Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Who are the thousands upon... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Who are the "thousands upon thousands, and ten thousands upon ten thousands" of angels?
One of my favorite agenda... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
One of my favorite agenda items at Synod Convention is Worship.
There is an incredible power... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
There is an incredible power in the praise of collective voices.
Some would refer to them... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Some would refer to them as a heavenly sound on earth.
The disciples were astonished when... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The disciples were astonished when they saw that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them.
A couple of years ago... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
A couple of years ago the state of Kentucky passed a law that entitled ministers to carry a gun to c
In the Italian movie, I... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
In the Italian movie, Life Is Beautiful, the father, Guido, struggles to save the lives of hi
As a child I spent... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
As a child I spent many hot summer days lying with my brothers on a blanket that my mother had sprea
There is great power in... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
There is great power in a name to authenticate a message.
In 1981 the space shuttle... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
In 1981 the space shuttle Columbia lifted off and headed into orbit around the earth.
An expression which is often... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
An expression which is often heard is, "That is a breath of fresh air." When a room is freshly repai
Maybe you've played hide and... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Maybe you've played hide and seek with a very young child, one that is a year old or so.
When Christopher Reeve, paralyzed by... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
When Christopher Reeve, paralyzed by a spinal cord injury, seemingly walked across the stage in a te
Most adults have difficulty believing... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Most adults have difficulty believing in something they cannot see.
Take note of the kind... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
Take note of the kind of words we speak about death:
When John trudged through the... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
When John trudged through the snow to the barn last night, it was only for a routine check of the co
There was a strip club... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
There was a strip club in Ladson, South Carolina, that was about to get shut down because the local
Robert Hughes, art critic for... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
Robert Hughes, art critic for Time magazine, wrote an article, "In Death's Throat" for Tim
According to an article by... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
According to an article by Emily Yellin in the December 1999 issue of the New York Times, eve
People who read their horoscopes... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
People who read their horoscopes in the morning newspaper know that astrologers tell the future in v
A couple of years ago... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2001
A couple of years ago, Geoff Smith set out to break the world record for the longest time being buri
Shad Hernandez, 23, a Navy... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2001
Shad Hernandez, 23, a Navy search-and-rescue swimmer, jumped from a Seahawk helicopter off the carri
For the past few years... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2001
For the past few years, my mother has been giving me limoge boxes for Christmas.
A little boy sat on... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
A little boy sat on the examining table of the doctor's office.
Angie and Mike were a... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2001
Angie and Mike were a couple that people of all ages liked and admired.

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?

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL