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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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
When did God begin? When... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2000
When did God begin? When will God end?
How difficult it is for... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2000
How difficult it is for us in our daily prayers to praise God, to adore him, and to thank him.
Chain of Command is a... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2000
"Chain of Command" is a key concept within the military system.
The performance of an athletic... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2000
The performance of an athletic team depends a lot on morale and confidence, perhaps even more than s
The vision of God wiping... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2000
The vision of God wiping away every human tear is lovely, but do we consider the role of God in thos
For many folk, religion consists... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
For many folk, religion consists of what a person believes.
The most often memorized statement... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
The most often memorized statement in 1 John is from 4:16, "God is love." It is more than a theologi
John's words in this passage... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
John's words in this passage, "no one who abides in him sins" (v.
When I served as chair... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
When I served as chair of a church growth committee relating to three denominations, I discovered th
She knew the French language... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2000
She knew the French language and spoke it well enough, but she was undeniably an anglophone.
Spinach saves the day! That's... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2000
Spinach saves the day!
Knowing God as Father, Son... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2000
Knowing God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is to know a lot about God.
In the early days of... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2000
In the early days of "black and white" television there was a series in which people were suddenly m
If I had been there... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
If I had been there, if I had heard Jesus teach, if I had seen his miracles, if I had watched him di
It was the birthday of... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
It was the birthday of a 95-year-old woman.

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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
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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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