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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

For a photographer, the concept... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
For a photographer, the concept of light in which there is no darkness is unknown.
It seems impossible to believe... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
It seems impossible to believe that Christianity has, in some cases, moved so far from the humility
Benjamin Franklin was perhaps America's... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - B -- 2003
Benjamin Franklin was perhaps America's first self-made man.
Confidence is such a fragile... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
Confidence is such a fragile thing.
Martin Luther wrote this about... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
Martin Luther wrote this about the humble: "But the truly humble look not to the result of humility
Every year at family gatherings... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2003
Every year at family gatherings, as the extended family sat around a row of tables in Grandma's base
There are a series of... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
There are a series of caves near the little town of Warsaw, Ontario.
Someone once referred to sharing... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Someone once referred to sharing the Good News of Jesus as "the sacrament of sound waves." This beca
With a little imagination, one... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
With a little imagination, one can hear the healed man humming his way into the crowd of the high an
Autobiographies are abundant. Biographies are... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Autobiographies are abundant. Biographies are authorized.
Grief can be a harsh... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
Grief can be a harsh teacher, but a good instructor in humility, patience, respect, perspective and
Authors of novels create characters... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Authors of novels create characters who come alive as the story unfolds.
The shepherd boy David became... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
The shepherd boy David became the champion of Israel when he defeated Goliath.
Klingon is the galaxy's fastest... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
Klingon is "the galaxy's fastest growing language." That's the news you will read when you go to the
When one kneels in humility... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
"When one kneels in humility, one stands at the threshold of greatness."
Narrating the story of Jonah... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
Narrating the story of Jonah invites some outrageous puns, but most congregations enjoy a good laugh
Sometimes what is lawful is... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
Sometimes what is lawful is not helpful nor appropriate.
When you only have a... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
When you only have a VCR and more and more of the products are coming out in a DVD format, you step
The Japanese emperor Ingyo ruled... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- 2003
The Japanese emperor Ingyo ruled during the 5th century.
On one occasion during his... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2003
On one occasion during his administration, President Herbert Hoover was receiving some particularly
In a short drama titled... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
In a short drama titled "The Prescription," a man who has been in a deep depression following the de
The Apostle Paul rejected all... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
The Apostle Paul rejected all forms of favoritism and elitism in his passionate quest to reach as ma
This passage from Deuteronomy says... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
This passage from Deuteronomy says that the test of whether a prophet is true or false is whether th
When Charles Lamb, the English... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
When Charles Lamb, the English poet and essayist, was a small child, his sister, Mary, took him for
Even the behavior of a... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Even the behavior of a common thief can illustrate the unexpected generosity with which God gifts us

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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