Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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.
As Ron waits to count... -- 1 Kings 2:1O-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
As Ron waits to count down the seconds of each of his wife's labor pains, he quietly prays for his w
David was a great military... -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
David was a great military leader, and by and large, a great king.
It was the most magnificent... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
It was the most magnificent rainbow either of them had ever seen.
This poem at the end... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
This poem at the end of the book of Proverbs speaks of the characteristics of a perfect wife.
Days of celebration often mark... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Days of celebration often mark events of freedom.
We do not often have... -- Proverbs 1:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
We do not often have occasion to hear a town crier, but a few years ago I was visiting in Boston whe
Naomi was perhaps a very... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
Naomi was perhaps a very conventional Israelite woman -- she saw her place as being with her people
When a man or woman... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
When a man or woman decides to go to Alcoholics or Overeaters Anonymous, they are presented with a p
The gloom mentioned by Job... -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
The gloom mentioned by Job is not the kind of darkness and gloom that can be lessened by any candle
She was a teacher. That's... -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
She was a teacher. That's all she had ever wanted to be.
In C. S. Lewis' The... -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
In C. S.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffie.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL