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

President Jimmy Carter appeared on... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2000
President Jimmy Carter appeared on the Today show to promote his book Living Faith.
The story is told of... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
The story is told of a famous comedian aboard a plane flying over the Swiss Alps.
Martin Luther posted his 95... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2000
Martin Luther posted his "95 Theses" on the door of the Chapel in Wittenberg.
Was the Apostle Paul a... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2000
Was the Apostle Paul a vegetarian?
A pornography shop in Seattle... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2000
A pornography shop in Seattle is named The Temple of Venus, alluding to one of the numerous fertilit
But when the time had... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- New Year's Day - B -- 2000
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman...." God does not appear as we
To vacillate or not to... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2000
"To vacillate or not to vacillate; that is the question -- isn't it?" quipped Bruce Wallace.
A preacher often related the... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
A preacher often related the exceptional accomplishments of noted athletes in order to inspire his c
As far as we can... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
As far as we can know, the baptism of the twelve in Ephesus, administered by Paul, would have been p
Was God's plan of salvation... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
Was God's plan of salvation to include the Gentiles (non-
Sometimes the adults say they... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Sometimes the adults say they learn as much from the children's message as they do from the sermon.
My confirmation class was discussing... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2000
My confirmation class was discussing the different ways the world began as part of their science cur
I occasionally sit in on... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2000
I occasionally sit in on the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that are held weekly in our church hall.
Adam was like Jekyll and... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Adam was like Jekyll and Hyde.
Christmas was coming and my... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Christmas was coming and my stress level was so high that I felt as if I was going to lose it comple
When I was a teenager... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
When I was a teenager I attended an ecumenical gathering called an Ashram.
Our confirmation class was discussing... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Our confirmation class was discussing how Jesus Christ was at work in us and through us by the power
The influential corporate executive is... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2000
The influential corporate executive is a peaceful man, on the surface at least.
We chose a mongrel, but... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2000
We chose a mongrel, but our neighbor chose a purebred.
Have you ever had a... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2000
Have you ever had a tongue-lashing that you will never forget? Most of us have.
How quickly we discover what... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2000
How quickly we discover what we do not know when we have to explain it to someone else, especially w
A university professor used to... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2000
A university professor used to say that the reason he taught was to learn.
Perennials versus annuals. The debate... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2000
Perennials versus annuals. The debate goes on.
In the mid-60s the... -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2000
In the mid-60s the "God is Dead" movement caused quite a stir among the faithful.
My senior citizen neighbor, who... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2000
My senior citizen neighbor, who had become a very good friend, once confided in me that she was an a

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

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

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