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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Known as one who had... -- Acts 9:26-31 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Known as one who had persecuted the church previously, Paul could not be accepted by the disciples i
During the summer of 1988... -- Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
During the summer of 1988, Americans watched news coverage of the raging forest fires in Yellowstone
When Vince Lombardi took over... -- Job 38:1, 8-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
When Vince Lombardi took over as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, he inherited a team that had a
It is the manager's task... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
It is the manager's task to take the 25 players of a professional baseball team and make them functi
The film and book Chariots... -- Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
The film and book Chariots of Fire, recreates the story of Olympic runners Harold Abrahams and Eric
Baltimore police put a homeless... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
Baltimore police put a homeless man named Martin Henn in jail on suspicion of setting a car on fire.
My son just turned 16... -- Zechariah 9:9-10 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
My son just turned 16.
Jenkin Lloyd Jones once said... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Jenkin Lloyd Jones once said, "We are drowning our youngsters in violence, cynicism and sadism, pipe
A priest is appointed on... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
A priest is appointed on a person's behalf to deal with the things concerning God. A.J.
At a youth retreat, the... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
At a youth retreat, the young people were gathered around a large cross that stood on a hill at a ch
The doctor's words rang out... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
The doctor's words rang out like a fire alarm bell: "He needs a kidney ... soon.
It is the power of... -- Acts 3:13-15, 17-26 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
It is the power of Jesus' name alone that has made the lame man strong, as God promised to the coven
When Nathaniel was three years... -- Acts 10:34, 37-43 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
When Nathaniel was three years old his parents took him to see an Easter pageant.
If there is a time... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
If there is a time when we need to encourage or be encouraged it is Good Friday.
A mother once came to... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1994
A mother once came to me telling that she would like to see her son involved with the youth group,
An old beer commercial shows... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
An old beer commercial shows a fellow looking into the camera saying, "When I have the friends ove
The prophet is talking about... -- Jeremiah 3:21-4:2 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
The prophet is talking about ritual human sacrifice, a practice that evidence seems to indicate was
As a child, I can... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
As a child, I can remember, at least once a year, the church observing Temperance Sunday.
In his book, A Time... -- Isaiah 42:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
In his book, A Time to Kill, John Grisham strikes an emotional nerve in American society.
A senior high Sunday school... -- Romans 4:13-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
A senior high Sunday school class was discussing marriage and the family.
Sometimes God appears to remove... -- Genesis 22:1-18 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Sometimes God appears to remove the salvation God has begun in history.
Grace is counter-cultural. It... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
Grace is counter-cultural. It was in Jesus' day; it is in our day.
Leprosy was mostly an issue... -- Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Leprosy was mostly an issue of being ritually unclean.
A cartoon in a magazine... -- Job 7:1-17 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
A cartoon in a magazine a few years ago pictured an insurance man calling up Dr.
Many Olympic athletes appear only... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1994
Many Olympic athletes appear only in one Olympics before their young but aging bodies give way to a

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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