Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

If you've ever had a... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
If you've ever had a family member or friend who is visually impaired or blind, it doesn't take long
Tiffany brought the seed home... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Tiffany brought the seed home from school, carefully carrying the little cup so the soil would not s
A woman stopped by the... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
A woman stopped by the pastor's office to share some news with him.
When our twin granddaughters and... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
When our twin granddaughters and their parents came a very long distance to visit us, they were stil
See John Dominic Crossan's book... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
See John Dominic Crossan's book, The Historical Jesus, page 276, for some interesting facts about th
The apostle reminds us that... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
The apostle reminds us that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and at that time
Richard Wurmbrand is a Rumanian... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Richard Wurmbrand is a Rumanian pastor who has suffered torture for his faith.
Those Wedding Bells Are Breaking... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
"Those Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine": do you remember that tune?
Columnist Leonard Pitt claims to... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Columnist Leonard Pitt claims to be a history buff despite what he learned in school.
I have no idea how... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
"I have no idea how it works." I have said that phrase more often than I care to admit.
A family was vacationing in... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
A family was vacationing in the northern woods.
There is debate over whether... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
There is debate over whether Jesus used parables to conceal or to reveal the truth.
In my [high school] class... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
"In my [high school] class, as in any class, at any school, there were students who had a
In a time when people... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
In a time when people are often judged by their looks rather than inner character and
Janice had been away from... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Janice had been away from her hometown for a dozen years. During that time, she
Years ago, a committee of... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Years ago, a committee of synod, responsible for examining graduating seminarians, met
Kingdom of God thinking has... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
"Kingdom of God thinking" has changed the way a lot of people live out their lives. It is
At the University of Maryland... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
At the University of Maryland Medical Center's Maryland Heart Center, a new procedure
If anyone is in Christ... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
"... If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see,
A homeless man was sitting... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
A homeless man was sitting across the street from an artist's studio. The artist saw him,
Earl and Ruth were raising... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Earl and Ruth were raising a small family. Their oldest son seemed to lie around and drag
Ed watched in dismay as... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B
Ed watched in dismay as young families gradually left the church. The people of the
The super discount store chains... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
The super discount store chains could hardly wait to move into Carl's county where he
Do a Google search for... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Do a "Google" search for David and Goliath and you will find a site that insists that boys
Jacob was a preemie with... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Jacob was a preemie with a birth weight of less than three pounds. He spent the first three

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.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL