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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Alexander White was one of... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
Alexander White was one of Scotland's greatest preachers.
In the Kevin Costner movie... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
In the Kevin Costner movie, The Untouchables, G-man Elliot Ness tries to catch and convict gangster
A city feller was visiting... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
A city feller was visiting in the hills of Kentucky.
Around the year 1000, the... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
Around the year 1000, the same number of years after Jesus as Solomon's father David lived before Je
Large was his bounty, and... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
"Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
The adult Sunday school class... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
The adult Sunday school class was discussing the book of Job.
In basic training one of... -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
In basic training one of the obstacles on the obstacle course is a smoke-filled building.
When I was young my... -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
When I was young my mother would often say to me, "You are getting too big for your pants." She woul
I remember visiting in the... -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
I remember visiting in the hospital a woman in her 40s, a member of my parish, who had cancer.
The question on the television... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
The question on the television quiz show dealt with "Famous Last Words." For example, "Who said, 'Et
talking with one of the... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
talking with one of the saints of the church.
As a young family approached... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
As a young family approached the Grand Canyon for their first view of this spectacular sight, the fa
The music convention took us... -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
The music convention took us to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Difficult though it may be... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Difficult though it may be to believe, there are still many people whom we may meet in everyday life
The late Archbishop of San... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
The late Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero, concerning the church and its mission once wrote:
One of the more memorable... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
One of the more memorable characters from the movie, Field of Dreams, was Archibald "Moonlight" Grah
We are told that after... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
We are told that after Confederate General Robert E.
On July 3, 1988, a... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
On July 3, 1988, a pastor was at his family reunion.
My two teenage sons were... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
My two teenage sons were discussing possible dates for the high school prom.
Some people will give up... -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
Some people will give up their freedom for security. But we were born into insecurity.
Our memory is short and... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
Our memory is short and in need of constant jogging. How quickly we forget.
In the old horse-and... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
In the old horse-and-buggy days, a young man was engaged to marry a young woman.
The new covenant will not... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
The new covenant will not be like the old covenant, but it will not abrogate it.
Once there lived a man... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Once there lived a man who was always looking down.
When the country club in... -- Exodus 20:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
When the country club in the community announced a raise in membership fees to improve the golf cour

Political Pulpit

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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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