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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The wedding party was arriving... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The wedding party was arriving for the rehearsal. They entered the church in ones or twos.
John's vision of the faithful... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
John's vision of the faithful reminds one of an election night party.
The city of Saginaw, Michigan... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The city of Saginaw, Michigan, has developed a logo which pictures five people figures in a row.
Yaffa Eliach grew up a... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Yaffa Eliach grew up a Jew in Lithuania.
There was a mother cat... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
There was a mother cat that was out for a stroll with her three small kittens.
Gary Forner, a veteran Fort... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Gary Forner, a veteran Fort Canby State Park ranger and a sixteen-year member of the cliff rescue te
According to an article by... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
According to an article by Andrew C.
A hospital chaplain often will... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
A hospital chaplain often will accompany a doctor into a patient's room to deliver bad news.
Jean was struggling with Alzheimer's... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
Jean was struggling with Alzheimer's disease when it was discovered that she had breast cancer.
A practice familiar to scuba... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
A practice familiar to scuba divers involves something called "buddy-breathing." Occasionally one di
How does the Spirit of... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
How does the Spirit of truth come to us today, if not in the Bible?
The saying, One bad apple... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The saying, "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch," isn't always true. Nik is an avid gardener.
Do we live by the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
Do we live by the law or by grace?
The 1991 movie Defending... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The 1991 movie Defending Your Life features Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks in a whimsical sto
A theme common in the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
A theme common in the Bible is that adhering to the Law will not save you; faith in Jesus is what wi
After a long road trip... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
After a long road trip, there is nothing so inviting as a motel sign: V-A-C-A-N-C-Y!
The phone rang. It was... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The phone rang. It was Karen, one of the most committed members in our congregation.
We have a teenage son... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
We have a teenage son. Recently I overheard my wife sharing a story with a friend about him.
In the Museum of Fine... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
In the Museum of Fine Arts in Buda-pest, Hungary, there hangs a most captivating painting, Sleepi
As a young boy, I... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
As a young boy, I had the privilege of having a hockey coach who came from the "old school," in othe
In Christ there are no... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In Christ there are no longer slave or free, for we are all one in Christ.
Philip Becker's parents had him... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
Philip Becker's parents had him institutionalized at birth.
In an article by Matthew... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In an article by Matthew Purdy that appeared in the New York Times, we hear a story about sum
In the United States, we... -- Acts 13:13-26 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In the United States, we love to hear a good motivational speech.
Twins David and Daniel were... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
Twins David and Daniel were adopted as infants by a couple who believed they were incapable of havin

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Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
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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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