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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Once in a while you... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
Once in a while you read of the remarkable gifts that one man has and uses in his life.
God uses our weakness to... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
God uses our weakness to reflect his power and witness. As a boy, I recall watching
As a seminary graduate, Dave... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
As a seminary graduate, Dave was interviewed at a local congregation near where he was raised as a b
In the aftermath of the... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
In the aftermath of the tsunami late in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many people around the w
Jerry is a traveling salesman... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
Jerry is a traveling salesman.
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh announced... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh announced he was going to try to fly across the Atlantic Ocean by airplan
Blaise Pascal was an influential... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Blaise Pascal was an influential French mathematician and scientist of the seventeenth
Several years ago, Coach John... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Several years ago, Coach John Gruden was brought from Oakland to Tampa Bay to do
Every summer in south central... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Every summer in south central Pennsylvania, Creation Festival, which draws tens of
In this text, the Ark... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
In this text, the Ark of God was a religious symbol that was more than for show or
The graduation commencement ceremony was... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
The graduation commencement ceremony was a glorious time for a certain midwest
Sam was a good trumpet... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Sam was a good trumpet player in high school. Easily, he was the best trumpet player in
Kings and other important people... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Kings and other important people have always had the need to ensure the authenticity and
Verse 5a of this passage... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Verse 5a of this passage is one of several references to adoption in the Christian
I remember being at a... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
I remember being at a retreat once where the leader asked us to think of someone who
A man and his wife... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
A man and his wife, who had lived together for more than fifty years, promised each
Glenn had a passion for... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
Glenn had a passion for his home church. He grew up in the church, and was involved
What a gruesome text! Evidently... -- Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B
What a gruesome text! Evidently, King Herod knew what he was about to do (having
In one of the episodes... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
In one of the episodes of the television show M*A*S*H, Lt. Col. Henry Blake
Tom was a successful pastor... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Tom was a successful pastor in a large mainline denomination. He had the "touch" when
One doesn't have to search... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
One doesn't have to search too long to find the top sports dynasties. The Boston Celtics,
Sometimes the most impressive temple... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Sometimes the most impressive temple is the one not built. Consider the monumental,
In over 100 years of... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
In over 100 years of intense missionary activity prior to 1949, the number of Protestant
For a number of years... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
For a number of years, the adopted son lived gratefully in the home of a family where he
Tom ran into Cindy one... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Tom ran into Cindy one day at a coffee shop in town. At one time, Tom worked with

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – 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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