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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

She had been dead for... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
She had been dead for years. No, not dying. Dead. Stone, cold, dead. Dead emotionally.
At the end of A... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
At the end of A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is so elated at having a second chance, of undoing
As the young mother was... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
As the young mother was getting her children ready for bed, her eight-year-old son got into bed wit
In an editorial published in... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In an editorial published in Christianity Today, (March 8, 1993, p.
A woman found an old... -- Acts 9:26-31 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A woman found an old secretary desk stored in the barn of her grandparents' farm.
When William Barclay's daughter was... -- Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
When William Barclay's daughter was 21 years old she was involved in a terrible yachting accident.
In ancient Babylon there was... -- Job 38:1, 8-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
In ancient Babylon there was a myth about creation resulting from the battle of the goddess Tiamat,
In this world you can't... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
In this world you can't live a day without conflict.
The French Revolution was a... -- Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
The French Revolution was a result of the common people against the nobility.
In baseball there are many... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
In baseball there are many rituals that players use when they play.
Our king and liberator comes... -- Zechariah 9:1-10 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Our king and liberator comes not as the warrior, but as the peacemaker.
Have you ever wondered what... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Have you ever wondered what it means to be really human?
Archaeologists uncovered on the wall... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Archaeologists uncovered on the wall of an ancient Greek school house an interesting piece of graffi
The finance committee decided to... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
The finance committee decided to review the church's insurance needs.
Little Timmy sat in the... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Little Timmy sat in the kitchen floor playing with his cars and trucks.
Once upon a time a... -- Acts 3:13-15, 17-26 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Once upon a time a young man with no credentials and no formal training began telling people that th
Clyde loved playing baseball. His... -- Acts 10:34, 37-43 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
Clyde loved playing baseball. His coaches claimed that he had a lot of natural ability.
Even though the news was... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
Even though the news was somewhat inevitable, it still came as a bit of a shock to the group.
I had just turned 10... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1994
I had just turned 10 years old when I knew the Lord had called me to be a preacher.
It is good to remember... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
It is good to remember how important our example may be to another person, both in positive and neg
A discussion had arisen in... -- Jeremiah 3:21-4:2 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
A discussion had arisen in a Sunday school class on the subject of grace.
Nels Wickstrom and Anna Steel... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
Nels Wickstrom and Anna Steel, both natives of Sweden, were married in Florence County, Wisconsin in
The news photographs were heart... -- Isaiah 42:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
The news photographs were heart breaking.
Few people recognize the name... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- 1994
Few people recognize the name Charles Tazewell but virtually everyone has enjoyed his classic tale,
Like Jacob, early in his... -- Genesis 28:10-17 (18-22) -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Like Jacob, early in his life, Francis Thompson seemed to be an unlikely recipient of God's grace.

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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