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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

It's a mystery! -- Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 29 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
One of the most delightful movies I have seen in awhile was Shakespeare in Love, which won the Oscar
King of the alternate universe -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2003
One of the staples of science fiction is the notion of the "alternate universe," usually depicted as
Heroes -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
One Sunday morning after church school, a teacher came into my office.
Follow the directions -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45, Psalm 30 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
Over the course of my lifetime, I have occasionally been caught up in the recurrent genealogy fads t
Baptism's stage -- Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11 -- David A. Davis -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2003
Perhaps by now Kierkegaard's metaphor of the theater of worship has been overworked.
Dust in the wind -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Timothy B. Cargal -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Sometimes a song gets so deep inside your head that it can never be uprooted.
At least God is greater -- Acts 4:5-12, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18, Psalm 23 -- David A. Davis -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
A newly minted pastor heads out for a pastoral visit to the home of one the saints in the church.
Last night -- Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18, Isaiah 12:2-6 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The Canadian film Last Night presents an understated approach to global apocalypse.
The perils of sleeping in church -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2003
As I read all these texts, it occurred to me that it's kind of a dangerous thing to sleep in church
The earthiness of Resurrection touch -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The reaction that first Sunday after Easter was worth remembering.
Ethics, authority, and the proclamation of Jesus -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28, Psalm 111 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
As the guest preacher for the day, I came through the door of the sanctuary in plenty of time before
Setting the mind on things divine -- Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12, Mark 8:27-38 -- David A. Davis -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2003
The Sunday School teacher came up to me with a bit of a panicked looked in her face.
The magnetism of Jesus -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33, Psalm 51:1-12 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I have always been fascinated by magnets.
Wait on the Lord -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
Do you like to wait? I don't. In fact, most of us hate to wait. You can see it most anywhere ...
Love, American style -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Do you remember the 1970s television show Love, American Style?
To boldly go ... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
For those of us of a certain age, we can only hear the admonition "to boldly go" as intoned by Capta
With seeing hearts -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2003
Have you ever seen a child's eyes dance?
The glory of grace -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 2003
How do you measure glory?
Lifting in Lent -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I bet we have all preached one of those sermons that questions the discipline of "giving up" somethi
Tell me all about it -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31, Psalm 22:1-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2003
I came home from school one day really feeling down. It had been a bad day.
Fish tales -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2003
I had a colleague in graduate school about whom another friend in our doctoral program in New Testam
Not finished with us -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I know this is going to give my age away but I still remember seeing an elderly man in the 1960s wea
Beartivity -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Psalm 96 -- William H. Shepherd -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
I live in a house with my wife, two cats, and about 200 teddy bears.
On the other side of the wilderness -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, Psalm 25:1-10 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
I teach two classes titled "Introduction to Preaching." The syllabus created by the department requi
Calling on a full-access God -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42, Psalm 95 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Perhaps more than most cities in the world, Washington, D.C., is a city whose central principle, the

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

We can see what Paul is... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
We can see what Paul is complaining about here.
Our sexuality is God-given... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
Our sexuality is God-given.
One point this lesson makes... -- John 1:43-51 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
One point this lesson makes is that Jesus does not want miracles to be the reason for or the root of
Jimmy Carter, in his memoir... -- John 1:43-51 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2014
Jimmy Carter, in his memoir An Hour Before Daylight, recounted the number of tramps that freq
Sermon Illustrations for Christmas 1 -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 -- Bob Ove, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
I'm sure we delight... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
I'm sure we delight in the Lord or we wouldn't be here on Sunday morning, but do we delight "greatly
The Menno-Hof Amish/Mennonite Museum... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- Derl G. Keefer -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
The Menno-Hof Amish/Mennonite Museum in Shipshewana, Indiana, relates the life of Menno Simmons, a F
Ellen Medar wrote a newspaper... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
Ellen Medar wrote a newspaper article about growing up feeling ostracized because her mother, "a hil
Paul says that in Christ we... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Mark Ellingsen -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
Paul says that in Christ we are no longer slaves to sin.
As Mary and Joseph enter... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Derl G. Keefer -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
As Mary and Joseph enter the temple they encounter two people who have been anticipating the coming
A mother had to wait forty... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Bob Ove -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2014
A mother had to wait forty days after the birth of a son before she was considered clean enough to e
Sermon Illustrations For Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 (2014) -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2014
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Sermons Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2014) -- Exodus 17:1-17, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2014
Exodus 17:1-7
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of the Lord (2013) -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen, Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Bob Ove, Cynthia E. Cowen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Isaiah 60:1-6
Epiphany is a story of the light... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Epiphany is a story of the light, the star, which leads the wise men to the light of the world.
Colin Powell, as Secretary of State... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Colin Powell, as Secretary of State, tried to negotiate peace between Palestine and Israel.
What is a revelation and how does it come?... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Almost all of us have read the Bible or heard it read, but how many have had a revelation?
In our system of government... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
In our system of government, as well as in many other systems around the world, there is the positio
Romance stories touch my heart... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Romance stories touch my heart, but give me a "mystery," one with good suspense. Great reading!
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens enlisted in the Navy... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Currently seated Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens enlisted in the Navy several hours before t
our sense of propriety are easily offended... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2013
Reason and our sense of propriety are easily offended by the lowly state of the baby whom the wise m
Sermon illustrations for Epiphany 4 (OT 4) Cycle C (2013) -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Mother Teresa, in her acceptance speech for the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
Let us both see and believe in the message of the triumph of God.
The 17th-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal powerfully describes... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
The 17th-century French intellectual Blaise Pascal powerfully describes our miserable condition on t
There is a land of the living and a land of the dead... -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2013
"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the

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In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 20 | OT 25 | Pentecost 15
30 – Sermons
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29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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20 – Worship Resources
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Proper 22 | OT 27 | Pentecost 17
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For September 28, 2025:
  • Money! Money! Money! by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. “This is the even-handed dealing of the world! There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
The president of the college I attended was the kind of man who always said what was on his mind. He had a very healthy self-image and wasn’t concerned about how people might take him. At one of the graduation ceremonies, he stood at the podium, looked out over the huge crowd of people, shook his head, and said to himself (right into the microphone, of course), “All these Christians in one place, and no one’s taking an offering!”
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The lesson makes clear that God is present in the world of business, in our daily work.  John Wesley offered thoughtful reflections on the nature of work; he noted:

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John E. Sumwalt
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (vv. 14-15)

One morning last October, Bruce Klemm got up and sang a song to his wife, Virginia, as he has done every morning of the 42 years they have been married. Little did he know that within a few hours, he would be calling her to say goodbye.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar to illustrate the way in which we fail to notice those who are poor. In our worship today let us remember the poor and ask God to teach us a real concern for them.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we fail notice some people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we deliberately leave people out.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we care only about ourselves.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Lent 1, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-2 and 9-16.)

The writer of this psalm deftly employs a striking image, that at once offers us hope in times of trouble -- but at the same time, redefines for us what it means to be a human being in the world.

Schuyler Rhodes
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
It always amazes me when I read about a sports figure who decides to hold out for more money. With salaries that are often in the millions, they feel underpaid unless they are at the next level. I heard one player say to a reporter on Sports Center, "It's not about the money. It is about respect." A few moments later, the host of the show made the comment, "When they say it isn't about the money, it's always about the money."

Chrysanne Timm
As we conclude several weeks of readings in the book of the prophet Jeremiah and next week look at the companion text from the book of Lamentations, a common thread begins to emerge. It is the thread of grief. Jeremiah has been called by God to a truly thankless job -- that of accompanying the people of his homeland into a time of loss and grief. Because of decades of idolatry and treaties with neighboring nations, the people of Judah will lose the land God once graciously gave to their ancestors.
R. Robert Cueni
The lesson for today continues the discussion on the proper use of material possessions by describing what happens when a person tries to "serve both God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Today's Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus leaves us repulsed by the gory details, puzzled by the literal description of eternal life, and hopeful that the Lord didn't really mean all those terrible things about the punishment due us "Haves" for our treatment of the "Have Nots."

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Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some coins with me this morning. (Show the coins.) How many of these coins would it take to be rich? (Let them respond.) I think it would take millions of these coins before you would really be rich. How many of you would like to be rich? (Wait for show of hands.) I think most of us would like to be rich. What would you think if you had a wish that everything you touched turned to gold? (Let them respond.) You would soon have lots and lots of gold and you would quickly be very, very rich. There's a famous story about a man who had

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