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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

You reap what you sow... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
You reap what you sow.
Four brothers gathered around the... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
Four brothers gathered around the bed of an 84-year-old woman late one Friday night.
I was ecstatic. After months... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
I was ecstatic.
A member of our congregation... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
A member of our congregation recently returned from a trip to Peru sponsored by Medical Missions.
Liz is a heavy smoker... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
Liz is a heavy smoker. Well into her 70s, Liz has chain-smoked for nigh onto 60 years.
Many people live by the... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
Many people live by the flesh and end up dying by the flesh.
Paul Harvey, in an address... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
Paul Harvey, in an address in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 21, 1998, told how freedom requires self-di
In their book The... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
In their book The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (Broadway Books, 1997), William Straus
One afternoon in April 1689... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
One afternoon in April 1689, as the American colonies boiled with rumors that King James II was abou
One of my summer challenges... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
One of my summer challenges each year is to coach a neighborhood girl's softball team.
Fire is an appropriate image... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
Fire is an appropriate image for God because fire is something that we often experience as being bey
In the spring of 1999... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
In the spring of 1999, Ingo Potrykus, professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at Zuri
When this passage warns us... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
When this passage warns us not to refuse to hear God when God speaks, I think of my grandparents.
Some people can sleep anywhere... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2001
Some people can sleep anywhere.
I like to collect congregational... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
I like to collect congregational history books.
As we become aware of... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
As we become aware of the cloud of witnesses surrounding us, we should draw encouragement from them
Ten-year-old Taylor Touchstone... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
Ten-year-old Taylor Touchstone survived four days alone in the waters of Turtle Swamp, Florida, swim
When this passage talks about... -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
When this passage talks about keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, I am reminded of open water swimming.
When I was growing up... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
When I was growing up in Pueblo, Colorado, there was a family nearby who had 14 children.
Most of my sermons are... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2001
Most of my sermons are Gospel-oriented, written to encourage people to get in touch with what and ho
Many immigrants were lured to... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2001
Many immigrants were lured to the Americas by the promise of free land, the prospect of wealth and j
Of the companies that were... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2001
Of the companies that were on the Fortune 500 list in 1955, 70 percent are now out of business.
A huge burial site lies... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2001
A huge burial site lies beneath the city of Paris in what was once an ancient stone quarry.
Different people like to travel... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2001
Different people like to travel in different ways.
The stewardship campaign had begun... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2001
The stewardship campaign had begun at the local church.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 10, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A treasure chest containing photos of some of your family members and friends, and a small, worn-out bag or purse. The treasure chest could be as simple as a small, metal lockbox, or you could have some fun with a larger box that actually looks like a treasure chest.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But before I tell you the story, I have something that I want to show you. (Show the treasure chest.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Personal rant here — since childhood I’ve been annoyed that the winners of the 100-meter dash at the Olympics are hailed as the world’s fastest humans. To me it’s been obvious that the greatest, and fastest, athletes are the women and men who endure the trials and tribulations throughout the 26.2-mile marathons, and who then somehow find it within themselves to sprint to the finish line.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return… (Luke 12:35-36)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
-- Psalm 50:23

Clayton A. Lord Jr.
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them. Our heroes are men and women that we look up to. Our heroes are those individuals that inspire us and help us to strive to be our very best.

There is a cute story about a Texan who was trying to impress on a Bostonian, the valor of the heroes of the Alamo. After finishing his story about Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and countless others, he says "I'll bet you never had anyone so brave around Boston."

"Did you ever hear of Paul Revere?" asked the Bostonian.

Thomas A. Renquist
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of. "Sell your possessions," he says, "give alms ... risk ... be dressed for action ... have your lamps lit ... be prepared ... be alert." Sounds very ominous, quite scary to me.

Christopher Reeves, the actor, knows what it is to be afraid. On Memorial Day weekend, 1995, in a tragic fall from his horse, he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and fighting for his every breath.
John W. Wurster
"Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah" (1:10; cf. Genesis 19).

Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as long as it feels good?

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