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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The dirt road invited her... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
The dirt road invited her to leave the highway that April morning, beckoning her toward woods that g
While society is often caught... -- Mark 2:23-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
While society is often caught up in rules and regulations, God is concerned with matters of the hear
A few years ago a... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
A few years ago a drought fell on the eastern part of the United States. No rain fell for weeks.
A pastor was visiting with... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
A pastor was visiting with a young couple that had just moved into the neighborhood.
The symbolic city of Jerusalem... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
The symbolic city of Jerusalem, where no temple and no sun are needed because the presence and glor
At the end of the... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
At the end of the movie, Fiddler on the Roof, the Jewish villagers have been ordered off their land
Go, said Jesus. Your faith... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
"Go," said Jesus. "Your faith has healed you."Ruth A. Morgan wrote:
Does suffering serve some purpose... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
Does suffering serve some purpose?
As amazing as Jesus' miracles... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
As amazing as Jesus' miracles are, what seems equally amazing is the response of those who witnessed
A professor of 19th century... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
A professor of 19th century American literature illustrates the power of point-of-view in writing by
A family was putting the... -- Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 -- 1994
A family was putting the finishing touches on their Christmas tree when the five-year-old son asked,
Ida Mae Kempel tells the... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
Ida Mae Kempel tells the true story of a 12-year-old boy she calls Jeremy.
Anyone who has read the... -- Mark 2:23-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
Anyone who has read the book or seen the movie version of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, st
Oliver Goldsmith, 18th century English... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Oliver Goldsmith, 18th century English poet and dramatist, said, "Filial love and obedience is the f
In the year 1549 the... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
In the year 1549 the Duke of Orleans in the city of Blois, France, offered a prize to anyone who cou
Matthew's gospel skips from mountain... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
Matthew's gospel skips from mountain to mountain.
It was a summer Sunday... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
It was a summer Sunday evening when everything is supposed to be quiet in a small town in western Pe
Before the smoke alarms even... -- Hebrews 10:31-39 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
Before the smoke alarms even sensed a problem, John and Sandy woke to find a major fire beginning to
Money, or more correctly, the... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
Money, or more correctly, the lack of money is a problem in many congregations.
In a recent baseball game... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
In a recent baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees the Yankees trailed by
It is reported that the... -- Isaiah 35:4-7 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
It is reported that the newspaper counselor, Ann Landers, receives an average of 10,000 letters eac
I have learned silence from... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
"I have learned silence from the talkative, tolerance from the intolerant, and kindness from the unk
A comic strip showed a... -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
A comic strip showed a waiter bringing a pizza to a man's table.
The unity of the disciples... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
The unity of the disciples will be shown by their keeping God's commandments, especially the new c
Our pastor drove a few... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
Our pastor drove a few of us boys from Marine City where we lived, down to Algonac eight miles away

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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