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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It was probably lost on... -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
It was probably lost on most of the movie-going public, but there is an anointing in the animated fi
When Don was growing up... -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
When Don was growing up he had the reputation of always being in trouble.
We seem to be inundated... -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
We seem to be inundated with “Reality TV.” Much of the fare deals with beauty, physical stamina, tal
Because of a funeral, the... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
Because of a funeral, the pastor arrived Saturday night, a day late to the high school retreat, and
We like to be the... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
We like to be the home team. The home team knows the field.
When Europeans first came to... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
When Europeans first came to Australia, they found many new creatures that they had never seen befor
Some biblical scholars think Jesus... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
Some biblical scholars think Jesus’ mustard plant is what the botanists call “black mustard” — more
A beautiful maple tree is... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
A beautiful maple tree is in Patty’s backyard.
One would suspect that the... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
One would suspect that the seedlings used in the reforestation of the Douglas Fir would be relativel
Why do Sunday school teachers... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Why do Sunday school teachers glory in this incident, blithely making spiritual points about armor t
Marsha’s college friends had set... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Marsha’s college friends had set her up for a date, and now they fluttered around her, helping her w
Picture with me David putting... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Picture with me David putting on King Saul’s armor and then trying in vain to walk.
The Greek word for the... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
The Greek word for the deepest, most meaningful experience of time is xairos.
Linda and Peter have moved... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Linda and Peter have moved ten times in 36 years of marriage.
A college psychology professor indicated... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
A college psychology professor indicated that she would only accept her students’ midterm papers fro
Novelist Harry Brown shared an... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Novelist Harry Brown shared an Oscar as a screenwriter.
Storms on the water are... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Storms on the water are frightening to watch, much less be in.
The Sea of Galilee was... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
The Sea of Galilee was one of the fishing hot spots of the ancient world.
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln, contains a memorable scene.
The news that Tom and... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
The news that Tom and Lori were expecting another child came as a surprise to both of them.
In February 2009, about the... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
In February 2009, about the time Barry Bonds was going to court to face perjury charges, Alex Rodriq
Many times we need to... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
Many times we need to be reminded of reasons.
Lily was never in the... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
Lily was never in the science fair, but she was a proud 4-H girl.
A beggar confronted a social... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
A beggar confronted a social worker and her welfare client as they walked together.
There’s a famous story of... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
There’s a famous story of Frederick the Great of Prussia, a man of great scientific curiosity.

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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