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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Twain once said, If... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Mark Twain once said, "If you took all the people who fell asleep in church and laid them end to end
Kaye O'Bara, 72, of Miami... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Kaye O'Bara, 72, of Miami, has sacrificed the last half of her life for someone she considers more i
One might look to the... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
One might look to the character of Inspector Javert in Les Miserables to see an example of ho
When the church's worship committee... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
When the church's worship committee decided to add blue altar paraments for the Advent season, Joann
Once upon a time there... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Once upon a time there was a man who really liked to golf.
This passage celebrates the Ephesian... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
This passage celebrates the Ephesian Church.
On the Professional Golf Association... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
On the Professional Golf Association Tour, spectators watch the leader board, which is positioned at
In Algonquin mythology one favorite... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
In Algonquin mythology one favorite god is Glooskap.
In the twenty-first century... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
In the twenty-first century, we don't have much use for dictators. We want to vote.
In December 1988, Chuck Close... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
In December 1988, Chuck Close suffered a collapsed spinal artery, leaving him paralyzed and confined
Saying good-bye is never... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
Saying good-bye is never easy.
Dee Hock is the founder... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Dee Hock is the founder of VISA International, the big credit card company.
Emily was four years old... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Emily was four years old. She has worshiped with her mother almost every Sunday of her life.
The Internet and credit cards... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The Internet and credit cards have dramatically changed the practice of making travel plans.
A little girl wanted to... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
A little girl wanted to come to Sunday school to learn about Jesus.
Jesus prayed that his followers... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Jesus prayed that his followers would be one. It is as if he foresaw the many threats to unity.
We live in a time... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
We live in a time when people do what they want to do, and for the most part they do not want to lis
In Stephen King's television mini... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
In Stephen King's television mini-series, The Storm of the Century, the villain is a man name
Not many young people want... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Not many young people want to learn how to fiddle these days.
In pastoral counseling, often a... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
In pastoral counseling, often a client is asked the miracle question.
During one of the worst... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
During one of the worst blizzards of the winter I received a phone call from one of my parishioners.
One of the most famous... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
One of the most famous British ships of the twentieth century was HMS Renown.
The brides of the Himba... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The brides of the Himba people in Namibia wear a leather headdress, the back of which features the s
Bill came around the church... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Bill came around the church often.
Before 1965, people in Roseto... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Before 1965, people in Roseto, a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, had almost no heart problems in

Political Pulpit

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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
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29 – Sermons
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Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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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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