Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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

Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The glory of grace -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2003
How do you measure glory?
Lifting in Lent -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I bet we have all preached one of those sermons that questions the discipline of "giving up" somethi
Tell me all about it -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31, Psalm 22:1-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2003
I came home from school one day really feeling down. It had been a bad day.
Fish tales -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
I had a colleague in graduate school about whom another friend in our doctoral program in New Testam
Not finished with us -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I know this is going to give my age away but I still remember seeing an elderly man in the 1960s wea
Beartivity -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Psalm 96 -- William H. Shepherd -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
I live in a house with my wife, two cats, and about 200 teddy bears.
On the other side of the wilderness -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, Psalm 25:1-10 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I teach two classes titled "Introduction to Preaching." The syllabus created by the department requi
Calling on a full-access God -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42, Psalm 95 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Perhaps more than most cities in the world, Washington, D.C., is a city whose central principle, the
Full-contact life -- Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-23, Psalm 27:1, 4-9 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2002
Rachel Matthews, 48, a community manager for an Internet start-up company, started doing it because
Loving, sight unseen -- Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Recently a friend told me the story of his move to our community.
Live it and they will come -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Remember the movie, Field of Dreams, from a few years back?
Playing the hand you're dealt -- Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Several years ago a friend was unloading her van in the steeply inclined driveway next to her home.
The church triumphant -- Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- All Saints Day - A -- 2002
A little knowledge can be a dangerous (or at least a humorous) thing.
Sez who? -- Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
"Sez who?""Sez me, that's who!""Yeah, well, how do you know?"
My other car is a UFO -- Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21, Psalm 66:8-20 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Are you planning a vacation to visit the relatives?
Catching glimmers of what blinds saints -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9, Psalm 99 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
So much of what we see in the world is determined by how we are conditioned to see things.
The wedges driven into life -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 32 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
As a teenager I split a great deal of firewood.
Hearts afire -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
The best way to learn about modern culture is to have a teenager; you learn quickly what is valued h
Terror or trust -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
As of this writing, Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Israel, meeting with Israeli Prime Ministe
Mirror, mirror on the wall -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7), Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2002
The events of September 11, 2001, still have folks acting in disturbing ways.
Reading the last chapter first -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- First Sunday of Advent - B -- 2002
Christmas comes earlier very year. At least the Christmas season starts earlier every year.
Who do you work for? -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2002
The following story begins the first chapter of Jeffrey K.
The coin of God's realm -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
Consider the humble dollar bill, which despite the assault on it by the Susan B.
Flood insurance -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31), Matthew 7:21-29, Psalm 46 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2002
The sad fact is that many people do not know what is truly covered in their insurance policies until
Glory in the cross -- Acts 1:6-14, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, John 17:1-11, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Constantine Caesar was advancing his legions through the northern Italian mountains toward Rome.

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

In our system of government... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
In our system of government, as well as in many other systems around the world, there is the positio
Romance stories touch my heart... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Romance stories touch my heart, but give me a "mystery," one with good suspense. Great reading!
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens enlisted in the Navy... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Currently seated Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens enlisted in the Navy several hours before t
our sense of propriety are easily offended... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Reason and our sense of propriety are easily offended by the lowly state of the baby whom the wise m
Sermon illustrations for Epiphany 4 (OT 4) Cycle C (2013) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Mother Teresa, in her acceptance speech for the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Let us both see and believe in the message of the triumph of God.
The 17th-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal powerfully describes... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
The 17th-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal powerfully describes our miserable condition on t
There is a land of the living and a land of the dead... -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the
This is almost everyone's favorite passage... -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
This is almost everyone's favorite passage whether we live it or not, and it should be embroidered a
Jesus identifies the focus of his ministry... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
How interesting that while apparently being rejected in his hometown, Jesus identifies the focus of
Seeing what you believe is not always the same as believing... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Seeing what you believe is not always the same as believing what you see, and it took fifty years fo
Sermon Illustrations for Baptism of Our Lord (2013) -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Isaiah 43:1-7
One summer Beth discovered the joy of creation... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
One summer Beth discovered the joy of creation.
Maddie really wanted to go into the Haunted House... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Maddie really wanted to go into the Haunted House.
I just received a letter from a fellow missionary in Nepal... -- Isaiah 43:1-7 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
What a positive uplifting passage! The part of coming through the waters reminds us of our baptism.
our lesson is about how baptism is for everyone... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Americans don't think highly of immigrants.
Tom Monaghan needed money if he was going to study architecture... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- Ron Love -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Tom Monaghan needed money if he was going to study architecture at the University of Michigan, and o
We know there is water on Mars in the cryosphere... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
On August 5 this past summer, the NASA land rover Curiosity reached Mars.
One child coming out of church after service asked the pastor, Are you God?... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Bob Ove -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
One child coming out of church after service asked the pastor, "Are you God?" When we wear our cleri
Infant baptism is often remembered through a baby book picture... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2013
Infant baptism is often remembered through a baby book picture, a baptismal napkin or candle, a sign
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 3 (OT 3) Cycle C (2013) -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21 -- Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Listen up, Jared, or you will fail your final test... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
"Listen up, Jared, or you will fail your final test," Ms. Borns warned.
How valuable can a book really be?... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
How valuable can a book really be?
Can you imagine standing all day while someone read the Bible to you?... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Can you imagine standing all day while someone read the Bible to you? That in itself shows faith!
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, the son of Joseph. Jesus, the carpenter.... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2013
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, the son of Joseph. Jesus, the carpenter.

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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL