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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Leni Riefenstahl recently celebrated her... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
Leni Riefenstahl recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
When I was in high... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2003
When I was in high school, I had a part-time job as a cook for a Perkins Pancake House.
Most people would say that... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
Most people would say that bicycle racing is an individual sport.
Taking the Nature of a Servant -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
Taking the nature of a servant has never been a popular choice, especially as a career move.
Archaeologists excavate the ancient biblical... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Archaeologists excavate the ancient biblical sites.
One of the dynamics of... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
One of the dynamics of grief is the idealization of the deceased.
Witnesses give testimony and the... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Witnesses give testimony and the jury gives credence.
It has been said that... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
It has been said that Michelangelo once saw a huge marble stone that was to be discarded at the quar
You start where people are... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
You start where people are at! This is an important principal in persuasive communication.
Isaiah found his purpose in... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
Isaiah found his purpose in life when he teamed up with God.
Goliath's size and strength was... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
Goliath's size and strength was enormous compared to a small shepherd boy.
J. R. R. Tolkien is... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
J. R. R.
A novice woodworker, I set... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
A novice woodworker, I set out to apply a piece of Formica to a kitchen counter top.
There is never enough time... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
There is never enough time, no matter how long we may live.
Baptism effects a change in... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
Baptism effects a change in a person. It is a new birth.
Hudson Taylor, the founder of... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- 2003
Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, announced to his parents when he was only fo
Paul urges the faithful to... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
Paul urges the faithful to live out their faith like runners in a race.
Before a product is put... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2003
Before a product is put on the market it goes through rigorous testing.
Mr. Johnson was a most... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
Mr. Johnson was a most inspired band teacher.
Those of us who are... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
Those of us who are mature in the faith are free to exercise our liberty, but sometimes doing so mak
Barry wasn't a bad kid... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Barry wasn't a bad kid. It was just that he got carried away. This was one of those times.
One of my son's housemates... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
One of my son's housemates at college is an artist.
Paul considered himself a servant... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Paul considered himself a servant of Christ and, consequently, cared nothing for recognitions and ti
When Nellie arrived at Kasisi... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
When Nellie arrived at Kasisi Orphanage in Zambia in 1993, there was little hope of her survival.
On a recent Saturday on... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
On a recent Saturday on Long Island, a dozen men and women of various ages sat around a fire pit und

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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