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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Robert was a pathetic sight... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1999
Robert was a pathetic sight the first time I saw him.
Father Gerry was a true... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1999
Father Gerry was a true believer in the vows he took at his ordination into the priesthood.
When the Communist government of... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1999
When the Communist government of Romania cracked down on Christians in the 1950s and 1960s, Reverend
A friend of mine is... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1999
A friend of mine is quite handy, so he was confident he could throw together a small computer desk i
Jesus had a very specific... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 1999
Jesus had a very specific purpose in his ministry.
For about 22 years a... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
For about 22 years a strange festival has been taking place in Bunol, Spain.
Jessie had been attending Church... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
Jessie had been attending Church since she was eight days old.
Candlemakers Michael and Lynette Richards... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
Candlemakers Michael and Lynette Richards of Iowa City, Iowa, give hope and help to homeless, disabl
Ted seemed like the rebel... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
Ted seemed like the rebel of rebels.
Margaret held her breath. She... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
Margaret held her breath. She couldn't decide what to do.
Saint Francis of Assisi, who... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
Saint Francis of Assisi, who preached to the birds that Jesus speaks about, desired to follow his Lo
Information explosion! The amount of... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
Information explosion! The amount of data doubles at ever-
A student is not above... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 1999
"A student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above the master" reminds us of the importance of
For many of us who... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
For many of us who grew up in the '50s, playing marbles was not something we did a lot, but there wa
Jim was 38 years old... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
Jim was 38 years old. The doctors had given him less than a month to live.
Mel Trotter was an alcoholic... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
Mel Trotter was an alcoholic whose drunkenness regularly separated him from his wife and family.
When Neil Armstrong stepped out... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
When Neil Armstrong stepped out of Eagle onto the moon's surface on July 20, 1969, and said, "That's
The children laughed at her... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
The children laughed at her when Sheila walked into church.
It is true we pray... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
It is true we pray for a good harvest from our efforts; but while we pray, we still work, just like
What is your initial reaction... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
What is your initial reaction when in the flurry of Saturday morning's chores the doorbell rings and
This is a passage which... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 1999
This is a passage which talks about "rewards," but clearly, not rewards as the world knows rewards.
The gold fabric of Raga's... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
The gold fabric of Raga's sari shimmers.
Franklin Graham grew into his... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Franklin Graham grew into his salvation. His father is the famous evangelist, Billy Graham.
In this passage from Romans... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1999
In this passage from Romans, we are told how Abraham did not lose faith in the promises of God.
Mandy was seven years old... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1999
Mandy was seven years old and she was full of questions.

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
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Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
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Thanksgiving
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80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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”.

* * *

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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