Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The city seems like a... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 1997
The "city" seems like a strange and uninviting image for heaven.
A pastor was looking for... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1997
A pastor was looking for a good illustration with which to help his Confirmation students to underst
There is a character in... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- 1997
There is a character in the play, The Trial of God, by Elie Wiesel, by the name of Berish.
The motorist stood with hands... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
The motorist stood with hands on hips, shaking his head in frustration. The battery was dead.
It is a strange thing... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1997
It is a strange thing, but those who canvass for charities report that the best givers are usually f
Out of the horror of... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1997
Out of the horror of the civil war in El Salvador during the 1980s comes the touching story of Juani
God always calls us to... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1997
God always calls us to act in whatever situation we find ourselves.
Those Wedding Bells Are Breaking... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1997
"Those Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine": do you remember that tune?
There is a popular movement... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1997
There is a popular movement toward better fitness and health.
Do only preachers preach Christ... -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- 1997
Do only preachers preach Christ?
What we will do to... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
What we will do to avoid pain, both physical and mental! Understandably so.
A good shoe will take... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
A good shoe will take on the unique form of the foot that wears it.
The young curate lived alone... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
The young curate lived alone in an apartment.
Nobody liked Corey. He was... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Nobody liked Corey. He was a bully par excellence.
When I was in Egypt... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1997
When I was in Egypt in 1995 on a mission trip, the things that we saw each day were just overwhelmin
Before we buy a product... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1997
Before we buy a product, we like to know if it has been tested to do what it is supposed to do.
Barnetts Creek Baptist Church is... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1997
Barnetts Creek Baptist Church is an all-white congregation in Thomasville, Georgia.
Colorado was kicking around the... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1997
Colorado was kicking around the idea of passing a new state law.
When Alfredo arrived at school... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1997
When Alfredo arrived at school nobody really befriended him except Mark.
There is a story about... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1997
There is a story about a man who spent his whole life telling other people about the castle that he
A very amusing incident at... -- Ephesians 4:25--5:2 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1997
A very amusing incident at a church music camp was hearing the rules of the laundry shack sung to An
The pastoral team of three... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1997
The pastoral team of three at St.
Beulah Lund is a Washington... -- Hebrews 2:14-18 -- 1997
Beulah Lund is a Washington state farm wife who embarked on a scary experience.
Imagine a child custody case... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1997
Imagine a child custody case where two parents are fighting one another for sole custody of their jo
The plot of the movie... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1997
The plot of the movie is this: There is only one hour left in the life of planet Earth.

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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL