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

Every congregation standing on the... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Every congregation standing on the threshold of a capital campaign or the challenge of a greatly inc
The widow of Zarephath had... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
The widow of Zarephath had only a handful of meal, of which she intended to make a small cake of bre
Arlene was depressed. Ever since... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Arlene was depressed.
As a child I distinctly... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
As a child I distinctly remember that moment when my mother would spoon out the portions of dessert
John Wesley always thought he... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
John Wesley always thought he had faith until the time he was on board a ship returning to England f
Two facets stand out in... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Two facets stand out in this account.
Just at the time that... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Just at the time that the widow has given up hope of having enough to eat, Elijah comes along and te
Albrecht Durer was a poor... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Albrecht Durer was a poor man. He struggled to become an artist.
Rabindranath Tagore was from Calcutta... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Rabindranath Tagore was from Calcutta, and perhaps one of India's greatest authors.
Henry J. Heinz is best... -- Deuteronomy 6:1-9 -- All Saints Day - C
Henry J. Heinz is best known for his "57 Varieties" of foods and seasonings.
On reading this pericope one... -- Deuteronomy 6:2-6 -- All Saints Day - B
On reading this pericope one notes that verses 6 and 7 are inseparable, for verse 7 is the practical
A friend joked that he... -- Deuteronomy 6:2-6 -- All Saints Day - B
A friend joked that he was a typical absent-minded professor.
As the son of a... -- Deuteronomy 6:2-6 -- All Saints Day - B
As the son of a police chief I learned very early in life about the necessity of laws for the protec
Mindy had been especially close... -- Ecclesiastics 44:1-10, 13-14 -- All Saints Day - B
Mindy had been especially close to her grandparents, so it was not surprising that she would accept
Of some few it may... -- Ecclesiastics 44:1-10, 13-14 -- All Saints Day - B
Of some few it may be said in the end, as is said here, "Their bodies are buried in peace; but their
Who will be remembered after... -- Ecclesiastics 44:1-10, 13-14 -- All Saints Day - B
Who will be remembered after death and for what?
Ben Sirach gives sound advice... -- Ecclesiastics 44:1-10, 13-14 -- All Saints Day - B
Ben Sirach gives sound advice.
Lutheran churches in Germany announce... -- Colossians 1:9-14 -- All Saints Day - B
Lutheran churches in Germany announce their worship service as Gottesdienst.
One could overlook the deeper... -- Colossians 1:9-14 -- All Saints Day - B
One could overlook the deeper dimension of the Greek word translated as "patience" in verse 11.
Eric Sloane was a painter... -- Colossians 1:9-14 -- All Saints Day - B
Eric Sloane was a painter and a writer.
In 1910 the ship I... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B
In 1910 the ship Republic sank.
An old saint made a... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B
An old saint made a pilgrimage to a famous shrine and started home with a light he had kindled from
In an area near Bombay... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B
In an area near Bombay there were seven farmers. Each tilled an equal amount of land.
I enjoy the comic strip... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- All Saints Day - B
I enjoy the comic strip Andy Capp.
In his book, Great... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- All Saints Day - B
In his book, Great Themes Of The Bible, Louis A. Banks tells of Dwight L.

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