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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

At the close of life... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
At the close of life, the question will not be, "How much have you gotten?" but "How much have you g
Clarence Jordan, author of the... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation and founder of the interraci
If you're not from Ohio... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
If you're not from Ohio or Michigan, it's hard to understand the rivalry between the University of M
Come! Follow me. Come and... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
"Come!
Anger, writes Eugene Peterson in... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
"Anger," writes Eugene Peterson in commenting on this story of Jonah, "is a useful diagnostic tool.
Some people will change when... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.
The seminar began with the... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
The seminar began with the leader asking, "What are you avoiding doing that you know needs to be don
Whatever else that can be... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
Whatever else that can be said about him, Adolf Hitler was aware of his ability to use language and
A WWII soldier stated, The... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
A WWII soldier stated, "The funny thing about war is this: the 'right' thing to do in one situation
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding
A change in the way... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
A change in the way people view the world is known to historians as a paradigm shift.
The apostle Paul calls on... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
The apostle Paul calls on the Corinthians and us for a radical reordering of our lives in the light
There's a Peanuts comic strip... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
There's a Peanuts comic strip in which Linus is listening carefully as his sister, Lucy, boas
For as long as anyone... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
For as long as anyone could remember Janet and Mary were the best of friends.
Why do people follow leaders... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
Why do people follow leaders?
In 1965, Reverend Schwab felt... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
In 1965, Reverend Schwab felt called to start a unique home -- a place where children from difficult
S. I. McMillen, in his... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
S. I.
Kathy had seen the book... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
Kathy had seen the book advertised online, in bookstores, on television.
Most of us think of... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
Most of us think of a prophet as one who foretells the future, but this is not true of biblical prop
What does it take to... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
What does it take to "build up" the church? Cinder blocks, wood beams, sheetrock, insulation?
What other gods could we... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty.
In 1969, in Pass Christian... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
In 1969, in Pass Christian, Mississippi, a group of people were preparing to have a "hurricane party
Rich enjoys teaching the middle... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
Rich enjoys teaching the middle-school-age Sunday school class each Sunday.
Cal attended church every Sunday... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
Cal attended church every Sunday, taught the high school Sunday school class, and sat on the church
Robert Ekvall was a translator... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2008
Robert Ekvall was a translator between the North Koreans and the United Nations forces in negotiatio

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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
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Christ the King Sunday
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
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Thanksgiving
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80+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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, 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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