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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A contemporary Latin American memorial... -- Daniel 12:1-3 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1997
A contemporary Latin American memorial service for Christian martyrs who have died for their faith s
A friend of mine has... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1997
A friend of mine has raised his stepson for five of his eight years of life.
It's so easy as pastors... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
It's so easy as pastors to try to change people for the Gospel.
There were a lot of... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1997
There were a lot of questions about the new service I introduced, "The Blessings of the Animals." Ma
How comfortable has the church... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1997
How comfortable has the church become in her being called the "body of Christ"?
The main negotiating for an... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1997
The main negotiating for an end to the war in Bosnia occurred at the Wright Patterson Air Force Bas
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russia's great nineteenth... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1997
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russia's great nineteenth century novelist, as a young man was cast into prison
The apostle reminds us that... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1997
The apostle reminds us that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and at that time
When you think back to... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1997
When you think back to the tragedy that occurred in Oklahoma City in 1995, what picture comes to you
Saint Paul uses the example... -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1997
Saint Paul uses the example of common pottery in 2 Corinthians 4:7.
The Walt Disney film The... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
The Walt Disney film The Lion King was the fourth biggest money-making movie of all time.
In the World Almanac, I... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
In the World Almanac, I recently counted at least 152 different Christian denominations in the Unite
The Butterball Turkey Company offers... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
The Butterball Turkey Company offers a hotline so that consumers can call in and ask questions about
Although many churches have suffered... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Although many churches have suffered over the years from scandals, one denomination always seems to
How are you able to... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1997
"How are you able to do it, Dorothy?"
When the Berlin Wall was... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1997
When the Berlin Wall was constructed in the heat of the Cold War, there was left standing a simple c
In Peru, archaeologists have uncovered... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1997
In Peru, archaeologists have uncovered a "portrait vessel of a ruler" from the time of the Moche cul
Saint Paul's famous struggle with... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1997
Saint Paul's famous struggle with his "thorn" in his flesh is a wonderful reminder that we must leav
Eventually the Christian faith leads... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1997
Eventually the Christian faith leads the believer into a life that embraces the neighbor.
William E. Diehl, former Manager... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1997
William E.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1997
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man who knew how to "make the most of the time," as Paul writes, "always a
The apple may not fall... -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1997
The apple may not fall so very far from the tree, but sometimes it drops with such impact that the t
Saint Paul writes about gifts... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1997
Saint Paul writes about gifts that God gives the church to build up the Body of Christ.
A couple of years ago... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1997
A couple of years ago a severe earthquake rumbled through the city of Kobe in Japan.
God promises to help us... -- Hebrews 2:14-18 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1997
God promises to help us when we are tested, not to remove the test.

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.

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