Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

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

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

There is a monument in... -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
There is a monument in the town square not far from the church I am serving which says, "Dedicated t
The Ten Commandments need to... -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
The Ten Commandments need to be seen in a positive light.
To gain fresh input into... -- Exodus 20:1-17 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
To gain fresh input into the commandments, I take the liberty to go to vv. 24-25.
Jurgen Moltmann, a prominent theologian... -- 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Jurgen Moltmann, a prominent theologian at the University of Tubingen, Germany, attracted much atten
I read of a brilliant... -- 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
I read of a brilliant young boy who was an All-American soccer player in Scotland, who graduated wit
A short while ago my... -- 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
A short while ago my wife asked me if I had seen the electrical cord for our coffee maker.
Rabbi Kushner writes in his... -- 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Rabbi Kushner writes in his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, about his feelings a
One of the leading tourist... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
One of the leading tourist attractions of Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
During World War II, an... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
During World War II, an American warship in the Pacific was transporting some wounded Japanese priso
Before the Great Fire of... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Before the Great Fire of London in 1666, it is said that the old St.
You know those cards or... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
You know those cards or plaques you can buy with little sayings on them!
In Clariton, Pennsylvania, during the... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
In Clariton, Pennsylvania, during the Pentecost and Advent seasons of 1984, the day-by-day unfolding
On the Niagara River above... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
On the Niagara River above the falls is a "point of no return." Signs along the riverbank warn of it
A number of prominent people... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
A number of prominent people attended a party many years ago in London.
Out of the ashes ... many... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Out of the ashes ...
The small church had been... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
The small church had been neglected for many years; all but a few of the congregation were dispersed
Rabbi Kushner's runaway bestseller asked... -- 2 Chronicles 36:14-23 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Rabbi Kushner's runaway bestseller asked the searing question, "Why does a good God let bad things h
Just as it often happens... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Just as it often happens in traveling by airplane, two strangers sitting side by side struck up a co
Let me share with you... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Let me share with you the parable of the forgetful minister ...
The man who taught me... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
The man who taught me high school science was a runner, a jogger, in the early sixties before it was
In this passage we have... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
In this passage we have a very early instance of inoculation.
The theme of grace... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
The theme of grace pervades Paul's writings.
Karl Menningen, the renowned psychiatrist... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Karl Menningen, the renowned psychiatrist, attracted considerable attention with his book Whateve
But God, who is rich... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead
Adults have a hand time... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B
Adults have a hand time accepting gifts.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a and Psalm 42-43
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL