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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

If the devil were to... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
If the devil were to write beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:
There was a high-end... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
There was a high-end, custom-built sailing yacht that set out on its maiden voyage.
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed to head the caring ministry team at church.
When an owner of a... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
When an owner of a professional sports franchise is happy with his coaches and managers, he often gi
In the movie, Forrest Gump... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
In the movie, Forrest Gump, Forrest has many amazing abilities but has an IQ of about seventy
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard.
The apostle Paul models an... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The apostle Paul models an excellent work ethic through making tents.
Almost three-quarters of Americans... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Almost three-quarters of Americans who haven't darkened the door of a church in the last six months
The time had come for... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The time had come for Jeff to begin searching for another job.
Jocelyn was learning almost daily... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Jocelyn was learning almost daily in her school that smoking is bad for a person's health and that s
Because our modern world has... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Because our modern world has radio, television, and the internet, we're more aware of groups that wa
Going to college: mixing students... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Going to college: mixing students from dozens of different schools, cities, towns, states, families.
Joshua's stirring words, As for... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Joshua's stirring words, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," also call us to obedi
The Left Behind series of... -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
The Left Behind series of novels has been a publishing phenomenon, each one of them a huge be
Bob was pleased to discover... -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Bob was pleased to discover that his family had purchased a new barbeque grill for his Father's Day
My uncle usually had at... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
My uncle usually had at least two jobs at once.
The motto for the Boy... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
The motto for the Boy Scouts of America is "Be Prepared." Although Sheila was never a Boy Scout, she
Matthew tells us that watchfulness... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Matthew tells us that watchfulness is something we must have. But what exactly is watchfulness?
Christians have tended to approach... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Christians have tended to approach "salvation" as either a big game or a long season, each yielding
When Megan was a young... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
When Megan was a young girl, she would watch her mother share Jesus with just about everyone she met
French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), once said, "Reason commands us far more imperiously
I walk in the mornings... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
I walk in the mornings near the hospital. Sometimes I walk early and sometimes a little later.
A man was walking down... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
A man was walking down the road when he came upon a half-completed cathedral.
If we take Paul literally... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
If we take Paul literally and never close our eyes to sleep, soon we would not notice anything at al
As Pam was going through... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
As Pam was going through her mother's desk she happened upon a notebook full of names.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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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