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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

There is a story about... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
There is a story about an old grizzly bear who roamed the forest terrorizing campers.
The most common substance in... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
The most common substance in the world is water.
I was setting up my... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
I was setting up my private communion set in order to celebrate Holy Communion with a member of my c
Elizabeth Terini, a Russian-Jewish... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Elizabeth Terini, a Russian-Jewish Ukrainian living in New York City, took a taxi one day from Queen
When I was a lad... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
When I was a lad my best pal was Jimmy.
Courtney was in a slump... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Courtney was in a slump.
In Martin Luther -- Heretic... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In Martin Luther -- Heretic, a dramatic film presentation of the life of the Lutheran reforme
A favorite children's game is... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
A favorite children's game is Red Light, Green Light.
When people have access to... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
When people have access to the seats of power, we hold them to higher standards.
Paul is giving praise to... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Paul is giving praise to God and reminding us that we have a living hope, even though we may not be
A big aspect of the... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
A big aspect of the game of baseball is mental.
Thomas needed to see evidence... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Thomas needed to see evidence of Jesus' crucifixion in order to believe that Jesus had risen from th
The Last Leaf by O... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
"The Last Leaf" by O.
In our small town a... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
In our small town a certain individual refused to believe that the space program was for real.
Love one another deeply from... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
"Love one another deeply from the heart," the minister tells them.
The futile ways of our... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
The "futile ways" of our society take on a profound foolishness when contrasted with the love of Chr
Botanists have identified tens of... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Botanists have identified tens of thousands of different kinds of seeds.
Paul speaks of a faith... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Paul speaks of a faith and a hope that rest securely in God's love.
Professional basketball player Michael Jordan... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Professional basketball player Michael Jordan is one of the most recognizable figures in the world.
Each of us has our... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Each of us has our own story to tell. To tell our story is to own it.
When Charles M. Schulz, creator... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
When Charles M.
I enjoy browsing in gift... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
I enjoy browsing in gift shops.
Joey sat tall as he... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Joey sat tall as he waited for his name to be called.
Cecil and Dorothy Dye lived... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Cecil and Dorothy Dye lived victorious lives in the face of terror and tragedy.
Fearful that the Chinese government... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Fearful that the Chinese government was about to arrest him, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 under

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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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
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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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”.

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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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