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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Affirming a mystery -- Proverbs 8:22-31, Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
The Holy Trinity is a mystery indeed.
Share the joy reach out and include -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.
The day is the way! -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Adventus, "Coming!" That Latin word sounds like the theme for the four weeks ahead of us.
The Immediacy of Epiphany -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Never does the Bible recommend that some day we ought to listen, to respond, to change.
People you can count on -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20, Psalm 124 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Some years ago, a major research firm conducted a survey to determine what people would be willing t
God's Bounty -- Psalms 139:13-18, 2 Kings 4:8-17, Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Turn to whichever selection for today that you wish and you will soon discover that the common theme
Humility -- Jeremiah 28:1-9, Hebrews 13:1-8, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
All of us are aware of the difference between real and false humility.
Of grease and squeaky wheels -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30 -- David Kalas -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Conventional wisdom says that it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
Aim high -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
It comes with the territory of capitalism, for we are continually encouraged to want more, to get wh
Universalism Versus Exclusivism -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Galatians 1:1-10, Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C
The issue as to whether Yahweh was the God of Israel alone or the God of all the nations was always
Typing and timing spirituality -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 52 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
You are having guests over for dinner. The meal is nearing completion.
Perfection -- Psalm 15, Genesis 18:1-10a, Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
I am certain that when I hear some people speak of the Christian life, I am hearing them say that no
Prophecy -- 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
No Advent season would be complete without a consideration of the role of prophecy.
New Beginnings -- Isaiah 43:16-21, John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Sometimes all our talk about Lent would lead one to think our major Lenten task is to look backward.
Far from the tree -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 121 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
Two thousand years earlier, Abram sat alone one night, when the Lord came to speak to him.
Reminding Us of Who We Are -- Psalm 145, Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
All of us know that it is by the grace of God that we are what we are and that the church is what it
Bucking Up -- Jeremiah 20:7-13 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
Did you ever have someone come to you when you were down in the mouth and ready to throw in the towe
Ambition comes with the territory. -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
It comes with the territory of capitalism, for we are continually encouraged to want more, to get wh

Communicating God's Love

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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Rudyard Kipling, best known as the author of The Jungle Book, wrote a poem titled The Whit
NULL -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden in New York City was abuzz.
NULL -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Exodus 17:1-7
NULL -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I have no problem with aging and getting older.
NULL -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In word processing programs, one of the formatting choices is the "justification." Options include l
NULL -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Elie Wiesel is most often recognized for his book Night, in which he recounts his captivity a
NULL -- John 4:5-42 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
One of the "holy grails" of modern technology is the long-lasting battery.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Genesis 12:1-4a
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mohandas Gandhi once said, "Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
"I will bless you so that you will be a blessing." Are you blessed with special talents?
NULL -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Sometimes I wish I could have been there in the room with Thomas Edison when he heard the first reco
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
When the sixteenth-century explorer Ferdinand Magellan came to the shores of South America, his crew
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mother Teresa once said, "Be kind and merciful.
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
1 Samuel 16:1-13
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
"Expect the unexpected!" How often have you gone to a job interview or meeting having built up a par
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
David Livingston was placed gently on his bed. Ill, few believed he could live until morning.
NULL -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I never experienced complete darkness until I was a teenager.
NULL -- John 9:1-41 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
We learn cause and effect at an early stage.
NULL -- John 9:1-41 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In order to foster congeniality and cooperation among various Christian denominations, the World Cou
NULL -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Ezekiel 37:1-14
NULL -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In any story of survival, one of the most important elements is hope.
NULL -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In the movie The Devil's Advocate (1997) Kevin Lomax is a defense lawyer who specializes in j
NULL -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mary Jane and her husband Rob were happy together.
NULL -- John 11:1-45 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
It is often in the darkest of circumstances when God shows up the most.
NULL -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
Isaiah 50:4-9

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: A job description. I have attached a sample you can use if you wish. I have highlighted a few of the items that might be good to use as examples during the message, but feel free to pick the ones you want to use.

* * *

The Immediate Word

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For June 8, 2025:

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John E. Sumwalt
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works—
 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke.
 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being. (vv. 31-33)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
An older couple is given an eight-month eviction notice to leave their residence. They are living on a fixed income. After exploring an advertised senior living community in the next county, the news is grim. They cannot afford to live in such a community despite the extravagant advertising publicity they saw about amenities and community recreation on television. Both the man and woman have worked many jobs for decades with small pensions, lower wages in a roller coaster job market for a couple decades. The man calls a small-town pastor in the area.
Mark Ellingsen
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Bonnie Bates
Genesis 11:1-9

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

On the day of Pentecost, six weeks after Jesus had risen from death, when the disciples were gathered together in one place, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. As we gather together on the day of Pentecost, let us ask God that we too might be filled with his Holy Spirit.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, forgive us our sins and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, forgive us our apathy and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Today is Pentecost. The creative power of God's Spirit (v. 30) flows today like no other day. The Spirit that is poured out on this day is the same Spirit that hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2) at the dawn of creation. This is the same Spirit that possessed Gideon as he lifted up his horn (Judges 6:4). And it is the same Spirit that the risen Jesus told us would arrive as an advocate to accompany us (John 14:16) forever.
John Jamison
It wasn't their first fight. Like most fathers and sons they had their disagreements. But this time, something was different. A line had been crossed that had never been crossed before. They sat there, staring at each other, both realizing they were in new territory, neither of them sure that they really wanted to be there.

David R. Cartwright
That first Pentecost was a grand and glorious day. It was a new beginning. On that special day, God's people were reborn through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was an extraordinary event.

Robert Leslie Holmes
A seminary student writing a term paper about confession of sin started to type, "When we confess, Christ takes away our guilt." However, he was a bit thick-fingered and hit the letter q instead of the letter g on his computer keyboard. Now his sentence read, "Christ takes away our quilt." He didn't notice his error but his professor did and wrote in the margin, "Fear not, little one, you'll not freeze for God has given us a Comforter!" Using his keen wit, the professor conveyed a profound spiritual truth that is at the heart of Pentecost. God has given us a Comforter.
Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
There's an old story about a man who found a pig. It seems that as this man was driving into the city in his station wagon, a stray hog suddenly ran out in front of him. The man stopped the car, jumped out, caught the pig, and put it in the back. Not knowing what to do with the animal, he flagged down the first policeman he saw, explained the situation and asked, "What should I do with this hog?"

"Take him to the zoo," was the officer's response.

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