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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Deciding what kind of a... -- Isaiah 7:10-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Deciding what kind of a sign to ask for from God is a very tricky proposition.
Sometimes a warm greeting can... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Sometimes a warm greeting can change our lives.
This is one very long... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
This is one very long sentence. It is quite an introduction.
Four and one-half years... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Four and one-half years old is a time when questions come quickly, and time passes very slowly.
One day Alfred Nobel, inventor... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
One day Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, read the morning newspaper and was shocked to see his ow
If you have ever gone... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
If you have ever gone into your child's or grandchild's room to wake him or her up some dreary morni
Can it be? November is... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Can it be? November is virtually finished and December begins on Tuesday.
The parents of children in... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The parents of children in an elementary school were glad when the administration opted for a simple
Oliver Sacks' book, Awakenings... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Oliver Sacks' book, Awakenings, tells the stories of many patients who had been struck with e
Sometimes nature reflects the unexpectedness... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Sometimes nature reflects the unexpectedness of Christ's second coming.
The idea of readiness permeates... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
The idea of readiness permeates our lives.
You do not know the... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
You do not know the hour or the day. At any time a thief could break in.
God sometimes acts suddenly and... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
God sometimes acts suddenly and there seems to be little warning.
At this time of year... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
At this time of year, many gardening enthusiasts anticipate the arrival of a new year's supply of se
Peace. Not just peace between... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
Peace. Not just peace between people but peace in the natural world as well.
A man from a small... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
A man from a small town went on a business trip to a large city.
In 1990 Frank Galati made... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
In 1990 Frank Galati made a hit broadway musical out of John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wra
Five years ago, a young... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
Five years ago, a young girl wrote a song titled "Hold On." At the time, she had just triumphed over
The first time I saw... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
The first time I saw the animated short film Included Out I was in college and simply thought
Some of us (especially some... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
Some of us (especially some preachers!) can hardly let Advent go by without complaints about its ove
The most eloquent preacher in... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
The most eloquent preacher in the ancient church was John Chrysostom (c345-407) so named "the golden
If I were throwing a... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
If I were throwing a neighborhood party I know for certain I would not invite John the Baptist.
The gospels are unanimous. John... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
The gospels are unanimous.
Most of the preaching I... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Most of the preaching I have heard on this passage in the past couple decades has focused, not on th
Whether the adversary is external... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C
Whether the adversary is external or from within, Jesus' words hold true: "By standing firm you will

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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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
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
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80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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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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