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

Whenever you are close to... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Whenever you are close to the ocean, it isn't very hard to find a listing of high tide and low tide.
The following story was told... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
The following story was told as part of a Palliative Care Volunteer Training Course.
Six job-seekers in Lyon... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Six job-seekers in Lyon, France, where unemployment reached 12.7 percent (a post-World War II high),
Carol, a nurse in a... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
Carol, a nurse in a large hospital, was on her lunch break.
For centuries prior to the... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
For centuries prior to the publication of the Encyclope'die in 1751, people believed in the
I was invited to be... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
I was invited to be a part of a pastor's discovery weekend.
Drugs, gang shootings, and teenage... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Drugs, gang shootings, and teenage sex are as common as the absence of food on the table for most me
In the ancient world, it... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
In the ancient world, it was an amazing sight to see the great monuments erected.
Leo Braudy, English professor at... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
Leo Braudy, English professor at the University of Southern California, comments: "I think we as an
A clergy colleague begins each... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
A clergy colleague begins each worship service with the words "Grace and peace to you from God our c
God is faithful, Paul reminds... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
God is faithful, Paul reminds us at the end of this passage.
In verse 29 John declares... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
In verse 29 John declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
A voice from heaven gives... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
A voice from heaven gives a message: this is the Son of God who is a servant king.
A flyer was placed in... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
A flyer was placed in our mail box. It read: "Your business opportunity ...
The SS EthieI... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
The SS Ethie went aground off Newfoundland in surf that would have drowned any human swimmer,
A friend of mine tells... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
A friend of mine tells the story about a schoolmate who wanted to become a doctor when he grew up.
They called her name. A... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
They called her name.
At Axum, Ethiopia, the ancient... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1999
At Axum, Ethiopia, the ancient home of the Queen of Sheba, on the Feast of the Virgin (November 29 b
My friend grew up in... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1999
My friend grew up in a Christian home.
Many churches have the baptismal... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
Many churches have the baptismal font at the front of the church to remind people of what happens du
The body lay ten feet... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
The body lay ten feet into the alley. Still shaking, Marge stood under the street light.
In my first year of... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
In my first year of seminary I had the opportunity to be guide and "go-fer" for a distinguished past
This passage speaks eloquently to... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
This passage speaks eloquently to the saving power of Christ that we experience through baptism.
Eight-year-old Cory was... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1999
Eight-year-old Cory was on his first flight.
It is the way of... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1999
It is the way of the world.

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