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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The astronauts who have viewed... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- 1994
The astronauts who have viewed Earth from space have a very different perspective than do we who ha
The United States has one... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
The United States has one of the most stable governments on the face of the earth.
Following some good and not... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
Following some good and not-so-good experiences in public schools, the young man was sent off to his
A group of boys was... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
A group of boys was playing a pick-up game of baseball one summer.
I find that I can... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
I find that I can easily identify with Thomas.
Jesse was anxious to tell... -- John 6:4-15 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Jesse was anxious to tell someone what he had seen.
Enshrined in the Church of... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Enshrined in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is Calvary, the place where Jesus died on
It's a great story and... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
It's a great story and probably true.
A certain carpenter hated to... -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
A certain carpenter hated to dress up. He didn't even own a suit. Then his wife died.
When our twin granddaughters and... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
When our twin granddaughters and their parents came a very long distance to visit us, they were stil
Charlton Heston had to learn... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
Charlton Heston had to learn something new for the 1967 movie, Counterpoint.
As a young Sister, I... -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
As a young Sister, I was surprised to hear an older member of our community talking to the plants i
In the old days thick... -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In the old days thick, high walls were built around the biggest and best cities.
All gifts, important or unimportant... -- 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
All gifts, important or unimportant, come from the same source, and all are necessary.
To receive the spirit of... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
To receive the spirit of sonship means to be adopted by God, and for Paul, the mark of Christianity
A number of years ago... -- Sirach 44:1-10, 13-14 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
A number of years ago my family and I traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The old sacrifices performed by... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
The old sacrifices performed by the high priest in the Holy Place only helped people "stay even" unt
She was having a really... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
She was having a really bad case of the "whatifs." She was trying to decide whether or not to chang
Divorce carries within it the... -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
Divorce carries within it the pain which is its own punishment: the unraveling of a relationship thr
French General Philippe Morillon, in... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
French General Philippe Morillon, in his role as commander of the U.N.
Here's a quiz for you... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Here's a quiz for you.
The story is told about... -- Mark 1:29-30 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
The story is told about a psychiatrist who was worn out by all the pressures of caring for the prob
That is not the way... -- Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
"That is not the way you learned Christ!" We can understand these words as suggesting a school of th
A voice crying in the... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
A voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!" It is the voice of John the Bapt
The gift of Christian unity... -- Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
The gift of Christian unity has already been given, but it is also the final objective of a gradual

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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