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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Life would be simpler if... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Life would be simpler if someone drew the line for us in as clear cut a manner as this: choose life
This scripture reminds us that... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
This scripture reminds us that each day God puts before us the choice between life and death.
The bathroom remodeling project was... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
The bathroom remodeling project was the latest in a long line of projects to improve the storage and
Some years ago I worked... -- Philemon 1-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Some years ago I worked in an office situation with a woman who was extremely forceful and aggressiv
Everybody wants some claim to... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Everybody wants some claim to fame.
When performing a motor skill... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
When performing a motor skill, like thrashing grain in the barn, what is more important to the task:
Boaz and Ruth would have... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Boaz and Ruth would have liked Marion McQuade.
Imagine overhearing this conversation:br... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Imagine overhearing this conversation:
It was an unnecessary sacrifice... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
It was an unnecessary sacrifice.
Johannes Vermeer, in 1663-64 A.D... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Johannes Vermeer, in 1663-64 A.D., painted Woman With a Balance.
John and Sarah had been... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
John and Sarah had been married for over 25 years.
Rainbows have been the object... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Rainbows have been the object of contemplation, questions, and stories from the beginning of time.
Charles has not attended church... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Charles has not attended church for a number of months.
The story of Noah and... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
The story of Noah and the ark has been the source of many jokes, like, "Why couldn't Noah play cards
Jerry Schmalenberger relates a story... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Jerry Schmalenberger relates a story told by Joe Wold in his book, God's Impatience With Liberia
Linda found herself in the... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Linda found herself in the hospital as a result of complications from surgery.
There are many ideas and... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
There are many ideas and theories as to whether this text supports the confession of a Christ who pr
Alice was one of the... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Alice was one of the many shut-ins in the church. She was 82 years old.
Tradition has it that George... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Tradition has it that George Friderick Handel was so overwhelmed and awed by his reading of the book
In the space of seven... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
In the space of seven verses Jesus is baptized, temped by Satan, hears of John the Baptist's death,
A pastor in Texas tells... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
A pastor in Texas tells about a spiritual reality that affects most Christians.
A wedding was the occasion... -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
A wedding was the occasion for the extended family to be together.
There's a story about a... -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
There's a story about a Bible translator in India, who was working to translate the New Testament in
In his book, Contours of... -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
In his book, Contours of Old Testament Theology (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1999), pp.
Because she was raised in... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Because she was raised in a large family, Shelly knew that she would be a great mom.

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, wild fires, 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 September 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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