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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Eileen was twelve years old... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 1999
Eileen was twelve years old and she wanted a camera of her own.
In May 1995, a Greek... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 1999
In May 1995, a Greek television station broke the news that in the 1950s, while still recovering fro
The gospel passage tells that... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
The gospel passage tells that God helps us to be born anew, giving us a new direction in our lives.
At a Bereavement Support meeting... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
At a Bereavement Support meeting a new widow said, "I thought I understood what the death of a spous
Tanya Luhrmann, associate professor of... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Tanya Luhrmann, associate professor of anthropology at the University of California - San Diego, and
I once counseled an individual... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
I once counseled an individual who had a very technical mind.
Helen had suffered enough and... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1999
Helen had suffered enough and told her children she was ready to be with Jesus.
In the early 1990s, the... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the early 1990s, the Washington Post published an article pointing out how students from o
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was a dynamic speaker. His long-
Marsh has Down's Syndrome. At... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Marsh has Down's Syndrome. At ten, one might mistake his actions for those of a five-year-old.
Jeff, I just might have... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
"Jeff, I just might have something special for you when I come home from work today.
Dave had drifted through a... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Dave had drifted through a number of jobs following college.
Paul vividly reminds us in... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Paul vividly reminds us in these passages that we cannot earn our own salvation.
General George C. Marshall, U.S... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
General George C. Marshall, U.S.
There is something about me... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
There is something about me that likes the pat on the back.
In the book of Romans... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells us the basic Christian truths as he saw them.
One person can make all... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
One person can make all the difference in the world -- for good or for evil.
FREE GIFT! splashed in big... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
FREE GIFT! splashed in big red letters across the envelope or the computer screen.
Paul is speaking of the... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Paul is speaking of the gracious life of grace made possible through Christ.
There is a new candy... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
There is a new candy company named Lighthouse Confections that makes very intricate designs on lolli
I once heard a pastor... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
I once heard a pastor say, "If you're looking for illustrations on the meaning of Lent, then you mig
God loves you, Todd. God... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
"God loves you, Todd.
A twentieth-century Paul, who... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
A twentieth-century Paul, who commended himself to others as a servant of the gospel, is Milan Haimo
In the service of death... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
In the service of death and resurrection there comes the solemn moment when we are struck by the wor
Paul ends this passage by... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
Paul ends this passage by saying that through possessing nothing, we have in fact gained everything.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – 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.

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