Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

In The Forgiveness Book, the... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
In The Forgiveness Book, the Reverend Bob Libby tells many stories from his ministry and of his enco
The very recent tragedy of... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
The very recent tragedy of the tornadoes which wrought widespread destruction in Georgia and the Car
In 1846, a group of... -- Baruch 5:1-9 -- 1994
In 1846, a group of immigrants under the leadership of George Donner was forced to winter in the Sie
As children many of us... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
As children many of us made blood pacts with one another.
This text is a story... -- 2 Kings 4:42-44 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
This text is a story about giving.
In Walter Brueggemann's book, The... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
In Walter Brueggemann's book, The Prophetic Imagination, he tells how God once destroyed an evil reg
Did you ever notice that... -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
Did you ever notice that it's easier to break a commandment than a habit? Why is that?- Mosley
I guess the most famous... -- Amos 7:10-15 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
I guess the most famous book Dale Carnegie wrote was How to Win Friends and Influence People.
A businessperson, after watching Billy... -- Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
A businessperson, after watching Billy Graham on television, was thinking of receiving Jesus into hi
Just outside of Pittsburgh there... -- Proverbs 9:1-6 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
Just outside of Pittsburgh there is a golf community: expensive homes located on a golf course.
When Clarence and his wife... -- 1 Kings 19:4-8 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
When Clarence and his wife, Ruth, sold their home and moved into their new apartment at Heritage Acr
It is said that there... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
It is said that there are two kinds of people: there are amplifiers and there are condensers.
One day an old man... -- Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
One day an old man came to President Lincoln with a sad tale.
A couple decided that their... -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
A couple decided that their two boys had finally reached the age where they could be left unsupervis
During Mohammed Ali's later boxing... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
During Mohammed Ali's later boxing matches, he adopted a strategy which was called "rope-a-dope." At
Keep these words that I... -- Deuteronomy 6:2-6 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
"Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.
In the mini-series, War... -- Jeremiah 31:7-9 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
In the mini-series, War And Remembrance, Professor Jastrow is a Jewish American philosophy professo
Professor Harry Miller taught creative... -- Isaiah 53:4-12 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
Professor Harry Miller taught creative writing classes at Central Michigan University when I registe
Wisdom is the right use... -- Wisdom 7:7-11 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise.
Who's The Boss? isn't just... -- Genesis 2:18-24 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
Who's The Boss?
A man was having problems... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
A man was having problems sleeping.
once heard a pastor complain... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
once heard a pastor complain that Christianity was a "nice" religion, that Christians are supposed
On the facing of the... -- Solomon 3:1-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
On the facing of the upper deck at Texas stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play, hang the names and n
The widow of Zarephath seemed... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
The widow of Zarephath seemed to have so little to offer to the work of God, but God somehow took wh
He'd always enjoyed bird-watching... -- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
He'd always enjoyed bird-watching, and found that some of them, like the meadowlark had such easily

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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL