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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Almost everybody who ever attended... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
Almost everybody who ever attended Sunday school knows the story of David and Goliath.
Unless the eye catch fire... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
Unless the eye catch fireThe God will not be seen.Unless the ear catch fire
Some years ago, there was... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
Some years ago, there was a great preacher in the Church of Scotland, Dr. Alexander Whyte.
The sense of already, but... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
The sense of "already, but not yet" penetrates this passage.
It is only a pale... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
It is only a pale comparison of the great love of God for his only begotten Son, but the affection e
Never underestimate the importance or... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
Never underestimate the importance or possibilities of any place or any person.
Paul tells the Ephesian Christians... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- 2003
Paul tells the Ephesian Christians that God "chose us in Christ ...
It is often difficult to... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
It is often difficult to discipline oneself to delay gratification.
Just as the paralytic's friends... -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2003
Just as the paralytic's friends came to his aid by bringing him to Jesus, so Paul Revere of Revoluti
Jesus is at home in... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
Jesus is at home in our homes.
Paul invites an appreciation of... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
Paul invites an appreciation of forgoing those practices that might pose a stumbling block to others
Three great figures of freedom... -- John 3:14-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Three great figures of freedom: Moses, Harriet Tubman, and Jesus.
The wilderness has been a... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
The wilderness has been a defining feature of American character.
The recent international crisis with... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
The recent international crisis with Iraq has involved United Nations weapons inspectors.
Sports fans can be overly... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Sports fans can be overly zealous in their love for their sport and their loyalty to their team.
How often we would like... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
How often we would like to refuse to admit or even deny that suffering is the way of life, not only
These things are written ... Writing... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
"These things are written ..." Writing has been a most significant way throughout time for people to
One of the most powerful... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
One of the most powerful works in English literature is Charles Dickens' classic, A Tale of Two Citi
You have heard many good... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 2003
You have heard many "good news/bad news" jokes.
Clara Barton exemplified in a... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2003
Clara Barton exemplified in a very physical, tangible way what Jesus meant when he said, "Do as I ha
The African American poet Dunbar... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
The African American poet Dunbar penned these words: "Out of the hell and dawn of it all cometh good
They had been friends for... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
They had been friends for 50 years and worked together in the women's suffragist movement in the Uni
When Catherine Zeta-Jones, wife... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
When Catherine Zeta-Jones, wife of Michael Douglas, was asked what she liked about stardom, she desc
It is ... quite easy to... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
"It is ... quite easy to say both too little and too much on this subject [the Holy Spirit].
One might think that the... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
One might think that the eunuch would be a bit "down in the dumps" when Philip, his newfound friend,

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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