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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The devout treasurer of a... -- Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
The devout treasurer of a small manufacturing firm lost his job when he refused to alter the books.
Great is the art of... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
"Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art of ending ..."*
This is my favorite part... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
"This is my favorite part of The Messiah, said the pastor to his wife.
In the May 27, 1987... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
In the May 27, 1987 issue of Time magazine on the question of the ethics of the nation, the a
The University of Kansas had... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
The University of Kansas had just won the national basketball championship in Kansas City in the spr
In this simple, loving story... -- John 21:1-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
In this simple, loving story from the end of John's Gospel, the emphasis is on feeding.
Tired, stripped down, quiet, preoccupied... -- John 21:1-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Tired, stripped down, quiet, preoccupied fishermen doing their life work.
Some years ago a church... -- John 21:1-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Some years ago a church purchased a piece of land with an eye to future expansion.
Even their familiar old lives... -- John 21:1-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Even their familiar old lives were no longer satisfying nor successful without Jesus.
The political prisoner was slipped... -- Acts 13:15-16, 26-33 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
The political prisoner was slipped a loaf of bread.
Verse 27 is key in... -- Acts 13:15-16, 26-33 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Verse 27 is key in understanding this passage -- due to a lack of recognition and misunderstanding t
The Sunday school teacher read... -- Acts 13:15-16, 26-33 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
The Sunday school teacher read from her Bible storybook the account of Jonah and the whale to her fi
Am I fulfilled? That question... -- Acts 13:15-16, 26-33 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
"Am I fulfilled?" That question has become a major preoccupation.
The historian, Arnold Toynbee shows... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
The historian, Arnold Toynbee shows how civilizations come to birth.
There was a volume written... -- Acts 5:12-16 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
There was a volume written some years ago about the establishment of the nation Israel entitled,
This passage deals with a... -- Acts 5:12-16 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
This passage deals with a special endowment of power upon the apostles which prompted fear, reverenc
Soren Kierkegaard wrote a parable... -- Acts 5:12-16 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Søren Kierkegaard wrote a parable about a king who fell in love with a peasant girl he had seen in o
In Charles Dickens' A Tale... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
In Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, he tells about two prisoners on route to the guillo
Reading this warm and positive... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Reading this warm and positive greeting is an uplifting experience of joy and affirmation of faith i
Edmund Schlink, a German theologian... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Edmund Schlink, a German theologian, who taught at the University of Heidelberg, wrote a book of ser
The journal entry of a... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
The journal entry of a middle-aged pastor, written during a season of looking back:
The pastor was dedicating a... -- Revelation 1:4-18 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
The pastor was dedicating a painting during the worship hour.
What is the last book... -- Revelation 1:4-18 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
"What is the last book of the Bible?" the Sunday school teacher asked her fifth graders.
Every generation leaves behind a... -- Revelation 1:4-18 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Every generation leaves behind a legacy of some sort.
There is a Providence, God... -- Revelation 1:4-18 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
There is a Providence, God, who means us well.

Political Pulpit

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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