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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

From a contemporary Christian prophet... -- Amos 7:12-15 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
From a contemporary Christian prophet:
Whether or not these verses... -- Proverbs 9:1-6 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
Whether or not these verses are used in the sermon, they would provide an excellent call to worship
Karl Barth authored a little... -- Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
Karl Barth authored a little book, The Gospel and the Churches.
Angels seem to be popping... -- 1 Kings 19:4-8 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
Angels seem to be popping up everywhere these days: in conversations, books, movies, and as subject
Some time ago the news... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
Some time ago the news program Good Morning America had a feature on how the cross had become the ho
Sibling rivalry was to be... -- Numbers 11:25-29 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Sibling rivalry was to be expected with kids. She knew that.
A few years ago there... -- Wisdom 1:16-2:1 (6-11) 12-22 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
A few years ago there was much discussion about whether to put warning labels on music records and c
The words of verses four... -- Deuteronomy 6:2-6 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
The words of verses four through nine are on a small parchment scroll inside the mezuzah, a small ca
The Greek Orthodox Church has... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
The Greek Orthodox Church has an interesting custom.
I will lead them beside... -- Jeremiah 31:7-9 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
"I will lead them beside streams of water."
As part of a healing... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
As part of a healing workshop the participants were asked to tape an hour of conversation.
Sometimes she felt she surely... -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
Sometimes she felt she surely knew the distant vision of the date farmer, for the one who planted d
It is not good for... -- Genesis 2:18-24 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
"It is not good for a man to be alone."Silent Partner For Women Drivers
It was called friendship cake... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
It was called "friendship cake." Actually, it was a mixture of flour, milk, yeast and an assortment
Joel understands the end of... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
Joel understands the end of the invasion of locusts and the restoration of an abundant harvest as a
All my being seeks God... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
"All my being seeks God." Dorothy Day, one of the founders of the Catholic Worker movement, did not
The setting is the time... -- Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
The setting is the time of Moses, but the words are addressed to a shattered people in the days of t
A miner was trapped when... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
A miner was trapped when there was a mine cave-in. For 12 days rescuers worked to free this miner.
In our community, a Sister's... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In our community, a Sister's Life Profession service takes place in the midst of the celebration of
Barnabas emerges as an exceptional... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Barnabas emerges as an exceptional person. He was a Levite.
George Bass wrote about the... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
George Bass wrote about the Ascension of Our Lord: The Ascension of our Lord used to be celebrated u
Most of the time that... -- Acts 9:26-31 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Most of the time that he is mentioned in the New Testament is merely as that of a traveling companio
John Wesley was a life... -- Deuteronomy 15:7-11 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
John Wesley was a life-long advocate of a doctrine known as Christian Perfection, for which he was o
Reader's Digest printed an article... -- Job 38:1, 8-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
Reader's Digest printed an article about the wonders that are present in just one square inch of hum
The Messianic promise comes in... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
The Messianic promise comes in the voice of Ezekiel in a totally new and unexpected way.

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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