Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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

Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

God’s Love Shines Through the Cross and Changes Us -- Matthew 26:14--27:66, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:11-54 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2020
God’s love shines through the cross and changes us.
Us and Them -- Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3 -- David Kalas -- All Saints Day - A -- 2020
You have no doubt seen, as I have, the lingering effect of the songs that are sung at a loved one’s
Just Love One Another -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35, Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2020
If your congregation(s) are typical for these United States, you’re possibly combining the Last Supp
Ready or Not! -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2020
Okay, perhaps Ferris Bueller is not a biblical prophet, yet the longevity of the 1986 film Ferri
Purposeful Passion -- John 18:1--19:42, Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, Psalm 22 -- David Coffin -- Good Friday - A -- 2020
In the 2002 movie Gran Torino Clint Eastwood plays the recently widowed and disgruntled ret
Sometimes God Defies the World’s Expectations -- Matthew 25:14-30, Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2020
Serving God his way, noting how God sometimes defies the world’s expectations.
Transformation -- John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 10:34-43, Jeremiah 31:1-6, Colossians 3:1-4 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Easter Day - A -- 2020
Second chances are important to us.
How to Arrive -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2020
Welcome to the end of the Christian year.
What Now? -- John 20:19-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Last week felt very much like a climax.
Remembering our Testing -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19 -- David Coffin -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2020
Three generations of family are gathering for their traditional Thanksgiving Day meal.
What Does It Take? -- Luke 24:13-35, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
What does it take to become the church? Where is Jesus to be found in our midst?
Advent Calendars -- Mark 13:24-37, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Isaiah 64:1-9 -- David Kalas -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
For all the years that I have been a parent, I have taken pleasure in buying Advent calendars for ou
We Need God In Charge of Our Lives -- John 10:1-10, 1 Peter 2:19-25, Acts 2:42-47 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
God takes charge!
Rites, Rituals, and a Royal Procession -- Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Back in the 80’s, when I pastored a multiracial church in Chicago, there was one African American fa
Do We Have The Courage of Christ? -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
It is hard for us, living after the resurrection, to understand how Jesus, who was clearly a mortal
Hearing the Prophets and Becoming One of Them -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, John 1:6-8, 19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Advocating New Life -- John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- David Coffin -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
It was the high school graduation season in a certain community who had been blessed with the public
A Whole New Way -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2020
Do we believe in one God, or many?
Strategic Moves -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2020
There is something wonderfully paradoxical about the Christian church.
New-Found Christmas Life -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- David Coffin -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2020
Around the holiday season, there are hardworking faithful people who experienced heightened expectat
The Spirit, Out of the Box -- John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23 -- Frank Ramirez -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2020
Acts 2:1-21 is the obvious choice for your Pentecost lectionary text and perhaps you have used it on
Glory -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2020
King George and Queen Elizabeth once went to a London theater to see a Noel Coward/Gertrude Lawrence
Life-changing Triune God -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020
An eternally loving, life-changing Triune God!
God Has Come To Us -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Romans 5:1-8, Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2020
Here is the good news: God loves us.
Living Which Values? -- Matthew 10:24-39, Romans 6:1b-11, Genesis 21:8-21 -- David Coffin -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2020
An older pastor and his wife who serve in a remote hill area with sporadic cell phone reception driv

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 4 | OT 4 (2020) -- Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2020
Micah 6:1-8
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 5 (2020) -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2020
Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 (2020) -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2020
Sirach 15:15-20
Sermon Illustrations For Transfiguration Sunday (2020) -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2020
Exodus 24:12-18
Sermon Illustrations For Ash Wednesday (2020) -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2020
Joel 2:1-2,12-17 
Sermon Illustrations For Lent 1 (2020) -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Psalm 32
Sermon Illustrations For Lent 2 (2020) -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 121 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Psalm 121
Sermon Illustrations For Lent 3 (2020) -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42, Psalm 95 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Psalm 95
Sermon Illustrations For Lent 4 (2020) -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41, Psalm 23 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, M Adryael Tong, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Psalm 23
Sermon Illustrations For Lent 5 (2020) -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45, Psalm 130 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Psalm 130
Sermon Illustrations For Passion Sunday (2020) -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14--27:66, Psalm 31:9-16, Matthew 27:11-54 -- Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2020
Psalm 31:9-16
Sermon Illustrations For Maundy Thursday (2020) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Mark Ellingsen, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, M Adryael Tong -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2020
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
Sermon Illustrations For Good Friday (2020) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, M Adryael Tong -- Good Friday - A -- 2020
Psalm 22
Sermon Illustrations For Easter Sunday (2020) -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 -- Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, M Adryael Tong -- Easter Day - A -- 2020
Acts 10:34-43
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 2 (2020) -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 2:14a, 22-32:
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 3 (2020) -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates, M Adryael Tong -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 4 (2020) -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10, Psalm 23 -- Bonnie Bates, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, M Adryael Tong, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Psalm 23
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 5 (2020) -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, M Adryael Tong, Frank Ramirez, Bonnie Bates -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 7:55-60
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 6 (2020) -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 -- Frank Ramirez, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, M Adryael Tong -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Act 17:22-31
Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2020) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, M Adryael Tong, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2020
Acts 1:1-11
Sermon Illustrations For Easter 7 (2020) -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Acts 1:6-14
Sermon Illustrations For Day Of Pentecost (2020) -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23 -- Bonnie Bates, Bill Thomas, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2020
Acts 2:1-21
Sermon Illustrations For Trinity Sunday (2020) -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20 -- Ron Love, Bonnie Bates, Frank Ramirez, Bill Thomas, M Adryael Tong, Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2020
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 6 | OT 11 | Pentecost 2 (2020) -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez, M Adryael Tong -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2020
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7)
Sermon Illustrations For Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 3 (2020) -- Matthew 10:24-39, Romans 6:1b-11, Genesis 21:8-21 -- M Adryael Tong, Bill Thomas, Bonnie Bates, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Frank Ramirez -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2020
Genesis 21:8-21Shifting Perspectives

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

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

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