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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

They didn't recognize him when... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- 2003
"They didn't recognize him when he came." Ah, that's the way of it so often, almost all the time.
Harry was 89 when I... -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2003
Harry was 89 when I first met him.
Isn't it interesting that Jesus... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
Isn't it interesting that Jesus healed a man who said, "I want to be healed"?
Some of us in the... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
Some of us in the "golden years" remember the party-line telephone.
Peter implies that Jesus should... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
Peter implies that Jesus should return to the town where more people were waiting for healing, but J
In the wilderness, Jesus was... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
In the wilderness, Jesus was tempted to sin.
Mike Hall (the world's strongest... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Mike Hall (the world's strongest drug-free man) and I co-host a cable television talk show titled Su
A small Presbyterian college in... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
A small Presbyterian college in the Midwest received a letter from an attorney telling them that a g
When we believe in Jesus... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
When we believe in Jesus, we are empowered by the new life of the Resurrection.
Sir, we wish to see... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
"Sir, we wish to see Jesus," said the Greeks to Philip.
When Brady was three weeks... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 2003
When Brady was three weeks old, he lay in his mother's arms in the front row of the church as the ch
When we toured the Holy... -- Mark 15:1-39 (40-47) -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
When we toured the Holy Land, we were brought to where we could see Golgotha -- the place of the sku
Years ago, some island missionaries... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
Years ago, some island missionaries brought the gospel to places it had never been before.
After lunch we decided to... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
After lunch we decided to go to the beach.
A quick perusal of titles... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
A quick perusal of titles on the library shelf, the bookstore, or on the Internet, gives us the impr
Although not referring directly to... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Although not referring directly to Jesus' command to love one another, Albert Schweitzer did sum up
Love is neither an easy... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Love is neither an easy nor natural response to those around us.
Christ left the riches of... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
Christ left the riches of heaven in order to abide among us mortals here on earth.
As Christians, we are called... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
As Christians, we are called to live our lives in ways that often run against the world's definition
In his book, The Buchwald... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
In his book, The Buchwald Stops Here, Art Buchwald, political pundit, described Charley, well dresse
The whole creation is groaning... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
The whole creation is groaning. The sounds and sights of hunger illustrate that.
When night falls in Pittsburgh... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
When night falls in Pittsburgh, 608 families leave their porch lights on and have baskets ready on t
Successful fishing requires using the... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
Successful fishing requires using the right approach and the right bait or lure.
Early on in J. K... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
Early on in J. K.
The Come unto me stained... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
The "Come unto me" stained-glass window in the Corinth Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Ohio, is awe-ins

Political Pulpit

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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
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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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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