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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

An elderly man came to... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-28 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
An elderly man came to President Abraham Lincoln with a tale of sorrow.
This story seems to be... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
This story seems to be filled with words like, astonished and amazed.
Paul seems to be saying... -- 1 Corinthians 7:17-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
Paul seems to be saying, "Bloom where you are planted." Martin Luther talked about the priesthood o
They followed Jesus because John... -- John 1:35-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
They followed Jesus because John had said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" and they knew they had found t
I once saw a cartoon... -- Acts 10:34-38 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
I once saw a cartoon that had to do with worship.
In ancient mythologies, Wisdom is... -- Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12 -- 1994
In ancient mythologies, Wisdom is almost always feminine.
The irate employee stomps into... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
The irate employee stomps into the paymaster's office and shouts, "There's been a terrible mistake!
As we witness in this... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
As we witness in this scripture reading, there is a price to be paid for living the Christian life.
Bob was a young man... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Bob was a young man who always listened to his parents and would never rebel against their wishes.
You know I can't play... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
"You know I can't play football after school," said David.
Suppose today you threw a... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Suppose today you threw a large, rough rock into a stream of water.
and to clothe yourselves with... -- Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
"... and to clothe yourselves with the new self, ..."
Former President Jimmy Carter worships... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Former President Jimmy Carter worships in a baptist church in Plains, Georgia.
If we listen to this... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
If we listen to this passage there is a bombshell within it with which we are over-due to cope.
Sometimes sin is like a... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
Sometimes sin is like a savings account -- it is compounded on a regular basis.
My father always had a... -- Lamentations 3:22-33 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
My father always had a good sense of humor and he always had a backyard garden, too.
This text can be and... -- Ephesians 5:21-31 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
This text can be and often is badly misused, to the detriment of many a marriage.
One evening at a party... -- Ephesians 4:25-5:2 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
One evening at a party Charlie Chaplin was doing impressions of famous people of his time.
One Sunday morning I was... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
One Sunday morning I was preparing for a baptism during the service.
Dr. Peter Wise was a... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Dr. Peter Wise was a psychologist in Madison, Wisconsin, and Dr. Fred Koenecke was a psychiatrist.
The Son of Man is... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
"The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after bei
Who do people say that... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
"Who do people say that I am?"
Crunch! The dry leaves announced... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
Crunch! The dry leaves announced each step she took down the wooded path.
It was a recurring dream... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
It was a recurring dream. In it she was on a journey, one she had been on for many years.
A rather skeptical young man... -- Hebrews 4:14-16 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
A rather skeptical young man moved into the little village.

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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
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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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