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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Two ads were placed in... -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Two ads were placed in a newspaper by the same ad agency for two different, if similar clients: J
Agatha was 60 and divorced... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
Agatha was 60 and divorced.
It was a common view... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
It was a common view in the ancient world that suffering was punishment for one's sins.
During her life, Catherine Marshall... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1994
During her life, Catherine Marshall wrote many books.
Comedian Pat Paulsen says, Bill... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Comedian Pat Paulsen says, "Bill Clinton worries me because he's only a heart-beat away from the pre
There was a time when... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
There was a time when life had seemed simple.
The 1989 movie, Field of... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
The 1989 movie, Field of Dreams has become an American classic.
Light is the first-born... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
"Light is the first-born of creation.
Walk before me and be... -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
"Walk before me and be blameless." Ol' Lady Bloom was not what one would call an educated or enlight
When Norman was seven years... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
When Norman was seven years old, his father left to serve in the Army in World War II.
John Newton, the writer of... -- Joel 2:12-18 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
John Newton, the writer of the favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace," was the son of a devout mother and a
Cool Hand Luke is a... -- 2 Kings 2:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Cool Hand Luke is a Paul Newman movie that really is a paradigm of the life of Jesus.
When I went to third... -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
When I went to third grade it was in the Third Ward Public School.
God's Top Ten Unlikeliesbr... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- 1994
God's Top Ten Unlikelies 10. Little David takes on Goliath.
Any birth is special, but... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1994
Any birth is special, but the arrival of a first child is doubly so.
It was two weeks to... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
It was two weeks to the end of the school year when three seniors decided to tempt fate and skip sch
Marja Sklodowska was born in... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Marja Sklodowska was born in Poland in 1867.
In All I Really Needed... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
In All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum mentions that someone had g
On a Sunday morning after... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
On a Sunday morning after worship, a woman became immersed in conversation with a friend, and left t
A reporter was interviewing a... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
A reporter was interviewing a man with a rags-to-riches story.
The bridegroom said to his... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The bridegroom said to his new wife at the wedding reception, "I am so happy that I feel like dancin
The voice of my beloved... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
"The voice of my beloved!"
Everywhere that Gregory went, he... -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
Everywhere that Gregory went, he would often hear about how much he looked like his father.
People came to her frequently... -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
People came to her frequently for advice, sometimes commenting on her reputation for wisdom.
A man had a son... -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
A man had a son who from birth had been strong-willed and rebellious.

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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