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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Staying awake at critical times... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Staying awake at critical times can save something as precious as our own souls, or something as mun
Anthony de Mello, the Jesuit... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Anthony de Mello, the Jesuit retreat leader and writer, once told a story about keeping awake: The M
Don, Ted, and Ruth were... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Don, Ted, and Ruth were brothers and sister.
Grace Church was in a... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
Grace Church was in a unique location.
John watched from his front... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2002
John watched from his front porch as the City Public Works truck turned onto his block.
Mom, what will I be... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2002
"Mom, what will I be when I grow up?" Jenny asked.
Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes that... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2002
Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes that throughout his youth, he was afflicted with sore throats and tonsi
A small group of worshipers... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
A small group of worshipers in a mainline denomination began raising their hands in the Sunday morni
Our good neighbor in one... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
Our good neighbor in one of our parishes was a keeper of bees.
Jesus set the quintessential pattern... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
Jesus set the quintessential pattern for humility.
She sat paralyzed. The news... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
She sat paralyzed. The news had crushed her. Her son was dead.
Dave is awakened by a... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
Dave is awakened by a rat-a-tat-tat on the door.
It seems to me that... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
It seems to me that every year one of my confirmation students asks me a question about evolution an
One of John Mellencamp's newest... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
One of John Mellencamp's newest albums is called Cuttin' Heads.
In The Hero's Life, author... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2002
In The Hero's Life, author Richard Ben Cramer acknowledges that Joe DiMaggio was one of the most ski
More than one sitcom has... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2002
More than one sitcom has been based on a simple premise.
In the film Jesus of... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- 2002
In the film Jesus of Montreal, an actor, Daniel, is asked to perform in a Passion play.
Muriel was in the hospital... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Muriel was in the hospital, awaiting an amputation.
For those living according to... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
For those living according to the gospel, the manner of our lives is changed, so that we behave with
Why do they call Saint... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
"Why do they call Saint Paul a 'saint'?" the child wanted to know. "What is a saint?"
Benjamin Franklin is the founder... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Benjamin Franklin is the founder of the first lending library.
Workers who were paid piecework... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Workers who were paid piecework harvested the crops grown on our family's fruit farm.
Kids are constantly shouting out... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
Kids are constantly shouting out, "It's not fair!" A brother or a sister gets something and they don
I was the pastor to... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2002
I was the pastor to a family involved only on the fringes of the church.
A couple was planning its... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
A couple was planning its marriage.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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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