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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

These words are among the... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 1997
These words are among the most exalted, the most inspiring in all literature. Dr.
A recent lawsuit in St... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- 1997
A recent lawsuit in St.
High above the earth 24... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1997
High above the earth 24 satellites belonging to the United States military orbit the planet.
In January of 1995, the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1997
In January of 1995, the United States came very close to being the target of a Russian nuclear missi
It seems like many people... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
It seems like many people have been inoculated against God.
Several years ago Tom Peters... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1997
Several years ago Tom Peters wrote a book titled In Search of Excellence.
A common word that has... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1997
A common word that has become almost a curse is "downsizing." It wasn't even in our vocabulary a few
Richard Wurmbrand is a Rumanian... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1997
Richard Wurmbrand is a Rumanian pastor who has suffered torture for his faith.
Bertha was dying. The young... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1997
Bertha was dying. The young hospital chaplain intern stopped by several times to visit her.
On the way home from... -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- 1997
On the way home from church one Sunday, a little boy asked his mother, "Is it true that we are all m
God defines the nature of... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
God defines the nature of love by his very action of sending Jesus Christ to a world that has rebell
Tim O'Brien, Vietnam veteran, writes... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
Tim O'Brien, Vietnam veteran, writes about the "burden of being alive" in his collection of short st
In the Charles Schulz familiar... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
In the Charles Schulz familiar comic strip Peanuts, Linus and Charlie Brown are all bundled up with
Soren Kierkegaard (nineteenth century Danish... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Søren Kierkegaard (nineteenth century Danish theologian) comments on the extreme personal nature of
For many years the Berlin... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1997
For many years the Berlin Wall was a symbol of irreconcilable division between ideologies.
There are many things in... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1997
There are many things in life that make no sense whatever.
Glenn Miller wrote many beautiful... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1997
Glenn Miller wrote many beautiful pieces of music during the Second World War.
This Ephesians passage reminds us... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1997
This Ephesians passage reminds us that we have been adopted as the children of God through Jesus Chr
Robert thought that his new... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1997
Robert thought that his new beard gave him a distinguished look.
The pastor had finished his... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1997
The pastor had finished his normal elderly visitation talk when the old woman asked him to pray with
John, who was still in... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1997
John, who was still in university, liked to visit his brother, Alec, who was in his last year of sem
One of Vincent van Gogh's... -- Ephesians 4:25--5:2 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1997
One of Vincent van Gogh's most celebrated works is titled The Potato Eaters.
This Ephesians passage teaches us... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1997
This Ephesians passage teaches us about the unity of the Church.
Lewis Thomas, in his book... -- Hebrews 2:14-18 -- 1997
Lewis Thomas, in his book The Youngest Science: Notes of a Medicine-Watcher, observes that today bio
Chlorine is an element. When... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1997
Chlorine is an element.

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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
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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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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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