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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Do not touch! We see... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
"Do not touch!" We see the "Wet Paint" sign, but we still have to test it.
Despite her parents' warnings, good... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Despite her parents' warnings, good examples, and hard work of trying to put her through college, Jo
There is something special in... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
There is something special in knowing who your ancestors were.
It's a story that is... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
It's a story that is told often around the farm table.
What's in a name? asks... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
"What's in a name?" asks Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet.
There's an old story about... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
There's an old story about three boys who got into a bragging contest about whose dad was the greate
Some of Charles' friends tease... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Some of Charles' friends tease him and accuse him of being "gay." The reason is that the he does not
In a day and age... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
In a day and age when people need positive role models, the church is often the place to look.
Tonya watched her father live... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Tonya watched her father live his last few years on a strict diet while on kidney dialysis.
Video teleconferencing is probably here... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Video teleconferencing is probably here to stay.
Mary was diagnosed with cancer... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Mary was diagnosed with cancer: her prognosis wasn't good.
Only two to three percent... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Only two to three percent of new members walk into a church on their own.
It's a basic learning step... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
It's a basic learning step, to discern larger from smaller, more from less.
My two teenage sons were... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
My two teenage sons were discussing possible dates for the high school prom.
Professor Stephen Solomon White was... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Professor Stephen Solomon White was my major professor at Olivet Nazarene College, Kankakee, Illinoi
The late Dr. Charles Gilkey... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
The late Dr. Charles Gilkey was dean of the chapel at the University of Chicago some 40 years ago.
A recent newspaper article covered... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
A recent newspaper article covered interviews with 25 people who had reached the age of 100.
In this world you can't... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
In this world you can't live a day without conflict.
It is the manager's task... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
It is the manager's task to take the 25 players of a professional baseball team and make them functi
The Messianic promise comes in... -- Ezekiel 17:22-24 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
The Messianic promise comes in the voice of Ezekiel in a totally new and unexpected way.
On June 21, 58 B.C... -- Ezekiel 31:1-6, 10-14 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
On June 21, 58 B.C., the prophet spoke these words regarding Egypt, calling to mind the fate of Assy
Some of us can remember... -- Ezekiel 31:1-6, 10-14 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Some of us can remember the craze of the Beatle invasion, when that great rock music group came to A
In Walter Brueggemann's book, The... -- Ezekiel 31:1-6, 10-14 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
In Walter Brueggemann's book, The Prophetic Imagination, he talks about the difference between the t
In California there is a... -- Ezekiel 31:1-6, 10-14 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
In California there is a great deal of debate over the issue of forecasting upcoming earthquakes.
One day a daughter took... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
One day a daughter took advantage of some time off from work to come home and spend a few days with

Political Pulpit

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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
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Thanksgiving
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80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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