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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

My husband is one of... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
My husband is one of a growing number of people who collect PEZ.
Dick was nervous. His oldest... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Dick was nervous. His oldest child, 16-year-old Sarah, was going out on her first date.
Josiah Henson was a U.S... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
Josiah Henson was a U.S. orator and an ex-slave.
Paul certainly was right, the... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
"Paul certainly was right," the preacher groaned to his companion. "Hope is not seen!"
Let me live in a... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
Let me live in a house by the side of the road,Where the race of men go by --
When my daughter was in... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
When my daughter was in third grade, her class choir sang in the annual Music Festival.
As the church conflict increased... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
As the church conflict increased, people became more and more frustrated.
Sometimes it's not just the... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
Sometimes it's not just the weeds against the wheat. Sometimes it's wheat against wheat.
Jerry lived in the inner... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2002
Jerry lived in the inner-city area of Cleveland, Ohio.
The world looks like a... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
The world looks like a hostile place.
As children, my brothers and... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
As children, my brothers and I each had our own section of ground in our family's vegetable garden.
For years the people of... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
For years the people of the congregation had wondered why they were struggling.
The present state of the... -- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
The present state of the church, for better or worse, is the result of people's response to hearing
Bernard is a middle school... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
Bernard is a middle school student who has been in one foster home after another most of his life.
If you want your name... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 2002
If you want your name to live on after you, consider petitioning the U.S.
Erik had grown up in... -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2002
Erik had grown up in an unchurched family and had little exposure to the Christian message.
On Thursday evenings at our... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2002
On Thursday evenings at our church's summer camp, a "Galilean Service" takes place.
Jeanine's talk with her pastor... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
Jeanine's talk with her pastor about her weakness in almost submitting to her boss's advances brough
In a dream one night... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
In a dream one night, a certain man saw himself approaching the gate of heaven.
Christians live in an odd... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
Christians live in an odd tension, with the promise of life "in the Spirit" counterbalanced with the
She heard the knock on... -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2002
She heard the knock on the closed, locked door and looked out of the window to see who was knocking.
After three miscarriages June was... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
After three miscarriages June was once again pregnant. She didn't know how she should feel.
A recent study of congregations... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
A recent study of congregations and pastors trying to renew and redevelop showed an interesting real
A teacher asked his students... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
A teacher asked his students to identify the most satisfying thing in life.
Knowing what is the right... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2002
Knowing what is the right thing to do and doing it are two different things, as Jeanine discovered w

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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
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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