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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Forfeiting to win -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C -- 2010
Our youngest daughter was born in Nigeria while I was teaching at the Reformed Theological College i
Jilted in Jerusalem -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C -- 2010
If the lost is lost, it is not found. If it is found, it is no longer lost.
Is there a doctor in the house? -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13, Psalm 79:1-9 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 2010
In the hymn "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," Julia Harriette Johnston expressed our circumstance in son
Sale price -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2010
A friend of mine once described a man he knew as someone who "knew the cost of everything and the va
New -- Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8, Psalm 126 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2010
In 1954, Marcelle Maurtette penned his play Anastasia.
Faith for the world that is -- Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10, Lamentations 3:19-26 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2010
Who would not want the power of telekinesis? Obstacle in the way? Remove it with a thought.
Experience Jesus and know God -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56, Psalm 31:9-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Schuyler Rhodes -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2010
In this age of computers and the internet, there is so much information "out there" to access.
Your home away from home -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-12 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2010
Imagine yourself in a ship out on the high seas.
Long table -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2010
Perhaps you've been part of a large group going out to eat together.
Patience -- Jeremiah 31:27-34, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 119:97-104 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2010
Patience is a tough virtue, slipping from our grasp in the moment of demand.
Why did Jesus have to die? -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Good Friday - C -- 2010
While Don Richardson was a student at Prairie Bible Institute in the 1950s his heart burned in antic
What God wants -- Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14, Psalm 65 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2010
In 2000, Mel Gibson played a character named Nick Marshall in the movie What Women Want.
Love conquers death -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Gary Thompson, Schuyler Rhodes -- Easter Day - C -- 2010
My mentor in the ministry used to say, "If you can't preach on Easter, you just can't preach!" The g
Happy hallow… -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10, Psalm 119:137-144 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2010
Is today Halloween or Reformation Day?
A week after -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 20:19-31, Psalm 118:14-29, Revelation 1:4-8 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
The gospels devote a great deal of attention to the week before Easter.
Visions -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19, Psalm 30 -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2010
Giuseppe Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata is a spectacular piece of music.
A Mighty Wind -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- Wayne Brouwer, Schuyler Rhodes -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Note: This installment was originally published in 2009.
Kill or be killed? -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20, Psalm 149 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2008
Gilbert and Sullivan, the dynamic duo of the stage, created fun-filled musicals and light
Life on the inside -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35, Psalm 114 -- David Kalas -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
I attended two schools in the state of Virginia. I did my undergraduate work at the
So who will you be voting for? -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Needless to say, I suspect that I have captured your attention at this point. Most of the
Shifting currents -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41, Psalm 23 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Most twentieth-century predictions about life in this new millennium have proved widely
Obedience -- Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
When Sadie and Bessie, the famed "Delany Sisters," were in the early years of their
These bones -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45, Psalm 130 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
The old spiritual sings of "dem bones," but that reference is just a step removed, isn't it?
Genuine imitation leather -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46, Psalm 19 -- David Kalas -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
From time to time we come across things that are meant to sound or look like something
Passionate about the passion -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14--27:66, Psalm 31:9-16 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
I suspect that most preachers will not be looking for ways to dive headlong into

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

No one who loves life wants to... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
No one who loves life wants to die.
We do not know what drove Peter... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
We do not know what drove Peter to question Jesus about the act of forgiveness, but in Matthew 18:21
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
Exodus 16:2-15
After the opening salvo of the... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
After the opening salvo of the Revolutionary War at Concord, colonial defeat was looming.
Like the ancient Hebrews in the... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
Like the ancient Hebrews in the wilderness, Americans are never satisfied.
Paul writes to the Philippian congregation... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
Paul writes to the Philippian congregation that they ought to conduct themselves in a lifestyle wort
I feel the same about my wife... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
I feel the same about my wife.
Bebe has been called the... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
Bebe has been called the "Father of English History." At the age of seven he entered monastic life.
A 2006 Barna Group poll found... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2014
A 2006 Barna Group poll found that Americans have a good opinion of themselves.
That passage sounds familiar... -- Exodus 17:1-17 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
That passage sounds familiar.
The Israelites were tired, drained... -- Exodus 17:1-17 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
The Israelites were tired, drained, and edgy from their traveling.
Americans are not inclined to practice... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
Americans are not inclined to practice humility.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known as the "prince of preachers." As the pastor of Metropolitan Tabern
We live in a crazy, out-of-control... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
We live in a crazy, out-of-control world.
In seminary we read many deep... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
In seminary we read many deep theological books going into great intellectual detail, but Jesus only
Isn't Jesus saying that people... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2014
Isn't Jesus saying that people are more important than principles? The Pharisees were the
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
American Christians like... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
American Christians like to think that they are pretty good at keeping the Ten Commandments.
The United States Constitution... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
The United States Constitution is not a religious document but a political treatise assuring that th
Can we start out like Paul?... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Can we start out like Paul?
Paul emphasized to his congregation... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Paul emphasized to his congregation in Philippi that his confidence is not in what he does (his fles
On June 8, 1980, Martyn Lloyd-Jones... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Matthew 21:33-46
Jesus seems to favor the poor... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2014
Jesus seems to favor the poor in this parable.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Exodus 32:1-14
Moses has been on Mount Sinai... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Moses has been on Mount Sinai receiving from God the two tablets of the covenant law: "the tablets o

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Pentecost
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

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John Jamison
Object: A job description. I have attached a sample you can use if you wish. I have highlighted a few of the items that might be good to use as examples during the message, but feel free to pick the ones you want to use.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
For June 8, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works—
 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke.
 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being. (vv. 31-33)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
An older couple is given an eight-month eviction notice to leave their residence. They are living on a fixed income. After exploring an advertised senior living community in the next county, the news is grim. They cannot afford to live in such a community despite the extravagant advertising publicity they saw about amenities and community recreation on television. Both the man and woman have worked many jobs for decades with small pensions, lower wages in a roller coaster job market for a couple decades. The man calls a small-town pastor in the area.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Genesis 11:1-9

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

On the day of Pentecost, six weeks after Jesus had risen from death, when the disciples were gathered together in one place, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. As we gather together on the day of Pentecost, let us ask God that we too might be filled with his Holy Spirit.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, forgive us our sins and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, forgive us our apathy and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Today is Pentecost. The creative power of God's Spirit (v. 30) flows today like no other day. The Spirit that is poured out on this day is the same Spirit that hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2) at the dawn of creation. This is the same Spirit that possessed Gideon as he lifted up his horn (Judges 6:4). And it is the same Spirit that the risen Jesus told us would arrive as an advocate to accompany us (John 14:16) forever.
John Jamison
It wasn't their first fight. Like most fathers and sons they had their disagreements. But this time, something was different. A line had been crossed that had never been crossed before. They sat there, staring at each other, both realizing they were in new territory, neither of them sure that they really wanted to be there.

David R. Cartwright
That first Pentecost was a grand and glorious day. It was a new beginning. On that special day, God's people were reborn through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was an extraordinary event.

Robert Leslie Holmes
A seminary student writing a term paper about confession of sin started to type, "When we confess, Christ takes away our guilt." However, he was a bit thick-fingered and hit the letter q instead of the letter g on his computer keyboard. Now his sentence read, "Christ takes away our quilt." He didn't notice his error but his professor did and wrote in the margin, "Fear not, little one, you'll not freeze for God has given us a Comforter!" Using his keen wit, the professor conveyed a profound spiritual truth that is at the heart of Pentecost. God has given us a Comforter.
Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
There's an old story about a man who found a pig. It seems that as this man was driving into the city in his station wagon, a stray hog suddenly ran out in front of him. The man stopped the car, jumped out, caught the pig, and put it in the back. Not knowing what to do with the animal, he flagged down the first policeman he saw, explained the situation and asked, "What should I do with this hog?"

"Take him to the zoo," was the officer's response.

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