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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Throughout the year, a mission... -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Throughout the year, a mission distribution center needs volunteers to help sort donated
Dr. Drew Cottle wrote the... -- Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Dr. Drew Cottle wrote the following prayer based on the story of Sarah's laughter:
More than one mother during... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
More than one mother during the Civil War was allowed to speak with President
And hope does not disappoint... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
"And hope does not disappoint us." People who run out of hope usually give up on life.
God proves his love for... -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. We were
Compassion literally means passion with... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
"Compassion" literally means "passion with." The word "passion" means something very
It's appropriate, on this Father's... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
It's appropriate, on this Father's Day, that in our gospel lesson Matthew lists the names of
On the Sunday that Ray... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
On the Sunday that Ray and Karen joined the church, Lois shared her hesitancy to visit
Choosing the right team is... -- Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Choosing the right team is essential for project management, obtaining financing for a
Hagar's shoulders sagged from the... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Hagar's shoulders sagged from the burden. Lightened fearfully by each day's meal.
Abraham faced as much perplexity... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Abraham faced as much perplexity as any man has. First, God made promises that he
Hagar and Ishmael had every... -- Genesis 21:8-21 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Hagar and Ishmael had every reason to fear. They were asked to leave their home and left
Most people who have ever... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Most people who have ever used an IBM personal computer (or one of its clones) know
What does Paul mean in... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
What does Paul mean in our passage from the book of Romans when he says, "All of us
Early one Saturday morning, a... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Early one Saturday morning, a man heard thieves breaking into his home. He was
The City of Ottawa, a... -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
The City of Ottawa, a ship built to commemorate the birthday of Queen Victoria
Sim returned home from his... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Sim returned home from his new job. He'd just moved and was getting settled. On the
Have you been in the... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
Have you been in the presence of influential people or peers and stammer when you
The sparrow is such a... -- Matthew 10:24-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2008
The sparrow is such a common bird and so numerous that often it is considered a pest.
A theological student had an... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
A theological student had an appointment to visit his professor, Paul Tillich, in his home,
Notice the last verse in... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Notice the last verse in our Genesis reading where God tells Abraham to take his son,
The local service club named... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
The local service club named Gary its "Person of the Year." Gary worked tirelessly to
The story of the binding... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
The story of the binding of Isaac or the Akeidah is the most read of all scriptures. Every
Fred was my neighbor all... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Fred was my neighbor all through childhood. The last time I saw him was at his wedding.
Does the Lord love everyone... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Does the Lord love everyone? The answer is a little like a client's response to his

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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
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Thanksgiving
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80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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