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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

True grit -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
We are not used to being exhorted to endure in the face of frustration and delayed hopes.
The suffering children -- Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Matthew 2:13-23 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 1995
When a bomb destroyed the federal building in Oklahoma City earlier this year there was an outpourin
Winners and losers -- Jeremiah 17:5-10, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 1995
Woody Guthrie, whose ballads reflected the plight of the poor, voiced in one of his songs an enigma
Caught by grace -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 1995
A pastor was asked why he never delivered a sermon about sin.
Someone there is who doesn't like a wall! -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
The New Testament lessons for this day challenge us to rethink popular and stereotyped understanding
Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
dden It would be difficult to find in literature any description of the devastating effect of a p
Hearing and not hearing -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
The Old Testament lesson gives us an example of the diversity that characterizes the writings in the
Keeping the faith in tough times -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
Each lesson for this Sunday reflects a background of change, uncertainty, threat, and social volatil
The little dogs of God -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
The overarching theological theme in today's gospel lesson is the growing inclusiveness of the missi
Esther's choice -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Esther's acceptance into the Jewish canon was attended by controversy.
Uniquely for these days -- Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
The preacher should feel no obligation to find any common link among the readings for any given Sund
Easter -- victory,vindication and validation -- Isaiah 25:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
George M. Wiseman has written:Too long the world has missed the Easter Glory,
"Even those who are pure in heart" -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
The preacher who chooses either the Old Testament or Gospel lesson as the basis for a sermon will wa
Empowered for mission -- Acts 3:12-19, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
God's Easter people were called into being for a purpose.
The strange ways of God -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The sight of David and his entourage singing and dancing before the ark to the accompaniment of lyre
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
About the author
What goes around comes around! -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
The story of Absalom and his disastrous revolt is one of the great narratives of the Old Testament.
Abide with me -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
About the author
Who really sees him? -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
The writer's task for this section of Charting The Course is to tie the week's readings together by
Celebrate the new year! -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 1994
About the author R.
The strenuous call of Jesus -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
There is a new wave of interest in angels that is part of the current religious smorgasbord in the A
Despite our feet of clay -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
I wonder how many adults were effectively immunized against serious Bible study as a result of vague
Come Holy Spirit! -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
This festival is often a problem. Who is the Holy Spirit?
The triumph of the cross -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
Imagine this scenario: a small religious group in America catches the headlines with their novel bel
Christ's peculiar community -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
This Sunday's texts are a continuation of the previous week's discussions of God's presence in the c

Communicating God's Love

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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Servant is... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
The Servant is to be called the light to the nations (vv. 6-7).
Often one thinks... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Derl G. Keefer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
Often one thinks of service as needing to be a big event, but service is simply giving of one's self
When Henry Bessemer... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
When Henry Bessemer invented the Bessemer furnace in 1856, in 20 minutes the same amount of steel co
When we think... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
When we think that we have the only avenue of truth, it may come as a surprise to find out that God
Hearing voices from... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Derl G. Keefer -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
Hearing voices from the sky is sometimes viewed as a psychological problem where the person is in ne
Everything in Jesus'... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
Everything in Jesus' ministry, and our lives as Christians, begins in the waters of baptism.
In the 1860s... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2013
In the 1860s Alfred Nobel invented dynamite to level hills and blast mountains to facilitate constru
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (2014) -- Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23 -- Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 9:1-4
We are still... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
We are still a nation plagued by slavery.
My old Renault... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
My old Renault sputtered and died on my third attempt to get to college for my sophomore year.
The Crimean War... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
The Crimean War (1845-1856) was the first war that was brought into the living rooms of individuals
That passage can't... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
That passage can't help but make me think: I follow Luther! I follow Peter! I follow Calvin!
When the typewriter... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
When the typewriter was first developed and used in business, its use was restricted to men.
Christ came calling... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Christ came calling people of his day to repentance for their sins.
Many Americans think... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Many Americans think that responding to the call of God is what makes the Christian a Christian, tha
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2014) -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Isaiah realized... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Isaiah realized that the people of God had lost their impact upon society because they had misplaced
This is a text... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
This is a text that links the quest for social justice with worship (vv. 6-7).
During the Crimean War... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
During the Crimean War (1854-1856), Florence Nightingale organized a corps of nurses to tend to the
We got our... -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
We got our highfalutin' words of wisdom from seminary, but we had to translate them for the people i
With the advancement... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
With the advancement of higher education and the need to specialize, the age of "professionalism" be
Jesus wants his... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Jesus wants his disciples to be the salt of the earth (v. 13).
Disciples influence the world... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Disciples influence the world as salt affects food.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 7 (2014) -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Matthew 5:38-48 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
In Preaching Daily... -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
In Preaching Daily a story is told about a little two-year-old boy named Blaine Morris who ob

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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
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For September 14, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A sheep stuffy or toy.

* * *

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

Did you know that Jesus traveled around and hunted for people who were doing something illegal and breaking the laws? (Let them respond.) He really did.And when he found someone who was doing something illegal, do you know what he did with them? (Let them respond.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Our text tells us that we are skilled in doing evil (v.22). An anonymous late medieval treatise titled German Theology tells us why:

It is the nature and property of the creature to seek itself and its own things, and this and that, here and there, and in all that it does and leaves undone as desire is to its own advantage and benefit. (Varieties of Mystic Experience, p.162)

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers an alternative to this vision:
David Coffin
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people. This is despite their resistance to repent or simple straying from the community of faith. We can observe family and loved ones at various points of their faith journey through the lens of each of these texts. Jeremiah 4 informs the people their neglect of honoring their covenant with God is about to result in disastrous consequences. Paul recalls in 1 Timothy 1 how he thought he was falling God’s will until he had his literal come to Jesus moment!

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (vv. 6-7)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told stories to illustrate to the people God's gladness whenever anyone turned to him and chose life. There is still rejoicing in heaven whenever any one of us turns to God.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I think I'm too insignificant for you to bother with me.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I don't bother with other people, but only with myself.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Proper 12/Pentecost 10/Ordinary Time 17, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)

The psalm writer has an interesting perspective on the origin of injustice in our world. He begins this psalm with the assertion that those who do not believe in God are "fools." He goes on to accuse them of corruption and of being incapable of doing good. Later on he writes, "Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord?" (v. 4).

Elizabeth Achtemeier
"Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them" (v. 12). Ours is a society that does not accept that as the Word of God. Many people do not believe that God judges anyone. Rather, the Lord is a forgiving God, a kindly deity who overlooks all wrong. As in the Gospel lesson for the morning, the Lord searches for the one lost sheep and returns it gently to the fold, or he hunts for the one lost coin until he finds it. God accepts the lost as they are, we think, overlooking Jesus' teaching about repentance and transformation of life.
Scott Suskovic
We usually don't spend too much time thinking about our own sinfulness. On occasion, of course, our feelings of guilt overwhelm us. We can't stop thinking about our sinfulness. If we are in that situation, we may need to talk that out with someone. Apart from times like that, we don't think much about our own sinfulness. We have ways of getting around that.

R. Robert Cueni
Back before the ways of the Taliban became common knowledge, there was a fascinating little article about how they jailed barbers when they didn't do culturally correct haircuts.1 The newspaper reported that young men in Kabul, Afghanistan, have started wearing their hair the way the actor Leonardo DiCaprio wears his. Long, not only on the sides, but so long in the front that hair can drop over the eyes. They call the style, "the Titanic," named for the blockbuster movie starring DiCaprio about the 1912 sinking of the cruise ship by that name.

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