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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The text describes love itself... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The text describes love itself as the very image of God present in God's people.
Few things so cultivate a... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Few things so cultivate a shared orientation as a common ordeal.
The house was ablaze and... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The house was ablaze and little Tommy's screams could be heard from within.
Paul reminds us of an... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
Paul reminds us of an eternal reality. It is not easy to serve God.
While Jesus didn't raise every... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
While Jesus didn't raise every dead child in Israel, his bringing Jairus' daughter back to life was
At church camp, Reverend Howard... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
At church camp, Reverend Howard and another boy took off in a canoe.
We're not there yet, but... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
We're not there yet, but we are on the way.
Every Tuesday morning, I meet... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
Every Tuesday morning, I meet with residents of a nursing home.
God has a plan for... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- 2003
God has a plan for baby Saige.
It is difficult today to... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
It is difficult today to imagine demons being driven from our lives, enabling us to become radically
Jesus told the healed leper... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
Jesus told the healed leper not to tell others about his healing, but the man told everyone he met.
Karl Barth once said: Look... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Karl Barth once said: "Look at the face of a criminal and you will see what God sees when he looks a
I grew up in a... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I grew up in a large urban church in downtown Paterson, New Jersey.
As a symbol, the cross... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
As a symbol, the cross has shown up in a number of surprising places, but as far as we know, it was
We've adopted all three of... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
We've adopted all three of our dogs from the animal shelter.
A trip to a haunted... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
A trip to a haunted house recently turned into a lesson in love for two little six-year-old twin gir
To most of the world... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
To most of the world, Mary Silzel is just another grandmother cruising the merchandise on eBay.
Recently a television special recounted... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Recently a television special recounted the life of John F. Kennedy, Jr.
There's a little town in... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
There's a little town in northeast Ohio called Hanoverton, settled in the early 1800s by Protestants
So much turns on the... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
So much turns on the little word, "but," as Paul used it in verse 4.
There is hardly a scene... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
There is hardly a scene that can surpass in suspense than the reading of the will.
The death of baseball great... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
The death of baseball great, Ted Williams, has raised the issue of deep-freezing people soon after d
Whom does Jesus call? When... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
Whom does Jesus call?
A Baptist seminary professor once... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
A Baptist seminary professor once said to a Methodist pastor, "I chuckle at you Methodists, always t
There is an incredible power... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
There is an incredible power associated with endorsement and approval.

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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