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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In recent years, a number... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2000
In recent years, a number of ministers in England have been the subject of crimes.
Before being sent into battle... -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2000
Before being sent into battle, one of the most basic things that soldiers are taught is how to ident
In the spring of 1998... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2000
In the spring of 1998, there was a story in the news about a fifteen-year-old boy who bled to death
One day I bought a... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
One day I bought a bottle of a cleaning product at the grocery store.
Tom had been a preacher... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2000
Tom had been a preacher for over forty years when his retirement came.
In 1889, a ship left... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2000
In 1889, a ship left the Netherlands bound for America.
Growing a good garden is... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2000
Growing a good garden is an art.
I applied for ordination while... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2000
I applied for ordination while I was serving a small country church.
Sometimes non-Christians are ripe... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
Sometimes non-Christians are ripe to hear and respond to Christian realities.
A bad habit and I... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
A bad habit and I struggled for many years.
A local church produced a... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
A local church produced a brochure about itself with the caption, "The Church with the open doors."
People magazine likes... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
People magazine likes to run photo columns on "The Worst Dressed" and "The Best Dressed" indi
In the late nineteenth century... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2000
In the late nineteenth century, Sir Francis Galton proposed that the human fingerprint could be used
Angie was a typical teenager... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2000
Angie was a typical teenager. She liked boys; she liked to flirt.
Never underestimate the importance of... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Never underestimate the importance of a body willing to sacrifice itself for others.
The Communist authorities in a... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
The Communist authorities in a Chinese prison commanded the prisoners to shout back, "Prison is good
Giang A Ca, a North... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Giang A Ca, a North Vietnam Hmong tribesman, was sentenced to three years imprisonment (1997).
It was the beginning of... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
It was the beginning of the end of Nazi totalitarianism in Europe, ushered in on D-Day with nights a
Taming the tongue is not... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2000
Taming the tongue is not an easy task.
When James calls Christians to... -- James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2000
When James calls Christians to resist the devil, he means that we ought to fight the prince of darkn
The writer of James knows... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2000
The writer of James knows the damage an irresponsible tongue can do -- including a tongue at work in
There is a constant and... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2000
There is a constant and unending temptation to bend our behavior to honor the wealthy.
Jesus, now exalted above the... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2000
Jesus, now exalted above the heavens, destroyed the empire of evil in order to present us blameless
God's willingness to sympathize with... -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2000
God's willingness to sympathize with us in our weakness can teach us to do so on behalf of others.
Jesus suffered for our sake... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2000
Jesus suffered for our sake. Our lives are, consequently, redeemed.

Political Pulpit

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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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