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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Lou wonders where he fits... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Lou wonders where he fits in among the "Type-A multi-tasker" younger employees at his
Phil had been a pastor... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Phil had been a pastor at the same church for 32 years. He was well liked and respected
There is no doubt about... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
There is no doubt about it -- Jesus had celebrity status. Everywhere Jesus went, the
Charlie Brown frequently expresses feelings... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B
Charlie Brown frequently expresses feelings that many of us have. One emotion he often
Elie Wiesel once told the... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Elie Wiesel once told the story of a man who is in a boat, out on the open sea. There are
The amazing thing about Richard... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
The amazing thing about Richard Nixon was the inner conflict he suffered with his
It started off innocently enough... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
It started off innocently enough, like any new hobby. Ed began "chatting" with people
Finally, Tim was about to... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Finally, Tim was about to get his big break! He had been working in a small midwestern
The kids in the back... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
The kids in the back of the car were having a great time trying to outdo each other with
Tree roots are very important... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Tree roots are very important to tree growth. There are basically two types of tree roots:
In verse 17, the writer... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
In verse 17, the writer of Ephesians speaks of Christ dwelling in our hearts. In The
There's an old story about... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
There's an old story about a village that was planning a great celebration. The village
Jason recently completed the third... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Jason recently completed the third grade. It was last spring that he learned that one of his
Summers have been difficult in... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B
Summers have been difficult in terms of attendance for some congregations in a
Today's lesson reminds us that... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Today's lesson reminds us that even the good guys sin. Well-intended leaders do stray
High profile arrests hardly seem... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
High profile arrests hardly seem peculiar anymore. The fourth highest ranking member of
Neil was a man who... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Neil was a man who despised waste. When it came to the wasteful company practice of
Writers as diverse as Dostoevsky... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Writers as diverse as Dostoevsky, Kafka, Kierkegaard, and Tolstoy have discovered the
In many a home where... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
In many a home where children live, you can discover little penciled marks on a door
Sylvia was asked to serve... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Sylvia was asked to serve on a committee at her church. While she had reservations,
Don, the oldest member of... -- Ephesians 4:1-16 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Don, the oldest member of the church council, slammed his fists on the table one hot
In many twelve-step groups... -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
In many twelve-step groups, they make reference to a "hole in the soul." A person can be
When he was a boy... -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
When he was a boy, Joey thought the best thing ever would be to have a Dairy Queen ice
Bread is one of the... -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Bread is one of the most basic foods in most cultures. Bread is believed to have
The crowds sought out Jesus... -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
The crowds sought out Jesus because they wanted bread. What are we hungry for:

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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