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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Growing up in... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
At the funeral service of... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
At the funeral service of the English poet Robert Browning, one of those attending was Browning's gr
Words to Outlive Us: Eye... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
Words to Outlive Us: Eye-Witness Accounts from the Warsaw Ghetto, edited by Michal Grynberg, reveals
Cesar Chavez, renowned farm worker... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
Cesar Chavez, renowned farm worker organizer in California, called to task the president of the Cali
Have you ever had... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
Have you ever had the fun and challenge of taking your dog through obedience training?
One pastor tells of... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
One pastor tells of attending a local St. Patrick's Day dance at the fire hall.
When Jesus is our... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
When Jesus is our leader, we will deny ourselves on his behalf.
Jesus says to find... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
Jesus says to find our lives we must be willing to lose them.
In the Australian film... -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
In the Australian film Merry Christmas, Mr.
One of my favorite... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
One of my favorite playground toys as a child was the seesaw.
The text says that... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
The text says that Jesus looked up to heaven, gave a deep groan, and said, "Open up,” to this
The wonderful children's musical... -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
The wonderful children's musical, The Wizard of Oz, has captivated its audiences for we
Do you have a... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
Do you have a good name? What does your name mean?
When the Taliban ruled... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, they sowed a rigid conformity of lifestyle that did not ho
Throughout her long life... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
Throughout her long life of service, Mother Teresa minimized her own needs through her vows of
The Bible gives direct... -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
The Bible gives direct instruction to us on how to treat other people, especially the poor.
The Spirit confirms the work... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
The Spirit confirms the work and word of Christ in the world.
Speaking on Robert Shuller's Hour... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Speaking on Robert Shuller's Hour of Power program a few years ago, Billy Graham said:
When people who have just... -- John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
When people who have just performed some heroic, life-threatening deed in order to save another are
Just as good nutrition and... -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Just as good nutrition and exercise are indispensable to our well-being, so is our relationship with
In London with a tour... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
In London with a tour group, we were scheduled to visit the Tate Art Gallery one morning.
In Margaret Wise Brown's classic... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
In Margaret Wise Brown's classic children's tale, The Runaway Bunny, is the story of a bunny who dre
We don't automatically understand how... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
We don't automatically understand how remarkable the encounter between Jesus and the woman with the
The role of Christ in... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
The role of Christ in announcing the transforming and redemptive love of God is central in this pass
There was once a young... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
There was once a young man who decided to add a deck onto the back of his new house over a long Four

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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