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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It has been said of... -- Acts 4:8-12 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
It has been said of an especially critical parishioner that she was so particular Christ himself pro
A boy was hired to... -- Acts 4:23-33 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A boy was hired to help plant watermelon seeds. He began well.
Never a needy person among... -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
"...
When Howard Hughes died, we... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
When Howard Hughes died, we were shocked as the details of his life during his last few years were r
Canon Bryan Green used to... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
Canon Bryan Green used to say we live in an age when people are no longer attracted to Christianity
The plan was simple. Everyone... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1994
The plan was simple.
There was a crazy summer... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
There was a crazy summer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; it was during the 1950s.
The story of Jonah seems... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
The story of Jonah seems to contrast God's attitude toward the world and our own.
The telephone is a wonderful... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
The telephone is a wonderful tool for communication.
Probably everybody has heard the... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
Probably everybody has heard the story of the little boy who came home one day and asked his mother
As a young child I... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
As a young child I heard the story of the great flood and God's promise to Noah, with a definite and
Who was Abraham? He was... -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Who was Abraham? He was just a wandering sheepherder nearing the end of his life.
In the movie, Flatliners, a... -- Joel 2:12-18 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
In the movie, Flatliners, a group of young medical students each in turn experiences an induced near
Time and again Elisha had... -- 2 Kings 2:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Time and again Elisha had to tell Elijah and the company of prophets that yes, he knew Elijah would
The other day I received... -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
The other day I received a letter from a hospital in Pittsburgh that informed me of a workshop that
When our oldest grandson was... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1994
When our oldest grandson was very young, he would awaken at night for changing and feeding.
Christmas was only a week... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- 1994
Christmas was only a week away and Mary was caught in the strength-draining vortex of demands that s
In parades through the city... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
In parades through the city streets of Austria at Christmastime, the figure of Saint Nicholas is see
One of the basic principles... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
One of the basic principles of science is known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
This Old Testament reading is... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
This Old Testament reading is a "sermon illlustration" in itself, and yet there is an important them
God's message for David, that... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
God's message for David, that in fact David is not the one to build a house for the ark of God, but
Does this sound familiar? It's... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Does this sound familiar?
The young pastor had been... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The young pastor had been serving the rural congregation for just two months, but it seemed a long e
When a woman decides to... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
When a woman decides to become a nun, she is invited into the order for a period of time as a noviti
Finally, after 35 years, it... -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
Finally, after 35 years, it is finished.

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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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