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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

There is no greater gift... -- 2 Kings 4:18-21, 32-37 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
There is no greater gift than the gift of life.
How easy it sounds. How... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- 1994
How easy it sounds. How different from the way it must have been for Mary, probably aged 14 or 15.
When Caroline's baby was born... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
When Caroline's baby was born in 1939, delivered by a midwife in a small Louisiana town, the proud m
A young man was given... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
A young man was given the part of John the Baptist in a church play.
In 1765 John Fawcett was... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
In 1765 John Fawcett was called to pastor a very small congregation in Wainsgate, England.
The Israelite children approached the... -- Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
The Israelite children approached the "Heavenly Bread" much like we approach the bread of holy commu
An old ordination hymn of... -- 2 Kings 2:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
An old ordination hymn of the church has the line, "Elijah's mantle o'er Elisha cast." I am not at a
I once had an opportunity... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
I once had an opportunity to live a lifelong fantasy to be a cowboy when I served a church in Texas.
In his struggle to free... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
In his struggle to free India from the British who ruled it, Mohandas K.
What kind of images come... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
What kind of images come to mind when we hear the word "king" or think about the lives of royalty?
Anyone who is stopped for... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
Anyone who is stopped for a traffic offense and is believed to be driving under the influence of alc
I worked for Mr. Herbert... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
I worked for Mr. Herbert Orchard all of one summer, having been sent there by my (wise?) parents.
Harry Daniels was my friend... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
Harry Daniels was my friend from the time we met as next-door neighbors.
A young man who had... -- Numbers 11:25-29 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
A young man who had overcome physical handicaps and become a champion on his school swimming team wa
The Peace and Conflict Studies... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
The Peace and Conflict Studies Seminar had spent over an hour presenting the whole theory about the
The relative size and importance... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
The relative size and importance of the tongue to the whole body can be compared to an element in th
In the Civil War battle... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
In the Civil War battle of Gettysburg Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was the Union Commander assigned
In Stories for the Journey... -- Isaiah 59:(1-4) 9-19 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
In Stories for the Journey, William R. White relates this story of sin and forgiveness.
Although he was a son... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
"Although he was a son, he learned obedience."
A young doctor was offered... -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
A young doctor was offered a job as an associate in a successful practice.
A church publishing house was... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
A church publishing house was selling a desk plaque with the words "Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus," writt
A drill sergeant has to... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
A drill sergeant has to take a group of very different people and mold them into a unit that can act
A Protestant minister and his... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
A Protestant minister and his friend, a rabbi, were discussing the coming of the Messiah.
We had lived in the... -- Daniel 12:1-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
We had lived in the house 18 years and the accumulated stuff would make a mountain.
A videotape of a nine... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
A videotape of a nine-year-old girl drowning while scores of onlookers stood by idly became a nation

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For September 7, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him…. (vv. 28-29)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pair of heavy gloves you might use to protect your hands when you are working or gardening.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

Schuyler Rhodes
It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
Paul E. Robinson
Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
Gary L. Carver
The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

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