Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Back in 1984, a French... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2002
Back in 1984, a French perfume creator figured out a way to combine all three of the Magi's gifts in
Three wise men, called Faith... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2002
Three wise men, called Faith, Hope, and Love, saw the star that beckoned them.
Valerie had been a pastor... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2002
Valerie had been a pastor for several years. She knew her theology.
I've heard it said that... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2002
I've heard it said that if you combined the flow of all the rivers in the world, you would have to m
Marcion was a man who... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2002
Marcion was a man who promoted a second-century heresy.
The western church has often... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
The western church has often talked about discipleship as doing God's will: God saves us in Jesus, a
Folk historian J. Frank Dobie... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
Folk historian J. Frank Dobie liked to tell stories about the animals of the Southwest.
Last year, Armando Valladares' book... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
Last year, Armando Valladares' book, Against All Hope, was re-released.
When we lay up treasures... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
When we lay up treasures in heaven, by fixing our heart there, we make clear that our priorities are
Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes: When... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes: When I was in high school, I received word that someone in my congrega
6:1-6, 16-21... -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
6:1-6, 16-21
Once an uneducated peasant boy... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
Once an uneducated peasant boy, but a very bright one, kept his true character in secret.
Jimmy, Mark and Sarah could... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Jimmy, Mark and Sarah could be the best children anyone ever saw.
The new youth director was... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The new youth director was adamant.
Some years ago, there was... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Some years ago, there was a medical missionary who served in Egypt.
While God accepts us as... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
While God accepts us as we are, it is not God's intent to keep us wallowing in our sin.
Jesus' successful resistance of temptation... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Jesus' successful resistance of temptation sets a pattern for disciples, including those who seeming
A man once went to... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
A man once went to his priest to confess. "Yes, I did it," he admitted.
Will the test be very... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
"Will the test be very hard?" Jake asked his teacher.
The child asked, Why did... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The child asked, "Why did God let Jesus be tempted and why three times?
History has shown again and... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
History has shown again and again that faith precedes many great accomplishments.
As teenagers, my brothers and... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
As teenagers, my brothers and I could hardly wait to drive. My parents were firm.
Woodrow Wilson, addressing some new... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Woodrow Wilson, addressing some new citizens of the United States, said to them:
Denominational-level ministry committees, those... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Denominational-level ministry committees, those who must interview neophyte pastors, find many who a
God sent his Son to... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
God sent his Son to redeem, not to condemn.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL