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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Death had visited their home... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Death had visited their home.
The Christmas carol, Good King... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
The Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas" is dedicated to King Wenceslas of Czechoslovakia.
Henry could take government surplus... -- James 2:1-5 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
Henry could take government surplus food supplies and make them taste almost like Grandma's homestyl
In the book Conceptual Blockbusting... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
In the book Conceptual Blockbusting, A Guide to Better Ideas, author James L.
The Rev. Dr. Laurence (Sic... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
The Rev. Dr.
A DOLLAR SPEAKS by Ray... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A DOLLAR SPEAKS by Ray Jones Money talks, we have been told since childhood.
One day word came to... -- James 2:1-5 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
One day word came to a bishop that one of the churches in his care was ignoring the poor and the hom
No date or place is... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
No date or place is given for this healing, Mark inserts it here as an example of Jesus' activity on
I spend most weekends at... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
I spend most weekends at a retreat house, where I am responsible for housekeeping and cooking, and m
In talking to an acquaintance... -- Mark 13:24-32 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
In talking to an acquaintance one day about growing roses, I said casually, "They are supposed to b
An elderly woman was walking... -- James 2:1-5 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
An elderly woman was walking carefully down the sidewalk in her affluent neighborhood on a bright wi
Not all storms are works... -- Mark 6:45-52<br> -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Not all storms are works of nature.
I am greatly indebted to... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
I am greatly indebted to a book by Ross Parmenter, The Awakened Eye, published in 1968 by Wesleyan
These women had done nothing... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
These women had done nothing wrong; why were they afraid?
I remember once, as a... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
I remember once, as a small child, being lost in a corn field.
Another minister heard about a... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Another minister heard about a young man who wanted to buy something nice for his girlfriend.
A little girl brought a... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A little girl brought a handful of change into the lunch room. "This is for my dessert," she said.
During the spring of 1993... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
During the spring of 1993, about 600 would-be lawyers sat for the California bar exam.
A family attended a week... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
A family attended a week-long retreat at a church camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Many years ago there was... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
Many years ago there was an Easter Day episode in the comic strip called Graves, Inc. Mr.
Once it was, I was... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Once it was, I was dead -- or at least so it seemed.
A Scotsman discovered that he... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A Scotsman discovered that he had accidentally put a sovereign in the offering plate, intending to
Day before yesterday Diana had... -- James 2:1-5 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
Day before yesterday Diana had bid farewell to Harriet, her friend of 42 years.
Henri J.M. Nouwen becomes easily... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Henri J.M. Nouwen becomes easily known as Henri by those who attend his conferences.
Quite often we are like... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
Quite often we are like the people in Jesus' hometown.

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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
30 – Sermons
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Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
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Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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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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