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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When studying varying societies, anthropologists... -- Joel 2:21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
When studying varying societies, anthropologists judge the wealth of the people, not in so many doll
She reckoned they'd have corn... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
She reckoned they'd have corn cakes for supper.
One episode of the old... -- Solomon 3:1-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
One episode of the old Mary Tyler Moore television show explored the meaning of life and death.
In his book, Mere Christianity... -- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis described God as the three-personal God.
Thanks to Michael Crichton (and... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
Thanks to Michael Crichton (and Steven Spielberg), the phrase, "Them bones, them bones, them dry bon
To help pass the time... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
To help pass the time as I waited in line with my wife at the grocery store, I picked up one of the
The poem, Via Lucis, by... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
The poem, Via Lucis, by Howard Chandler Robbins seems so appropriate to this passage and to Ascensio
This may be a first... -- Acts 9:26-31 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
This may be a first.
A visiting missionary spoke of... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A visiting missionary spoke of witnessing the baptism of a number of new Christians in a remote regi
God responds to Job's questions... -- Job 38:1, 8-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
God responds to Job's questions, and here describes how the ocean came into being by a kind of cosmi
Having been a coward most... -- Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
Having been a coward most of her life, she had no difficulty whatever understanding the words from S
A recent newspaper article covered... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
A recent newspaper article covered interviews with 25 people who had reached the age of 100.
The word sabbath has its... -- Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
The word "sabbath" has its roots in the Hebrew verb shabbat, which means to "cease and desist." In D
Words! Words! Words! We are... -- Exodus 24:3-11 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
Words! Words! Words!
Ambition is a very dangerous... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Ambition is a very dangerous thing!
Miss Fairy Chism was a... -- Zechariah 9:9-10 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Miss Fairy Chism was a missionary sponsored by the Church of the Nazarene and she served in Swazilan
Some ways of talking about... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Some ways of talking about God's actions in the world scare me. This passage is a case in point.
It was Canon Robert Bohaker... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
It was Canon Robert Bohaker whom I first heard use the expression, "(Your problems) can be your stum
At the funeral, the word... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
At the funeral, the word most often spoken about Doug was determination.
First of all, the chain... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
First of all, the chain had come off the sprockets on his bicycle.
For years Americans have been... -- Acts 3:13-15, 17-26 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
For years Americans have been complaining about the need for change in our government.
In the 10th chapter of... -- Acts 10:34, 37-43 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
In the 10th chapter of Acts, Peter learns a very important lesson that is contrary to his cultural a
Seven-year-old Chris was... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
Seven-year-old Chris was overheard talking to his younger sister as she struggled unsuccessfully to
Verse 10 is a key... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1994
Verse 10 is a key verse in this reading.
Knowledge puffs up, but love... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Paul is sharing his gospel in the epistle that love is

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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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