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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

About twenty years ago, there'd... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
About twenty years ago, there'd been an attack in Jerusalem by Palestinians. The nightly
Paul often linked three great... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Paul often linked three great Christian qualities as he did here: "Your work of faith, labor
On a construction site, the... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
On a construction site, the workers had just placed explosives for a large explosion where
Christianity stands or falls with... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness
Jesus says to us in... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Jesus says to us in our gospel lesson for today, "Give to God the things that are God's."
Diane has a heart for... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Diane has a heart for mission. She asked if she might have a "Mission of the Month" that
Joanne was a thoughtful, energetic... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Joanne was a thoughtful, energetic woman. She worked in the church as a Sunday school
Moses led the Hebrews in... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Moses led the Hebrews in their escape from Egypt. The Hebrews had always lived in
Moses came to the juncture... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Moses came to the juncture many Christian leaders reach. At what point do they turn over
As Moses looked into the... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
As Moses looked into the holy land, not being able to enter it, he had many memories.
Who steals my purse steals... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Who steals my purse steals trash -- 'tis something -- nothing,
It's all too easy for... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
It's all too easy for us to think that it's too hard for us to be the witnesses to our
Sara took a course on... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Sara took a course on spiritual practices. While she was not majoring in religion she
At a Veteran's Day event... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
At a Veteran's Day event at an elementary school, a student asked the aged soldier why
On a tall stack of... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
On a tall stack of large boxes at the pharmacy each box carried a huge red sign: Bend
Recently I met with a... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Recently I met with a group of people from another church who wanted to query me
Abou Ben Adhem Abou... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Abou Ben Adhem Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Christian novelist, Walter Wangerin, tells... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Christian novelist, Walter Wangerin, tells of an incident from his own life: from his
To have a happy and... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
To have a happy and fulfilling life, we all need to live our lives in relationship with
West End Fellowship is celebrating... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
West End Fellowship is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. The vision was to
In legal terms, an internal... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
In legal terms, an internal law can mean several things. It can mean the rules, policies,
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides is about US Army Rangers and Philippine
For many years, I taught... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
For many years, I taught a Bible class at a home for unwed girls in Los Angeles. The
How do we bring others... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
How do we bring others to hunger and thirst for righteousness in such a way that they
Our text expresses the central... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Our text expresses the central lesson of Paul's spiritual experience. This student of the

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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
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, wildfires, 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 Sept. 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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