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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

I'll never forget that night ... -- 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 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Years ago, a band called Lobo sang about an international memorable event. Describing
Life on the level -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 -- David Kalas -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
I've been doing some around-the-house projects lately, and it seems each project has
Personal history -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1--19:42, Psalm 22 -- David Kalas -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
A junior high school student sits down with his world history textbook, and he wonders
All things to all people? -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Easter Day - A -- 2008
What does the territory ahead look like as you chart your way through what is
Proof of life -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31, Psalm 16 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
One of my good friends died last year. He had reached a good age and was mostly ready
Big finish? -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 -- David Kalas -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Go to a fireworks show on the Fourth of July or some other festive occasion, and you will
Charting the course without the chart -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10, Psalm 23 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
People have all sorts of travel styles. I am constantly amazed at those who can just pick
Jesus is the answer -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Decades ago, Andre Crouch's chorus "Jesus Is The Answer" was sung in every corner of
Our known God -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21, Psalm 66:8-20 -- David Kalas -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Pulling off the exit ramp on a highway in Pennsylvania, I saw a sign that caught my
Ground rules -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53, Psalm 47 -- R. Craig Mccreary -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2008
This past summer I was treated to viewing one of those baseball donnybrooks in
Invisible link -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Now and again, one of my students will come into class and I'll greet her or him, but get
The counterproductive sermon -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- David Kalas -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Accordingly, our first reading is the familiar story of
Down for the count -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20, Psalm 8 -- R. Craig Mccreary -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
All of my life, as I am sure of that in most of your lives, I have had to live by the
The worry test -- Isaiah 49:8-16a, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34, Psalm 131 -- Wayne Brouwer -- 2008
Remember when the most popular song around the world was Bobby McFerrin's little
Profiles in righteousness -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31), Matthew 7:21-29, Psalm 46 -- David Kalas -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
In 1956, then Senator John F. Kennedy published a book titled, Profiles in
Standing on the promises -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, Psalm 33:1-12 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
If you want to know how to get me to sing, though of course I am not sure that
Promises, promises -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23), Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, often wrote about the meaninglessness of his patients' lives.
Life after death -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- David Kalas -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
In the 1949 World War II movie, 12 O'Clock High, Gregory Peck plays Frank
The grand national preach-off -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42, Psalm 13 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Nowadays it is hard for any television viewer to avoid the reality show genre where "real
A marriage made in heaven -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Psalm 45:10-17 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
In 1967, a psychologist named Kinch reported a rather bizarre experiment conducted by
Embarrassing flesh -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Psalm 119:105-112 -- David Kalas -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
I recall a few weeks in elementary school when it was the height of hilarity to take
Don't blow your inheritance -- Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2008
I suppose all of us have particular objects of our venom and disgust. Whenever said
Commitment -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
According to social researchers there are five basic reasons why people fail to make long-
God in unexpected places -- Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21, Psalm 17:1-7, 15 -- David Kalas -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Early in the cherished 1965 movie, The Sound of Music, we see the sisters at the
Gotcha! -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33, Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
The longer I go in life the more I become fascinated with words: how we use them, where

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Egerton Ryerson at the age of... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Egerton Ryerson at the age of twelve lay in bed, deathly ill.
This lesson calls the faithful... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
This lesson calls the faithful to rejoicing. Americans are not doing a lot of rejoicing.
Jesus was reading the minds of those... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Jesus was reading the minds of those Pharisees.
Over the years I have received... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2014
Over the years I have received a variety of invitations, including for weddings, birthday parties, a
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2014) -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Exodus 33:12-23
Alfred Hitchcock before filming... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Ron Love -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Alfred Hitchcock before filming any movie would draw sketches of every scene, meticulously listing e
Americans have this habit of... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Americans have this habit of making God into their own image. When we do that, we get it wrong.
General U.S. Grant arrived... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
General U.S.
Paul did not travel alone most... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Paul did not travel alone most of the time, but sometimes he left one of his friends behind and some
Jesus' words in this lesson could... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
Jesus' words in this lesson could be taken as a biblical authorization for the separation of church
When Alfred Hitchcock was asked... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Ron Love -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2014
When Alfred Hitchcock was asked to sum up his approach to making a movie he replied, "Some films are
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
It makes me think of my... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
It makes me think of my ultimate reward as I look ahead to where future generations will end up, but
Reading the scriptures from... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
Reading the scriptures from the beginning of Moses' life, one would think he was going to make a gre
Paul speaks of his gentleness... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
Paul speaks of his gentleness with the Thessalonians.
Aldhelm was a gifted musician... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
Aldhelm was a gifted musician.
One of my favorite novelists... -- Matthew 22:34-36 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
One of my favorite novelists is Jan Karon, author of the Mitford series featuring Father Tim Kavanag
The Sadducees and Pharisees were... -- Matthew 22:34-36 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2014
The Sadducees and Pharisees were trying to justify themselves.
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Sunday (2014) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-38 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
Jeremiah 31:31-34
In the post-apostolic church... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
In the post-apostolic church, spanning from the death of the last of the twelve apostles through the
In our narcissistic ethos... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
In our narcissistic ethos, a preoccupation with identity or the quest for self-consciousness and fin
Dr. John Bowling, President of... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
Dr.
There are even some Christians... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Bob Ove -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
There are even some Christians who give us laws that must be kept.
The Christian spirit has permeated... -- John 8:31-36 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
The Christian spirit has permeated the Oval Office from the first day to the present.
Freedom is such a lovely word... -- John 8:31-36 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2014
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling concept. But what kind of freedom does Jesus afford?

Political Pulpit

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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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