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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Even as children we learn... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Even as children we learn to pick the right time.
Miss Lelia always walked home... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Miss Lelia always walked home from the office. All along the way people knew her and spoke to her.
Do you know what I... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - C
"Do you know what I have done for you?" Jesus asked.
In Will Campbell's book, Forty... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - C
In Will Campbell's book, Forty Acres and a Goat, he tells of hearing a black preacher say:
On Palm Sunday the members... -- Deuteronomy 32:36-39 -- Passion Sunday - C
On Palm Sunday the members of an adult class were asked to think silently on some time in life when
Our Scripture triggers a well... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
Our Scripture triggers a well-known bit of folk wisdom.
When everything else fails, why... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
"When everything else fails, why don't you try following the instructions?" asked the wife of the ma
Robert Frost touches again that... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
Robert Frost touches again that great need in us and even in God for a love that is given as a respo
The youngster was getting too... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
The youngster was getting too smart for her own good.
The Rev. Dr. Walter Boumann... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
The Rev. Dr.
Until the film, many people... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Until the film, many people had hardly heard of Gandhi.
Up north in the Great... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Up north in the Great Lakes, large numbers of lake trout once swam in the deep, cold water.
He was a retired attorney... -- Philippians 2:5-12 -- Passion Sunday - C
He was a retired attorney and judge, white hair and beard, and, to most of the world, a disti
A member of my congregation... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
A member of my congregation invited me to attend a meeting of her I Lost A Child group.
Instances of stigmata have been... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
Instances of stigmata have been documented throughout the Christian era and have been alternately re
Jesus prayed as he faced... -- Passion Sunday - C
Jesus prayed as he faced the cross, "Not my will, but thine be done." There were really two elements
In the movie The Wizard... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
In the movie The Wizard of Oz there is a scene where we observe the soldiers who guard the pa
There was a minister who... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There was a minister who was trying to persuade a woman to teach a church school class.
One of the great questions... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
One of the great questions of life and faith is "Where is it all heading?" We wonder what the ultima
Biblical scholars are not agreed... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Biblical scholars are not agreed as to whether Jesus celebrated the Passover with the disciples on T
When the clouds of discouragement... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
When the clouds of discouragement grew too thick for him, the aging pastor of a small congregation w
During his imprisonment in a... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
During his imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp, Viktor Frankl tells about the lifelessness of
It has been rightly noted... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
It has been rightly noted that Christians should often do the opposite: when everyone else is celebr
Perhaps at no time has... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Perhaps at no time has a society been more self-critical of its lust for affluence as our present ge
So often it is the... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
So often it is the small acts of extravagance that lift the world.

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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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

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John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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