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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It isn't enough just to... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
It isn't enough just to sit in church and have a good feeling for those in need and those
I preached four nights in... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
I preached four nights in a church in Atlanta, a nice, big church with a good crowd, more
Hospitality is one of the... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Hospitality is one of the marks of a Christian person, one of the qualities of a follower of
A church consultant was hired... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
A church consultant was hired to help a struggling church. The church had been in
Sheryl spent a lot of... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Sheryl spent a lot of time at the home of her college roommate, Rowena. Sheryl's home
Isaiah 49:8-16a Margaret... -- Matthew 6:24-34, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19... -- Matthew 7:21-29, Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31), Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
Genesis 12:1-9 Bruce... -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Genesis 12:1-9
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7... -- Genesis 18:1-15, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7)
Union forces named it the... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Union forces named it the Battle of Antietam (Maryland). Confederates dubbed it the
Abraham gave his servant a... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Abraham gave his servant a tricky assignment. Would you like the job of finding a wife
Jacob was 78 years old... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Jacob was 78 years old and hadn't had true romance yet. His father, Isaac, said in effect:
The English poet of the... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
The English poet of the Elizabethan era, John Donne, captures the complexity of our
It gives me hope when... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
It gives me hope when I hear the apostle Paul saying that he wants to do what's
We often forget the life... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
We often forget the life-and-death struggle our nation engaged in to reach Independence
Josh was a normal, inquisitive... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Josh was a normal, inquisitive adolescent. He liked to explore, take risks, and push the
The Old Testament called God... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
The Old Testament called God a rock, knowing God wasn't granite; a
But to what will I... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces
Growing up in his father's... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Growing up in his father's carpenter shop, Jesus knew how important it was to have
How can there possibly exist... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
How can there possibly exist such things as a covenant, and "God's chosen people," when
That was a costly bowl... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
That was a costly bowl of stew that Esau purchased from his brother, Jacob, when he
It was a family reunion... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
It was a family reunion of sorts, at the local nursing home where Barbara is a resident.
In an article for The... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
In an article for The Journal for Youth and Adolescence (vol. 36, 2007, pp. 661-
A suicide in London became... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
A suicide in London became famous. The man was John Ellis, who for a quarter century
Though few people give much... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
Though few people give much daily thought to it, the judgment will be a fearsome

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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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