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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

This passage from John illustrates... -- John 13:31-35 -- Easter Day - C
This passage from John illustrates that Jesus' perfection is more than greater quantities of basic h
Back in the late fifties... -- John 13:31-35 -- Easter Day - C
Back in the late fifties John A. T.
And on the sabbath day... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
"And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue ..." We find and almost overlook in verse 14 th
Dr. Walter A. Maier, founder... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Dr. Walter A.
To our modern sensibilities, it... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
To our modern sensibilities, it would not have been a pretty sight.
I'd give my life to... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
"I'd give my life to play like that," said an admirer to Paderewski.
Salvation. Completeness. Fullness. Perfection. Fulfillment... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Salvation. Completeness. Fullness. Perfection. Fulfillment. Wholeness.
The power of the Christian... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
The power of the Christian faith might be compared with the power of imagination as discussed by Geo
In the Mozart opera The... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
In the Mozart opera The Magic Flute Prince Tamino and Papageno must undergo severe "tests and
I lived for two years... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
I lived for two years at Holden Village, the Lutheran Retreat Center in the Cascade Mountains of Was
How we see or understand... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
How we see or understand things around us, or how we interpret or accept them in our lives depends o
Back in the 1920s an... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Back in the 1920s an evangelist told the story of a widow and her three children who had nothing at
Not just any announcer will... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Not just any announcer will do.
The people of Lystra were... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Easter Day - C
The people of Lystra were flabbergasted by Paul's ministry of healing, so flabbergasted that they be
In some societies, after a... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Easter Day - C
In some societies, after a healing miracle has occurred, it is natural and automatic to offer a sacr
One of the box office... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Easter Day - C
One of the box office smashes of the eighties was a movie entitled, Jewel of the Nile.
When the Beatles were at... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Easter Day - C
When the Beatles were at the peak of their success, one of them made the statement, "We are more pop
Walter Rauschenbusch defines evangelism as... -- Acts 13:44-52 -- Easter Day - C
Walter Rauschenbusch defines evangelism as
O! beware, my lord of... -- Acts 13:44-52 -- Easter Day - C
O! beware, my lord of jealousy,It is the green-ey'd monsterwhich doth mock
In Taize, France there is... -- Acts 13:44-52 -- Easter Day - C
In Taize, France there is a community of lay Christians who have made a wholesome contributio
Saul, the man who had... -- Acts 9:1-20 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Saul, the man who had persecuted the heretical Christian sect, now found himself confronted by Jesus
The skill of a pool... -- Acts 9:1-20 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
The skill of a pool player lies in knowing how to get the balls to change directions.
In the Chicago Tribune, Bob... -- Acts 5:27-32; 40-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
In the Chicago Tribune, Bob Greene reflects on famous people.
The apostles were filled with... -- Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
The apostles were filled with marvelous, new words about Jesus and were running afoul of the jealous
Allan Bloom, a professor of... -- Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Allan Bloom, a professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago, stirred a national debate about

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Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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
George Reed
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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