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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The way up is down -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2000
The shroud of death covers our world. The sanctuary is dark, and the Table bare.
Be glad -- Joel 2:21-27, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2000
At the founding of our country, George Washington issued a presidential proclamation, establishing T
Polarities -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2000
Your writers were not good students of physics, and consequently we both marvel at the power of ele
Worthy lives -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 2000
The thread which your authors find curling through these lessons is expressed in Ephesians 4:1 when
Our stories -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2000
Biographies and autobiographies are always fascinating to read.
Might -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2000
There are all kinds of power and might displayed in our world.
Change -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2000
Change is seldom easy.
Hearing the message -- Malachi 3:1-4, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
There are many ways of sending messages these days: Western Union, singing telegrams, snail-mail, ai
To be clean -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." We don't hear that old proverb much any more, but its meaning is
Finding peace -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
There are plenty of circumstances in which to feel anxious today.
Worthy adversaries -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2000
Complacency is surely one of the many problems plaguing contemporary Christianity in the United Stat
Written on the heart -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
There are some experiences that make indelible marks on our lives.
From grasshoppers to eagles -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2000
"Does God really care about me?
Parenting -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2000
Two of the important issues facing our society today are the matters of the family (see our column f
Dreams and visions -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 2000
Ever since Freud, dreams have taken on new, but very important functions.
Cut it out! -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
We began Lent with our baptisms and proceeded to a discussion of the faith that both motivates and s
The call to holiness -- Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Every year the church struggles with the same question.
Togetherness -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2000
We humans are gregarious creatures, aren't we?
World News -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
Everyone is welcome! So read many of our church signs and announcement boards.
Extreme measures -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2000
We live in a world of extremes.
Fear and faith -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2000
Fear is everywhere in our society. We fear for our safety both in our homes and on the highways.
Wise up! -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
We live in an era of an explosion of knowledge.
Understanding -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2000
Have you ever heard a joke and didn't "get it"?
Where shall we begin? -- Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
We may find it hard sometimes to know where to begin.
God's home -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2000
Home is one of the basic human experiences and what one scholar has called the base metaphor by whic

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

'In' is an interesting preposition... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2013
"In" is an interesting preposition.
We need to emphasize that we have only one God... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Bob Ove -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2013
We need to emphasize that we have only one God. The Trinity means that he is in three persons.
Sermon Illustrations for Trinity Sunday (2013) -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
NULL -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Our text is all about Wisdom and how we might understand the Son of God as the Wisdom of God.
NULL -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Ron Love -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Abraham Lincoln and his family often sought solace at the Soldier's Home in Washington DC.
NULL -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
In the popular story The Hunger Games (which is like a futuristic Coliseum of gladiators), th
NULL -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Bob Ove -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Being justified is what faith is all about.
NULL -- John 16:12-15 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
All that the Father has is Christ's, and the Spirit will take what is Christ's and declare it (v.
NULL -- John 16:12-15 -- Ron Love -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2013
Bob Keeshan entertained children for years as the jovial Captain Kangaroo.
Sermon illustrations for Easter 4 (2013) -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Acts 9:36-43
NULL -- Acts 9:36-43 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
In the late 1860s, George F. Gates built a home in Independence.
NULL -- Acts 9:36-43 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The miracle of the resurrection of Dorcas came as quite a surprise for the faithful, who it is repor
NULL -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Bob Ove -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The Bible is full of visions. Some will look to psychiatrists to find out what really happened!
NULL -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
Everyone knows the stain that blood can leave on clothing.
NULL -- John 10:22-30 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was an Anglican priest in England.
NULL -- John 10:22-30 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2013
The gospel's reference to the unity of Son and Father (v. 30) provides wonderful assurance.
Sermon illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2013) -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
Acts 1:1-11
NULL -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
In their book Metaphors We Live By, authors George Lakoff and Mark Johnson describe orient
NULL -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Bob Ove -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
First we might question who Theophilus is.
NULL -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
Christ's ascension gives us a glimpse at the awesomeness of God.
NULL -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ron Love -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
To be empowered and inspired in our Christian lives, we must identify with the name of Jesus.
NULL -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
Jesus speaks of Jerusalem as the launch pad from which the Christian witness is to go to all nations
NULL -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Bob Ove -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2013
In order to understand all the New Testament, we have to be familiar with the Old Testament also.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 4 | OT 9 (2013) -- 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39, Galatians 1:1-12, Luke 7:1-10 -- Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2013
1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39
Obviously most Americans... -- 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29) 30-39 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C -- 2013
Obviously most Americans don't have Baal or one of the other gods of antiquity, but don't some make

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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, wild fires, 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 September 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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