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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Suffering Christians everywhere rejoice in... -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
Suffering Christians everywhere rejoice in the belief that God's promise to the Israelites of a new
A story is told of... -- Malachi 3:13-4:2a, 5-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
A story is told of a woman who spent a great deal of her time thinking about the Second Coming of Je
Do you remember when you... -- Malachi 3:13-4:2a, 5-6 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1995
Do you remember when you were a child and you did something that violated the rules?
To put it bluntly, Mary... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
To put it bluntly, Mary was having a hellish year. First, her father became ill.
Contemporary studies of the word... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Contemporary studies of the word "blessed" are wont to substitute the word "happy" in its place.
In the early days of... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
In the early days of this nation's history, it was a common experience for Presbyterian, Baptist, an
Within the book of Haggai... -- Haggai 1:15b-2:9 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Within the book of Haggai we find God speaking through the prophet and commanding the Hebrew people
How many of us would... -- Haggai 1:15b-2:9 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
How many of us would try to reassure a frightened child by saying, "The Holy Spirit of God is with y
Born on Charles Lindbergh's fourteenth... -- Haggai 1:15b-2:9 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Born on Charles Lindbergh's fourteenth birthday, Neal Loving entered into a caring family living in
Corrie ten Boom, a cherished... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Corrie ten Boom, a cherished saint who as a girl survived the concentration camps of World War II Ge
Oscar Romero, martyr of El... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Oscar Romero, martyr of El Salvador, preached on a Sunday shortly before his death.
James knew his death was... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
James knew his death was not going to be an easy one.
In his celebrated autobiography, Frederick... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
In his celebrated autobiography, Frederick Douglass tells the story of his life as a slave.
Brenda is one of those... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
"Brenda" is one of those people with infectious enthusiasm for life.
So many times a pastor... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
So many times a pastor listens to the complaints of a person against the rest of the family: I, of c
In spite of its avowed... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
In spite of its avowed profaneness the television show Saturday Night Live does score some good poin
In the southern part of... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
In the southern part of the United States, there is an annoying weed that grows in the forests that
A man, who was not... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
A man, who was not very religious, was often irritated by his pious neighbor, a woman who insisted o
The team stood there, stunned... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
The team stood there, stunned, after the coach told them the news.
Sometimes when a person has... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Sometimes when a person has come to me for counseling because of incredible stress bearing down on t
Those who do evil always... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Those who do evil always attempt to cover it up.
Schoolchildren are often asked to... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Schoolchildren are often asked to envision the future.
The regional meeting ended on... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
The regional meeting ended on a positive note that reflected the whole event.
In an English village during... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
In an English village during the Middle Ages, a tyrannical nobleman was determined to undermine the
One formula for presenting a... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
One formula for presenting a good thesis was most favored for decades.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For September 7, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him…. (vv. 28-29)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pair of heavy gloves you might use to protect your hands when you are working or gardening.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

Schuyler Rhodes
It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
Paul E. Robinson
Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
Gary L. Carver
The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

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