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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The United States Secret Service... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
The United States Secret Service, responsible for guarding the integrity of our nation's
In 2005, Harold Printer, the... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
In 2005, Harold Printer, the irascible British playwright, was awarded the Nobel Prize for
It has been said that... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
It has been said that familiarity breeds contempt. When we think we know someone we
As a beauty I'm... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2006
As a beauty I'm not a star, There are others more handsome by far;
Courtney attended college to please... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Courtney attended college to please her parents. Then, two-thirds through her sophomore
Whatever has happened to true... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Whatever has happened to true worship? Why is it that we often leave worship more
In the year that King... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
"In the year that King Uzziah died. I saw the Lord." Isaiah likely had gone alone to the
Jesus' call can be traced... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Jesus' call can be traced back to his baptismal experience and to that Isaiah 61 passage.
Here's a little piece that... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Here's a little piece that has been circulating anonymously on the Internet.
Judith did not like the... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Judith did not like the limelight. She worked hard, put herself fully into every project or
Pastor Juanita was leading an... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Pastor Juanita was leading an afternoon Bible study at a church in a poor section of town.
What makes Jesus different? What... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
What makes Jesus different? What qualified him to solely lead us to God? Note the
Jon visited and welcomed his... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
Jon visited and welcomed his new neighbors, but they didn't seem to care about him, his
I have a friend who... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
I have a friend who is both a pastor and a professional fisherman. He has a wonderful hat
For some reason, fishing takes... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
For some reason, fishing takes on wild proportions, and a fish story automatically implies
There are times that come... -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2006
There are times that come to us all when the fish just do not bite. There are occasions
He was retired military: safe... -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
He was retired military: safe and secure after more than twenty years in the service, living
Growing up on the prairies... -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Growing up on the prairies makes one aware of the importance of moisture. Folks would
Life was difficult for Melinda... -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Life was difficult for Melinda and her eight-year-old son, Kyle. It was hard enough
Why does man feel so... -- Jeremiah 17:5-10 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
"Why does man feel so sad in the twentieth century?" asked the philosopher, Walker
If we don't do surgery... -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
"If we don't do surgery soon, you're in for real trouble."
D. L. Moody, the great... -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of the nineteenth century, assigned some ministerial
The year was 1799, the... -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
The year was 1799, the armies of Napoleon were conquering all in their path. They
Funny time for an Easter... -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Funny time for an Easter sermon. How can we possibly preach on resurrection when
Dorothea Hertzberg served a term... -- Luke 6:17-26 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2006
Dorothea Hertzberg served a term as a Peace Corps volunteer in the tiny, impoverished

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For August 3, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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