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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

My son once was given... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
My son once was given an assignment to write out instructions for making a paper airplane.
The country parson was asked... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
The country parson was asked to visit a parishioner on his farm.
The next time you watch... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
The next time you watch a baseball game and some mighty slugger swaggers up to the plate, ask yourse
A pastor was quite discouraged... -- Daniel 12:1-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A pastor was quite discouraged and depressed.
Bishop Sheen tells this story... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Bishop Sheen tells this story of deliverance and hope in his daily devotional book.
Dorothy Thompson, in a speech... -- Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
Dorothy Thompson, in a speech given in 1941, said what many a philosopher and theologian has taken m
An elderly saint once said... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
An elderly saint once said to me, "I've been through some hard times in my life, you know; times whe
In the rock opera, Jesus... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
In the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, there are two resurrections. One is spectacular.
A young lady had taken... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A young lady had taken her children to the mall.
We called him Brother McAllister... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
We called him "Brother" McAllister -- the pastor of our little Free Methodist Church in my home tow
Dr. Eddie Fox tells the... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Dr. Eddie Fox tells the story of two little boys whose pictures appeared in a newspaper.
My good friend Jim told... -- Deuteronomy 15:7-11 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
My good friend Jim told me this about himself.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
Paul reminded the Corinthians that he had loved them and served them with everything that he had to
Some of us can remember... -- Ezekiel 31:1-6, 10-14 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
Some of us can remember the craze of the Beatle invasion, when that great rock music group came to
Have you ever heard the... -- Genesis 3:(1-7) 8-21 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Shaq attack?" This is a phrase in reference to the powerful dunk sh
Did you remember your anniversary... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
Did you remember your anniversary? Do you remember your 21st birthday?
People worry a lot about... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
People worry a lot about stress nowadays. How can we escape the stress and pressures of life?
Several years ago I attended... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Several years ago I attended a week-long workshop for administrators of Episcopal schools.
I had a dream that... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
I had a dream that some friends and I were all getting into heaven together.
Surely we can empathize with... -- Romans 7:13-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Surely we can empathize with Paul in his letter to the Hebrews!
Out of my files comes... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Out of my files comes this glimpse of an Irish shepherd reported to me by a former parishioner upon
A television station in Pittsburgh... -- 1 John 2:1-5 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A television station in Pittsburgh has a consumer advocate.
In her book, The Long... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In her book, The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder tells the story of how difficult life could be on
True to its intent the... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
True to its intent the NRSV renders verse six as "brothers and sisters." The sisters were not even m
Life is hard a woman... -- Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
"Life is hard" a woman said to her pastor. The pastor was aware of her situation.

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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