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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

This is a true story... -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A
This is a true story.
The theme song of the... -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A
The theme song of the Disney film Pocohantas is a song called "Colors Of The Wind." The song
A preacher felt it was... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
A preacher felt it was his job to make people become Christians.
John the Baptizer knew his... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
John the Baptizer knew his place.
The disciples trusted their experience... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
The disciples trusted their experience of the Messiah. They say that we should behold the lamb.
A young man new to... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
A young man new to the faith didn't understand that "shouting from the rooftops" was merely a metaph
Perhaps there are no better... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
Perhaps there are no better words to describe God's invitation to faith than these words from John 1
Sarah arrived on the pastor's... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Sarah arrived on the pastor's doorstep in the middle of the night.
We've all had the experience... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
We've all had the experience of sitting in a darkened theater. Nothing seems quite so dark.
At a Christian preschool, three... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
At a Christian preschool, three- and four-year-olds fill the church three mornings a week.
A pastor in Ohio shared... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
A pastor in Ohio shared this story:
There is a story that... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
There is a story that preachers like to tell about a church down south where a disagreement in the c
At a Boy Scout Troop... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
At a Boy Scout Troop meeting the scouts held elections.
Church members know how challenging... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Church members know how challenging it can be to live up to Paul's admonition, "let there be no disa
The call to follow Jesus... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
The call to follow Jesus comes to various people in various ways.
Jesus called; Simon and Andrew... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Jesus called; Simon and Andrew responded.
Joanne was taking Vioxx. It... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Joanne was taking Vioxx. It was making her feel better than she had for years.
Weekly the neighborhood kids would... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A
Weekly the neighborhood kids would get together for a hike.
Robert Fulghum, who wrote I... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Robert Fulghum, who wrote All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, tells how he o
Vision is such an important... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Vision is such an important and much-talked-about commodity in our world today.
Baptism changes us. We all... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Baptism changes us.
An old preacher and a... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
An old preacher and a young preacher met at the church office.
The television station, C-Span... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
The television station, C-Span, has banned the word "foreign." None of its employees are allowed to
God shows no partiality. We... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
God shows no partiality. We do well to learn that lesson and imitate.
There was once a man... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
There was once a man who was rich and powerful.

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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 10, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A treasure chest containing photos of some of your family members and friends, and a small, worn-out bag or purse. The treasure chest could be as simple as a small, metal lockbox, or you could have some fun with a larger box that actually looks like a treasure chest.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But before I tell you the story, I have something that I want to show you. (Show the treasure chest.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Personal rant here — since childhood I’ve been annoyed that the winners of the 100-meter dash at the Olympics are hailed as the world’s fastest humans. To me it’s been obvious that the greatest, and fastest, athletes are the women and men who endure the trials and tribulations throughout the 26.2-mile marathons, and who then somehow find it within themselves to sprint to the finish line.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return… (Luke 12:35-36)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
-- Psalm 50:23

Clayton A. Lord Jr.
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them. Our heroes are men and women that we look up to. Our heroes are those individuals that inspire us and help us to strive to be our very best.

There is a cute story about a Texan who was trying to impress on a Bostonian, the valor of the heroes of the Alamo. After finishing his story about Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and countless others, he says "I'll bet you never had anyone so brave around Boston."

"Did you ever hear of Paul Revere?" asked the Bostonian.

Thomas A. Renquist
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of. "Sell your possessions," he says, "give alms ... risk ... be dressed for action ... have your lamps lit ... be prepared ... be alert." Sounds very ominous, quite scary to me.

Christopher Reeves, the actor, knows what it is to be afraid. On Memorial Day weekend, 1995, in a tragic fall from his horse, he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and fighting for his every breath.
John W. Wurster
"Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah" (1:10; cf. Genesis 19).

Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as long as it feels good?

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