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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

More than one tale can tell -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53, Psalm 93 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Ascension Day is perhaps one of the least celebrated of the major Christian feasts.
Mixed reactions -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- David Kalas -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
The promos for a new movie feature all sorts of glowing quotes from an assortment of reviews.
The jar left behind -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42, Psalm 95 -- William H. Shepherd -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
I was reading the work of a well-known biblical critic who said, "Adequate water sources were crucia
What goes up -- Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47 -- David Kalas -- Ascension of the Lord - B
"What goes up must come down." So goes the old saying, in an axiomatic testament to the gravitationa
Grace -- Psalm 103:1-13, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Somewhere along the line religious bodies become anxious and lose their confidence in the grace of G
Certainty -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Everyone I meet wants certainty.
The thief who gave nothing -- Maundy Thursday - A
We've never met, you and I.
Something for Everyone -- 2 Kings 5:1-15ab, Luke 11:1-13, Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
One of the wonderful things about such selections as those chosen for this Sunday is the way in whic
The crops of Canaan -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, Psalm 32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
One night, prowling the corners of a Christian bookstore, I stumbled past the Max Lucado, Dan Jenkin
Right Response -- Acts 15:1-2, 22, 27, Revelation 21:10, 22-27, John 14:23-29 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Just what does God expect of us?
It could happen to you -- Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Psalm 133 -- William H. Shepherd -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
There is a chain of tradition.
The road no one wants to travel -- Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Last winter, I had to attend a meeting in Ontario, Canada.
The Danger of Walking in the Light -- 2 Kings 2:1-12a, Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
In both the Old and New Testaments light is always associated directly with God.
Over the trash can -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-19, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2, Joel 2:1-2, 12-19 -- Ash Wednesday - C
Ashes may not be as familiar or as regular a part of daily life as when most people had wood or coal
Here comes the judge -- Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
The reality therapy of this Pentecost season gets another sobering installment with the arrival of t
Drowsy disciples -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- David Kalas -- First Sunday of Advent - B
I watched with amusement, recently, as a gentleman across the table from me at a church committee me
Tri-focusing -- John 3:1-17, Romans 8:12-17, Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
On a scale of one to ten, rate the influence of the "one in three" and "the three in one" of the Tri
Consequences -- Psalm 94:12-22, Ezekiel 33:1-11, Luke 14:25-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Somewhere someone tells the story of a Sunday School teacher of years gone by who wanted to teach he
Fear, faith and the future -- Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
"Fear" and "faith" are the words that ring through the lessons before us for this Sunday.
Let the real king rule! -- Jeremiah 23:2-6, Colossians 1:13-20, Luke 23:35-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C
What a collage of images of God this day presents.
Witnessing -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
One thing is common in all our lessons for this Sunday, witnessing.
All Saints -- Psalm 65:1-8, Psalm 65:1-8 -- All Saints Day - A
One of the worrisome things that is a part of our heritage is the matter of saints.
Initiative -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43, Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Coming together -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There is a church which actually sets a table for the Lord's supper.
Looking for a leader -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
Leadership is a hot topic in business and society.

Communicating God's Love

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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
In Kasto, Minnesota, there is a business called Drive-a-Tank.
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
This is an uncomfortable text, no matter how one tries to read it.
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
I once wrote an essay "Can none Ph.D.s be saved?" I have friends who are Ph.D.s and I know they are
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2012) -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Richard A. Hasler, Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
NULL -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Like Job, Americans do not like to admit that they are sinners, but rather like to think of themselv
NULL -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
At one time C.S.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
The history of swords is fascinating, spanning thousands of years and a multitude of cultures.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Great Britain's richest woman was American-born Eva Rausing.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
If Jesus was tempted in every way such as we are, then he can understand our temptations.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
As a church youth director, Ardi received lots of flyers in her mailbox.
NULL -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Unlike the rich man in our biblical text, Francis of Assisi was willing to give up all his riches fo
NULL -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Why is Jesus so tough on the rich? Why is it harder to enter God's kingdom if you are rich?
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2012) -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Cynthia E. Cowen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
NULL -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Ron Love -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
In the comic strip The Born Loser, Brutus Thornapple is staring at his computer console.
NULL -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
The book of Job shows us the face of suffering.
NULL -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
When I was a kid I thought I knew everything, so I was always complaining when my folks thought they
NULL -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
If we were to paraphrase these words in today's parlance, it would sound like this: "Who do you thin
NULL -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
We are awed by war stories of heroes who took a bullet for a friend.
NULL -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
In the Hebrew Talmud is an old legend that goes as follows: Rabbi Yoshua ben Levi came upon Elijah t
NULL -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
There were many hikers who came to Nepal to challenge the tallest mountains in the world.
NULL -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Ron Love -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
J.
NULL -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
When I hear the word "servant" I think of Alice the maid in The Brady Bunch or the butlers Je
NULL -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2012
In the popular reality TV show The Apprentice, candidates vie for the privilege to be selecte
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2012) -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- Mark Ellingsen, Richard A. Hasler, Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2012
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
NULL -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2012
Job's encounter with God left him speechless, silenced him regarding all his previous questions and

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