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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

To glorify God -- Haggai 1:15b--2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38 -- David Coffin -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2013
A church council member announces to the rest of the members and the pastor that a certain family ha
Game on -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
When a baseball game is in danger of being canceled because of weather but then is allowed to procee
Party time! -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2013
During the Middle Ages, parts of Europe had a wonderfully unusual annual celebration called the Feas
Who do we let in? -- Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35 -- David Coffin -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The cry goes out in either the church council or congregational meeting: "We need more people to com
Re-forming the church -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2013
Was the Christian church ever one?
Home -- Acts 16:9-15, Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5, John 14:23-29 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Last year Phil Phillips won the American Idol competition based in part on his powerful rendi
The kingliness of Christ -- Jeremiah 23:1-6, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 -- Cathy Venkatesh -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2013
The year is 1925.
Come -- Acts 16:16-34, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
When we consider all of the things that could happen to us in our encounters with life, it is no won
End of what? -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2013
This week's scriptures call us to be awake and alert, fearless and ready for anything.
Christ's ministry continues -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- David Coffin -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2013
I believe it happens in every congregation.
Great expectations -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
It was Charles Dickens who prodded us to think about hope in his wonderful novel Great Expectatio
Secular hearth -- sacred altar -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In 1946, a California lawyer needed a change in his life.
Hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
If there is a theme that binds these three scriptures, it must be HOPE. Not a short-term, eas
Heeding the prophets -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 -- Cathy Venkatesh -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
In the Book of Common Prayer, the collect for Advent 2 reads: Merciful God, who sent your
Wait here for the baptism of the Holy Spirit -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Sandra Herrmann -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
The thrust of the scriptures for Ascension is on the reliance of the early Christians on the power a
Still standing in line -- Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 -- David Coffin -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
Inevitably it happens to any adult or any church leader toward the end of the year, or the time thei
The changing landscape -- 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39, Galatians 1:1-12, Luke 7:1-10 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2013
With Ahab's marriage to Jezebel, Israel experienced a changing
Baby changes everything -- Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 2013
As one congregation went through years of great growth and expansion, it became obvious that there c
Happily ever after? -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- David A. Davis -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2012
I went to the movie About Schmidt really expecting to enjoy it. I like Jack Nicholson a lot.
'And I mean to be one too' -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- Bass M. Mitchell -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2012
Today is All Saints Sunday.
O holy day -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- David Kalas -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2012
Holidays point back.
Challenged -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2012
Rabbi Harold Kushner remembered a scene from a television program that he saw years ago.
It's all about Jesus -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Good Friday - B -- 2012
The story of God's love in the Bible focuses on Jesus. But Jesus did not appear in a vacuum.
Be glad -- Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2012
At the founding of our country, George Washington issued a presidential proclamation establishing Th
An annual reminder -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8 -- David Kalas -- Easter Day - B -- 2012
In the opening verse of our passage from the epistles, the apostle Paul writes, "Now I would remind

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

An illustration concerning... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
An illustration concerning the Holy Spirit caught my attention as I was reading an old illustration
Commenting on this story... -- John 9:1-41 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Commenting on this story of the blindness of the man Jesus healed, Augustine claimed that this blind
Sermon Illustrations for Maundy Thursday (2014) -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 5 (2014) -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Scott A. Bryte, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
Ezekiel 37:1-14"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones..."
There are certain voices... -- John 11:1-45 -- Scott A. Bryte -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
There are certain voices you just can't ignore: your mother calling you to dinner, your first love w
There is a play... -- John 11:1-45 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
There is a play called Lazarus Laughed.
I always think... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
I always think of that old spiritual "Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones, now hear the word of the
"Dem bones... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Scott A. Bryte -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2014
"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones..."
This passage gives... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
This passage gives the historical reason and setting for the feast of the Passover.
But would grandma... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Scott A. Bryte -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
But would grandma approve?
Famed modern theologian... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
Famed modern theologian Karl Barth nicely sets the tone for celebrations of the Lord's Supper and of
Bishop William Quayle... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
Bishop William Quayle (1860-1925) of the Methodist Episcopal church attended a communion service wit
A district superintendent... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
A district superintendent in the United Methodist church, along with a dozen other district superint
You can often tell... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bob Ove -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2014
You can often tell where someone is from by the way they speak.
Sermon Illustrations for Good Friday (2014) -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42 -- Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
Isaiah 52:13--53:12
Another senseless killing... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
Another senseless killing of an innocent person happened at a school in the eastern part of the Unit
Anger is not only... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
Anger is not only destructive to one's soul, but it is equally destructive to one's physical health.
A 2006 poll... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
A 2006 poll by Baylor University revealed that 2 in 5 Americans have a distant God, one not engaged
This is probably... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Bob Ove -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
This is probably a quote from Jeremiah. Don't try to hurry God. He does things in his good time.
United Methodist bishop... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
United Methodist bishop and contemporary theologian William Willimon wrote that without pride there
We are prone to... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
We are prone to ignore or take Good Friday for granted most of the time.
It was late fall... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Good Friday - A -- 2014
It was late fall and the gardening work had to be finished up.
Sermon Illustrations for Easter Sunday (2014) -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
Acts 10:34-43
This was a shocking message... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Bob Ove -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
This was a shocking message to the Jews, especially the Pharisees who hated all Gentile outsiders.
Too often the impact... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Easter Day - A -- 2014
Too often the impact of Easter does not register in our lives.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – 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, wildfires, 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 Sept. 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.

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