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

I don't buy that! John's... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1999
"I don't buy that!" John's words stopped all chatter in the group.
Perhaps you have met (or... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1999
Perhaps you have met (or been) one of those novice gardeners who saw those first green sprouts in a
Jesus reminds us in this... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1999
Jesus reminds us in this parable that God's truth has a power of its own, and God's truth is going t
A story in the newspaper... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
A story in the newspaper in March of 1998 told of a Northern Indiana resident who lived on the shore
Jack and Irene had been... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
Jack and Irene had been married in our church in 1937, and they'd been faithful members ever since.
When Henry Gockel was 32... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
When Henry Gockel was 32, he lost his voice.
I was living my dream... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
I was living my dream of owning a business in my birthplace of Cincinnati, Ohio.
So it will be, says... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
"So it will be," says our text for today, "at the end of the age.
Jesus had the knack of... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
Jesus had the knack of taking common things (like seeds, yeast, hidden treasure, pearls, and nets) a
A large crowd was gathered... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
A large crowd was gathered outside a small store that sold children's toys.
Jesus points out two elements... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1999
Jesus points out two elements that are essential in understanding the Kingdom of Heaven: the mysteri
John Fogerty, who was the... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
John Fogerty, who was the writer, lead singer, and guitarist for the rock and roll group Creedence C
Our church hosts a Self... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
Our church hosts a "Self-Esteem Support Group." The group is bound together by a common goal, which
A dangerous, but politically popular... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
A dangerous, but politically popular, modern philosophy known as genetic determinism focuses its res
To punish myself I just... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
To punish myself I just turned around and counted the number of books on weight control that I have
People will always judge and... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
People will always judge and criticize. It's a fact of human nature.
Children who listen to the... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
Children who listen to the Lord are more in tune to understand God than the smartest adults who foll
A young woman had just... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
A young woman had just completed the long, arduous journey of becoming a surgeon.
This passage is filled with... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 1999
This passage is filled with the passion, love, AND frustration of Jesus.
When it comes to hearing... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1999
When it comes to hearing, bats are amazing creatures.
Her father abused Barb. The... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1999
Her father abused Barb. The abuse began when she was ten years old.
On the popular television show... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1999
On the popular television show Promised Land, October 1, 1998, angels told both a woman who h
There are times as a... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1999
There are times as a pastor that I wish I was driving a cross-country bus on a one-way trip.
Hattie held her breath. She... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1999
Hattie held her breath. She hadn't heard from her son in almost two years.
The preacher stood on the... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 1999
The preacher stood on the street corner, telling the story of Jesus.

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
Bonnie Bates

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a and Psalm 42-43
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