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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Shelley wrote a poem called... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Shelley wrote a poem called Ozymandias, part of which goes:
Every once in a while... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Every once in a while, in the world of photojournalism, there is an image that rises above
One day, a junior high... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
One day, a junior high boy told his grandfather that since he was confirmed, he might do
Melissa's life story made people... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Melissa's life story made people in the nice, respectable church uncomfortable. She was
Twin sisters lived together, after... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Twin sisters lived together, after their parents died, in the family home. They were
Sophie's husband drinks heavily. He... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Sophie's husband drinks heavily. He creates havoc when he drinks too much. He has been
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast with incredible force and did
On February 28, 1917, a... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
On February 28, 1917, a fire swept through the Crystal Theater in Ottawa, Kansas.
A story is told concerning... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B
A story is told concerning how Charles Wesley wrote his famous hymn, "Jesus, Lover Of
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they
Ruth's friends were not sure... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Ruth's friends were not sure what would happen after her husband died. The couple was
As Israel would thrive as... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
As Israel would thrive as a nation, King David remains mindful that this was with a price
In order for people to... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
In order for people to give, there must be people to receive. Being the "giver" is often
Paul quotes Exodus 16 when... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Paul quotes Exodus 16 when conducting his stewardship campaign: the one who had
Old Faith Church is a... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Old Faith Church is a struggling congregation in a transitional neighborhood. Many of
Paul's topic here is stewardship... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Paul's topic here is stewardship. He is encouraging the Corinthians to give generously to
The movie star, Marilyn Monroe... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
The movie star, Marilyn Monroe, had a troubled upbringing, living in several different
Jason McAlwain, a senior in... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Jason McAlwain, a senior in high school and the team manager, was permitted to dress
Bert moped around feeling depressed... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
Bert moped around feeling depressed. He wasn't sure why he felt the way he did but he
For Mark the evangelist, the... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B
For Mark the evangelist, the outsiders of the faith know exactly who Jesus is, while the
Melinda was fortunate enough to... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
Melinda was fortunate enough to get accepted into an Ivy League University. The rest of
The church in southern Ohio... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
The church in southern Ohio had undergone four years of trouble. Two pastors came and
There is a Zulu story... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
There is a Zulu story that goes something like this: Soon after creation, when it had
Shepherding in open country is... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
Shepherding in open country is hard work. The shepherd is always on duty, and can
A little fish once overheard... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
A little fish once overheard some grown-up fish talking about the importance of water.

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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