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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Fulton J. Sheen was a... -- Zechariah 14:4-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Fulton J. Sheen was a Roman Catholic bishop.
Robert Coles in his I... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Robert Coles in his Harvard Diary comments on his father's practice each Sunday afternoon of
The most troubling time in... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
The most troubling time in the history of the United States of America was the era of the Civil War.
The people of Israel were... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
The people of Israel were hearing the Word of God for what seemed like the first time.
I write these words as... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
I write these words as the heat of the Presidential race is rapidly increasing.
Ezra opened the book in... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
"Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people." (8:5)
There are those moments of... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
There are those moments of awe and deep joy as we worship.
Frequently old toy train engines... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Frequently old toy train engines will have a spring arrangement whereby the engine's coupler will al
The prophet of the Lord... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
The prophet of the Lord is depicted as one upon whom the Spirit rests and who makes visible the invi
Why is it that when... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Why is it that when Jesus chose this text to quote when he returned and worshiped in the synagogue i
At 9 a.m. on May... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
At 9 a.m.
H. G. Wells observes that... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
H. G.
Using the example of a... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Using the example of a healthy and well-functioning body, Paul seeks to promote unity and mutual app
Gallup polls in the eighties... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Gallup polls in the eighties consistently reveal that a large number of people say they are believer
Over the space of several... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Over the space of several years a badly split congregation gradually regained its unity.
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, It... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "It is the mark of a good action that it appears inevitable in retrosp
Anointed. Jesus was anointed, called... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Anointed.
Mrs. Grace Hopper, Retired Rear... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Mrs.
An ant crawling on the... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
An ant crawling on the hand of a human has no concept of the size or scope of that human.
Most preachers have had the... -- Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Most preachers have had the experience of going to the congregation where they grew up and pr
The local Roman Catholic pastoral... -- Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
The local Roman Catholic pastoral team and the Lutheran team began to meet monthly to talk about a c
Release to the captives and... -- Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
"Release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind" was Jesus' proclamation (Luke 4:18) i
Ever had a book written... -- Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Ever had a book written just for you? Or, perhaps dedicated to you by the author?
Jeremiah's call to ministry is... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Jeremiah's call to ministry is a familiar scenario. The call of Moses reads much the same.
Though I am always in... -- Acts 10:34-38 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
"Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry." So wrote John Wesley, in Letters (1831)

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

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

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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
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
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

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