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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A Jews for Jesus advertisement... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
A "Jews for Jesus" advertisement in The New Yorker magazine showed a full page picture of Marion Par
One of the unfortunate wounds... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
One of the unfortunate wounds America inflicted upon itself was the internment of its own citizens o
When a cup is full... -- John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- 2003
When a cup is full and spills over the rim, then the goodness of its content can be slurped up from
The noted French traveler, General... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
The noted French traveler, General Chastellux, wrote the following words about Thomas Jefferson 20 y
A forgiveness laboratory at Hope... -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2003
A forgiveness laboratory at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, monitors the four stages identified i
Not all cries for help... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
Not all cries for help are heeded.
Within his sphere of influence... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
Within his sphere of influence, Simon Bolivar is far more honored than any figure in North American
How do we dispel the... -- Mark 1:21-28 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
How do we dispel the spirits that possess us?
People are literally saved by... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
People are literally "saved by faith." Dr.
Paul Revere, an American patriot... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Paul Revere, an American patriot of the Revolutionary era, was probably Amer-ica's finest silversmit
Frithjof Meidell, a Norwegian immigrant... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Frithjof Meidell, a Norwegian immigrant who sought his fortune in the California Gold Rush, found a
The world-famous Passion Play... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
The world-famous Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, lasts all day.
Americans are accustomed to thinking... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Americans are accustomed to thinking of the jihad movement as something overseas, inspired among fai
Bob Rines, a patent lawyer... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Bob Rines, a patent lawyer from Boston, trained as a physicist and engineer at M.I.T.
Untimely, cruel deaths can make... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Untimely, cruel deaths can make legends out of people who have accomplished at least one significant
On April 18, 1942, 80... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 2003
On April 18, 1942, 80 airmen in 16 twin-engine B-25 bombers dropped bombs on five Japanese cities.
Czeslaw Milosz, U. S. winner... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
Czeslaw Milosz, U. S.
Firefighter David Long was off... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2003
Firefighter David Long was off duty the afternoon of August 24, 2000.
During World War II, by... -- Mark 15:1-39 (40-47) -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
During World War II, by early 1945, B-29s were able to bomb Japanese cities and industries, but they
The paintings of Jacques-Louis... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
The paintings of Jacques-Louis David served to fuel the intensity of the French Revolution among the
Regarding the power of the... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Regarding the power of the Holy Spirit, William Wordsworth, the poet, testified to feeling a presenc
The temple in which the... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The temple in which the high priest presided over the spiritual life of the people was located on wh
The Ethiopian was reading the... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The Ethiopian was reading the scriptures, which is a first step in learning who Jesus is.
To be righteous means to... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
To be righteous means to do what is right.
Bostonian Tom White is the... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
Bostonian Tom White is the head of the J. F.

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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