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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

As a pastor, one of... -- Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
As a pastor, one of the most painful experiences is to come to the hospital room of a parishioner a
It was a simple handshake... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
It was a simple handshake, but it was filled with so much meaning that millions of people watched v
Did you hear the one... -- Genesis 22:1-18 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Did you hear the one about the man who wanted so badly to show his wife how much he loved her that h
Surely we have all known... -- Job 7:1-17 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
Surely we have all known times when it seems that if we could only lie down and sleep that would bri
Boot camp. Many are the... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1994
Boot camp. Many are the stories told by recruits, volunteers and draftees about boot camp.
The session of a Presbyterian... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
The session of a Presbyterian church in Fort Worth, Texas, was meeting.
Over the years, many brides... -- Baruch 5:1-9 -- 1994
Over the years, many brides have told me that the one moment that made them realize that they were a
Ed went to the hospital... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Ed went to the hospital to visit his friend Jack. "How's it going, Jack?" Ed asked.
In ancient times, blood was... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
In ancient times, blood was seen as being effective in establishing community between God and human
The pastor sank his small... -- 2 Kings 4:42.44 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
The pastor sank his small shovel into the sand.
In spite of Amaziah's disapproval... -- Amos 7:12-15 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
In spite of Amaziah's disapproval, Amos speaks with the assurance of one who is confident in his sel
Jeremiah is concerned with false... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
Jeremiah is concerned with false shepherds who fail in their duty -- the rulers and officials who fa
In the mountains of Northern... -- Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
In the mountains of Northern Sumatra in Indonesia, there is a seminary of the Indonesian Methodist C
Jim was one of those... -- Proverbs 9:1-6 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
Jim was one of those kids you see hanging around on street corners, that makes you want to cross the
She had begun to wonder... -- 1 Kings 19:4-8 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
She had begun to wonder if the struggle was worth it.
In the kingdom of God... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
In the kingdom of God, nobody has pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, because all have sinned a
There is a story about... -- Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
There is a story about a Methodist congregation who wanted a change in pastors.
In the movie It's A... -- Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
In the movie It's A Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart plays a man who is trying to do the best he can to
The Servant's ears are opened... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
The Servant's ears are opened by God, that he may hear the words of divine revelation, and he yields
Some laws are immutable: The... -- Deuteronomy 6:2-6 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
Some laws are immutable: The laws of gravity. The laws of magnetism. The laws of electricity.
Recently the parents of our... -- Jeremiah 31:7-9 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
Recently the parents of our school children came to help us repair a path that had been washed into
All of us have speculated... -- Wisdom 7:7-11 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
All of us have speculated about what we would ask for if we suddenly discovered Aladdin's lamp and t
A young college student applied... -- Isaiah 53:4-12 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
A young college student applied for a summer job at a large resort in up-state New York.
Once, in the middle of... -- Genesis 2:18-24 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
Once, in the middle of a school admissions interview, the mother of a prospective student turned to
Daniel's vision reminds me of... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
Daniel's vision reminds me of playing a game of charades.

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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