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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

There are people who qualify... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
There are people who qualify for the title "encourager," and they are worth so much in the Church.
Staying awake at critical times... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Staying awake at critical times can save something as precious as our own souls, or something as mun
Anthony de Mello, the Jesuit... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Anthony de Mello, the Jesuit retreat leader and writer, once told a story about keeping awake: The M
Don, Ted, and Ruth were... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Don, Ted, and Ruth were brothers and sister.
Grace Church was in a... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Grace Church was in a unique location.
John watched from his front... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
John watched from his front porch as the City Public Works truck turned onto his block.
Mom, what will I be... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2002
"Mom, what will I be when I grow up?" Jenny asked.
Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes that... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2002
Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes that throughout his youth, he was afflicted with sore throats and tonsi
A small group of worshipers... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
A small group of worshipers in a mainline denomination began raising their hands in the Sunday morni
Our good neighbor in one... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
Our good neighbor in one of our parishes was a keeper of bees.
Jesus set the quintessential pattern... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
Jesus set the quintessential pattern for humility.
She sat paralyzed. The news... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
She sat paralyzed. The news had crushed her. Her son was dead.
Dave is awakened by a... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
Dave is awakened by a rat-a-tat-tat on the door.
It seems to me that... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
It seems to me that every year one of my confirmation students asks me a question about evolution an
One of John Mellencamp's newest... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
One of John Mellencamp's newest albums is called Cuttin' Heads.
In The Hero's Life, author... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
In The Hero's Life, author Richard Ben Cramer acknowledges that Joe DiMaggio was one of the most ski
More than one sitcom has... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2002
More than one sitcom has been based on a simple premise.
In the film Jesus of... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- 2002
In the film Jesus of Montreal, an actor, Daniel, is asked to perform in a Passion play.
Muriel was in the hospital... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Muriel was in the hospital, awaiting an amputation.
For those living according to... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
For those living according to the gospel, the manner of our lives is changed, so that we behave with
Why do they call Saint... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
"Why do they call Saint Paul a 'saint'?" the child wanted to know. "What is a saint?"
Benjamin Franklin is the founder... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Benjamin Franklin is the founder of the first lending library.
Workers who were paid piecework... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Workers who were paid piecework harvested the crops grown on our family's fruit farm.
Kids are constantly shouting out... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Kids are constantly shouting out, "It's not fair!" A brother or a sister gets something and they don
I was the pastor to... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
I was the pastor to a family involved only on the fringes of the church.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 10, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A treasure chest containing photos of some of your family members and friends, and a small, worn-out bag or purse. The treasure chest could be as simple as a small, metal lockbox, or you could have some fun with a larger box that actually looks like a treasure chest.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But before I tell you the story, I have something that I want to show you. (Show the treasure chest.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Personal rant here — since childhood I’ve been annoyed that the winners of the 100-meter dash at the Olympics are hailed as the world’s fastest humans. To me it’s been obvious that the greatest, and fastest, athletes are the women and men who endure the trials and tribulations throughout the 26.2-mile marathons, and who then somehow find it within themselves to sprint to the finish line.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return… (Luke 12:35-36)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
-- Psalm 50:23

Clayton A. Lord Jr.
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them. Our heroes are men and women that we look up to. Our heroes are those individuals that inspire us and help us to strive to be our very best.

There is a cute story about a Texan who was trying to impress on a Bostonian, the valor of the heroes of the Alamo. After finishing his story about Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and countless others, he says "I'll bet you never had anyone so brave around Boston."

"Did you ever hear of Paul Revere?" asked the Bostonian.

Thomas A. Renquist
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of. "Sell your possessions," he says, "give alms ... risk ... be dressed for action ... have your lamps lit ... be prepared ... be alert." Sounds very ominous, quite scary to me.

Christopher Reeves, the actor, knows what it is to be afraid. On Memorial Day weekend, 1995, in a tragic fall from his horse, he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and fighting for his every breath.
John W. Wurster
"Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah" (1:10; cf. Genesis 19).

Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as long as it feels good?

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