Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

There is a childhood game... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
There is a childhood game called Simon Says.
Our immune system uses markers... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Our immune system uses markers known as histocompatibility antigens to determine whether something i
The Hindus believe that the... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
The Hindus believe that the Ganges River in India is a goddess and that anyone who is immersed in th
A River Runs Through... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
A River Runs Through It is an autobiographical story by Norman Maclean about his growing up w
Bobby Jones, one of the... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Bobby Jones, one of the legends of the golfing world, was not always the saint that people want to m
Several years ago there were... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Several years ago there were four Orthodox Jewish students who sued Yale University.
Because the devil was not... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Because the devil was not depicted in Christian art until an illustrated manuscript known as the
I have always believed that... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
I have always believed that God could speak through any medium including books, television, movies,
The pastor told his confirmation... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
The pastor told his confirmation class that the only religion most people will experience is witness
As children many of us... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
As children many of us took great delight in playing Simon Says.
Om Dutta Sharma is a... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Om Dutta Sharma is a man who knows how to follow through on what Jesus says here about "taking care
At Christmastime, a Midwestern radio... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
At Christmastime, a Midwestern radio station ran a contest to increase its audience.
Ronald was a dying man... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Ronald was a dying man. He knew it. The doctors knew it.
Military aircraft and ships must... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Military aircraft and ships must be prepared to operate amid hostile situations.
Passwords have always been important... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Passwords have always been important.
In 1567, Saint Teresa of... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
In 1567, Saint Teresa of Avila set out to establish a monastery of poverty in Medina.
Who are the thousands upon... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Who are the "thousands upon thousands, and ten thousands upon ten thousands" of angels?
One of my favorite agenda... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
One of my favorite agenda items at Synod Convention is Worship.
There is an incredible power... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
There is an incredible power in the praise of collective voices.
Some would refer to them... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Some would refer to them as a heavenly sound on earth.
The disciples were astonished when... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The disciples were astonished when they saw that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them.
A couple of years ago... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
A couple of years ago the state of Kentucky passed a law that entitled ministers to carry a gun to c
In the Italian movie, I... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
In the Italian movie, Life Is Beautiful, the father, Guido, struggles to save the lives of hi
As a child I spent... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
As a child I spent many hot summer days lying with my brothers on a blanket that my mother had sprea
There is great power in... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
There is great power in a name to authenticate a message.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wild fires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

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.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL