Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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

Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Reflex Hammers for the Soul -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- David Kalas -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2025
When one of our children was young, she pretended to throw something at me from close range, and the
The Story Continues -- Acts 5:27-32, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Sometimes movies end with the “happily ever after moment.” Finally — Hooray!
If God Has It All Planned What Can We Do About It? -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Redirected Life -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
A medical worker is working long, hard, stress filled hours in an urban hospital setting.
Persistent Grace -- Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 -- David Coffin -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2025
All three of today’s texts can be viewed as good news that God never gives up on God’s people.
Miracles -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Tinkerbell is the delightful sprite in Peter Pan who drifts between the world of senses and
Planting Seeds -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2025
Well, it’s autumn, and by now the seeds we planted in the spring either took root and produced or el
To Know Him -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
The old idiom claims of certain people, “To know them is to love them.” A variation on the saying mi
Investment Portfolio -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2025
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind.
Do You Want to Be Made Well? Make it Happen! -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 5:1-9 -- Frank Ramirez -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work.
Suffering Servants -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- David Kalas -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2025
Not all suffering is equal.
The Heavenly Power and Cosmic Presence of Christ -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
Acts 1:1-11
Live Courageously Against the Grain of the World -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
The Best Ending -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- David Kalas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Our family watched a movie together recently that left us feeling a bit mixed.
Rebuilding Hope -- Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Luke 18:1-8 -- David Coffin -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2025
What happens when one’s past life narrative or goals in life have drastically shifted or collapsed?
Not All Scores Are Final -- Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Joel 2:23-32 -- David Kalas -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2025
I am a scoreboard watcher.
Greatness Finding Itself -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31 -- Wayne Brouwer -- All Saints Day - C -- 2025
Fred Craddock tells of a vacation encounter in the Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee years ago t
Hear Me Out -- Luke 19:1-10, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2025
One of the features of synagogue worship is the Shema.
Glimpses of the End -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Haggai 1:15b--2:9, Luke 20:27-38, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21, Psalm 98 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2025
Haggai 1:15b--2:9
What Kind of Community? -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- David Coffin -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2025
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities.
Who Belongs Here? -- Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2025
An upper middle-aged man is politely led out of the factory where he works by both the union and man
We Wish You a Merry Baptism? -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- David Kalas -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2025
In the logic of the church year, we have spent four weeks anticipating the coming of the Lord, follo
God Makes It Happen -- Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2025
Isaiah 62:1-5
Becoming Healthy -- Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2025
It seems everybody knows about Victor Hugo’s greatest novel, even if few have actually read it.
Messenger's Message -- Luke 4:21-30, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- David Coffin -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2025
Imagine an aging church leader or preacher who has seen one technology tool after another change the

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2025) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2025
Acts 1:1-11
Sermon Illustrations for Easter 7 (2025) -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2025
Acts 16:16-34
Sermon Illustrations for Day of Pentecost (2025) -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2025
Genesis 11:1-9
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2025) -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2025
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12 (2025) -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 8:26-39 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2025
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a and Psalm 42-43
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 8 | OT 13 (2025) -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, Luke 9:51-62 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2025
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 and Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 9 | OT 14 (2025) -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Psalm 30 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2025
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 10 | OT 15 (2025) -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2025
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2025) -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2025
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2025) -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2025
Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 13 | OT 18 (2025) -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2025
Hosea 11: 1-13
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2025) -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2025
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 15 | OT 20 (2025) -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2025
Isaiah 5:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | OT 21 (2025) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 77:1-6
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2025) -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 2:4-13
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 (2025) -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2025) -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 (2025) -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13, Psalm 79:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 8:18--9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2025) -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | OT 27 (2025) -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 -- Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2025
Lamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 24 | OT 29 (2025) -- Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Luke 18:1-8 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2025
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2025) -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14 -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2025
Joel 2:22-32
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2025) -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- All Saints Day - C -- 2025
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 and Psalm 149
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | OT 31 (2025) -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2025
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 (2025) -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2025
Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wild fires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL