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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I once knew a minister... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
I once knew a minister who was preoccupied with presenting his credentials.
The scene is typical: a... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
The scene is typical: a woman is being asked to taste a brand of peanut butter, a piece of sausage,
Dr. Paul Walker relates a... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Dr. Paul Walker relates a Christmas story that came out of his experience as a scoutmaster.
It was not a vision... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
It was not a vision of glory that inspired George Frederick Handel to compose his masterpiece, Me
What do we have that... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
"What do we have that hasn't been given to us?" I like to ask Sunday School classes that question.
Mi Casa, Su Casa, went... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
"Mi Casa, Su Casa," went the first line of a fifties pop song: "My house is your house." Many of us,
Vitamins strengthen you.br... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Vitamins strengthen you. And so does God.
I am told that the... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
I am told that the church of the nativity in Bethlehem uses a special type of incense for its worshi
The drama of military conflict... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
The drama of military conflict, with secret strategies, commanders, and motivation, make Paul the fi
A group picture taken after... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
A group picture taken after the wedding vows had been exchanged included a young boy.
Mary did not feel merry... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Mary did not feel merrywhen the angel camejust fearand awe
Two parts of this scripture... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Two parts of this scripture, when put together, provide a fresh sermonic approach: (1) "...
Two Chicagoans, Kenan Heise and... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Two Chicagoans, Kenan Heise and Arthur Allen, published a book entitled The Death of Christmas: I
Mary, age 5, had eagerly... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Mary, age 5, had eagerly anticipated Christmas.
The lady is extremely attractive... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
The lady is extremely attractive. The gentleman is handsome. The house is big and expensive.
An ancient king of Persia... -- Isaiah 45:22-25 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
An ancient king of Persia, Shah Abbas, once disguised himself as a peasant so that he could move fre
Theological students were arguing about... -- Isaiah 45:22-25 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Theological students were arguing about what one must believe about Jesus Christ in order to be save
It was nearly three years... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
It was nearly three years ago when my father died suddenly from a heart attack.
Every teenager knows the words... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Every teenager knows the words, "You're grounded." Parents utter these words when the teenager recei
I watched a TV program... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
I watched a TV program last week entitled "That's Incredible." It was about fox hunting in England.
Dr. Wallace Kirby writes of... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Dr.
Did you know that Chicken... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Did you know that Chicken Little had a big brother -- Chicken Big?
Anyone who travels the superhighways... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Anyone who travels the superhighways of our country is familiar with an engineering accommodation re
What's all this talk about... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
What's all this talk about baptism? In the Greek "baptism" means "to be dipped."
John the Baptist was the... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
John the Baptist was the most unlikely character to herald the coming of Christ.

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.

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