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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Eliza's knees shook as she... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Eliza's knees shook as she walked to the podium. Why had she agreed to be the banquet speaker?
William Barclay, noted Scottish pastor... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
William Barclay, noted Scottish pastor and theologian who has written commentary on the entire New T
Two young children had experienced... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Two young children had experienced unspeakable abuse at the hands of alcoholic parents -- beatings,
What a fantastic insight! We... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
What a fantastic insight! We are no longer slaves, but children of God!
Mommy, mommy! Meg ran into... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
"Mommy, mommy!" Meg ran into the room as little David screamed again.
By all appearances they should... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
By all appearances they should have given up in the twelfth year after they began.
It was when Peter became... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
It was when Peter became afraid that he began to sink.
Jesus speaks to our fear... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
Jesus speaks to our fear in these passages. Fear is often a terrible emotion.
The other day I was... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
The other day I was cleaning out my hall closet when I found a box.
Henri Nouwen tells the story... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Henri Nouwen tells the story of an old man who used to meditate early every morning under a big tree
Shirley and Carol were best... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
Shirley and Carol were best friends. They did almost everything together.
As of May 18, 1997... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
As of May 18, 1997, the State of Michigan was holding some $17 million in funds and property that be
If someone were kept in... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
If someone were kept in a pitch-dark room for long enough, he or she would eventually become blind t
A recent television special honored... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
A recent television special honored Dr. Billy Graham on the occasion of his eightieth birthday.
Every day I counsel veterans... -- Romans 9:11-15 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Every day I counsel veterans who come into a homeless veterans program.
When Joan found out that... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
When Joan found out that her best friend, Emily, had been killed in an automobile accident, Joan was
Where do you go when... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Where do you go when you are hungry? Don Gorske of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, goes to McDonald's.
A nurse arrived home at... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
A nurse arrived home at midnight after working a busy double shift in an inner-city emergency room.
The five loaves and two... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
The five loaves and two fish, clearly not enough to feed 5,000 people, became enough when the power
Mary was 82 when she... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Mary was 82 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
A number of years ago... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
A number of years ago a young man studying at Yale University was notified by attorneys that a rich
Oskar Schindler in the movie... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Oskar Schindler in the movie Schindler's List decried the fact that even though he had saved
The story is told of... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 1999
The story is told of a famous British journalist who became quite senile with advancing years, but w
Usually when you learn to... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 1999
Usually when you learn to play chess from a basic instruction booklet it will first teach you all th
Have you ever noticed how... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 1999
Have you ever noticed how quickly life can change?

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, wildfires, 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 Sept. 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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