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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

In her Passages, Gail Sheehy... -- Jeremiah 23:2-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
In her Passages, Gail Sheehy writes about a clergyman who could only be compassionate from a
In the book A Shepherd... -- Jeremiah 23:2-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
In the book A Shepherd Looks at the Twenty-Third Psalm, a number of interesting aspects of sh
Sallman's portrait of the Christ... -- Jeremiah 23:2-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Sallman's portrait of the Christ as the Good Shepherd has been reproduced in great numbers.
The compliment nearly knocked her... -- Jeremiah 23:2-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
The compliment nearly knocked her over.
A man may devote himself... -- Colossians 1:13-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
"A man may devote himself to death and destruction to save a nation; but no nation will devote itsel
A tramp was standing in... -- Colossians 1:13-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
A tramp was standing in front of a Christian bookstore window.
Faith -- is the Pierless Bridge... -- Colossians 1:13-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Faith -- is the Pierless BridgeSupporting what we see
Children are notorious for taking... -- Colossians 1:13-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Children are notorious for taking toys apart to find out what makes them work.
The Kingdom of Heaven, said... -- John 12:9-19 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
"The Kingdom of Heaven," said the Lord Christ, "is among you." But what, precisely, is the Kingdo
Do you remember the... -- John 12:9-19 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Do you remember the old TV show from the early days of television?
The gruesome martyrdom of a... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
The gruesome martyrdom of a family that this text reports especially strikes us as unreal.
One of the most dangerous... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
One of the most dangerous parts of any manned space voyage is the reentry into earth's atmosphere.
Fundamentally Easter declares that we... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Fundamentally Easter declares that we are God's children in life and in death and that no condition
A child attempted to force... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
A child attempted to force open a bud and make it into a flower in full bloom.
I know that my Redeemer... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
"I know that my Redeemer liveth ..." has become one of the beloved portions of The Messiah by
Shortly before his death in... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Shortly before his death in the early 1920s, the electrical genius Steinmetz was asked what he thoug
Like so many others in... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Like so many others in his South American country, he had suffered torture at the hands of its right
During WW II in Germany... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
During WW II in Germany the asylums were emptied. Warm bodies were needed.
Idleness means being unwilling to... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Idleness means being unwilling to take responsibility for your own life.
Emily Dickinson knows that no... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Emily Dickinson knows that no "narcotic can still the tooth that nibbles at the soul." There is a gn
There is much concern about... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
There is much concern about the way our welfare system has developed.
Our sisters and brothers in... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Our sisters and brothers in Christ in South Africa are powerful witnesses to the endurance which gai
When Martin Luther was asked... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
When Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew the world was going to end tomorrow, he rep
A man once had a... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
A man once had a dream in which it seemed that he arrived in heaven.
It is a sad story... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
It is a sad story, but one which has been repeated many times in the cities of our land.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For August 3, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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