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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In Central Michigan College, during... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
In Central Michigan College, during my freshman year, Miss Jones (as I shall call her) taught Englis
Harold Shippy and Dale Gates... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
Harold Shippy and Dale Gates were the adult drivers and chaperones taking some teen boys to Mammoth
In his book, Congregational Evangelism... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
In his book, Congregational Evangelism: A Pastor's View, Maxie Dunnam tells the story of a young wo
Today that group has expanded... -- Hebrews 4:14-16 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
Today that group has expanded to 12,000 who gather each morning for three prayer meetings -- at 4 a.
When I was a young... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
When I was a young child, perhaps three or four years old, I made a dreadful mistake.
The late Peter Taylor Forsythe... -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
The late Peter Taylor Forsythe was called the Karl Barth of English Congregationalism.
Dave Roever was a man... -- Hebrews 2:9-11 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
Dave Roever was a man who felt God had called him to be an evangelist.
Tertullian wrote, We pray for... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
Tertullian wrote, "We pray for our rulers, for the state of the world, for the peace of all things
Truth is an elusive subject... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
Truth is an elusive subject, hard to define without a context.
The research had been in... -- Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
The research had been in process for over 10 years.
It is easy to believe... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
It is easy to believe that we know it all or our actions are an end-all.
Richard Foster describes this certain... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
Richard Foster describes this certain prayer that he once heard a man offer: "Strange as it may seem
When I was in high... -- 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
When I was in high school, our youth group would have a food drive each year.
The late, brilliant theologian Joseph... -- Mark 16:15-20 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
The late, brilliant theologian Joseph Sittler had the following to say about the mission of the chur
Sometimes we believe it is... -- 1 John 4:1-11 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Sometimes we believe it is impossible to love one another. Case in point is Lieutenant Deshazer.
In his book Healing the... -- 1 John 3:18-24 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In his book Healing the Shame that Binds You, author and lecturer John Bradshaw explores the basis f
The story is told of... -- 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
The story is told of a lady who lived in a gloomy basement apartment.
A man put a note... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
A man put a note on a dollar bill and asked all who spent it to write down what it was spent for.
Tiffany brought the seed home... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
Tiffany brought the seed home from school, carefully carrying the little cup so the soil would not s
Paul's words about looking to... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
Paul's words about looking to things unseen are out of step with a culture that understands identity
A man decided to surprise... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
A man decided to surprise his wife and hire a cleaning team to do the spring cleaning.
A man was on a... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
A man was on a European trip with his wife.
Christ emptied himself in death... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
Christ emptied himself in death -- the extreme limit of self-
Perhaps the temple officials who... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Perhaps the temple officials who allowed the money-changers and purveyors of perfection for sacrific
The baseball community speaks fondly... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
The baseball community speaks fondly of "Yogiisms." "Yogiisms" are anecdotes attributed to Yogi Berr

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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
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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