essential role in her life while
Jim and Sally were brother... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
Jim and Sally were brother and sister. They had three older sisters and there were eight
In August 2002, Linda and... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
In August 2002, Linda and Anthony O'Malley traveled from Wales to Spain with plans to
Chris once asked the pastor... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
Chris once asked the pastor, during catechism class, if the devil could take over a person's
Sometimes we sow our wild... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2006
Sometimes we "sow our wild oats, but pray for a crop failure." Still, it's generally true

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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