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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In The Wizard of Oz... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
In The Wizard of Oz, L.
The Episcopal Cathedral of St... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
The Episcopal Cathedral of St.
It had been the hardest... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
It had been the hardest month in Paul Thomas' life.
In September 2001, the Bonner... -- Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
In September 2001, the Bonner Lab at Rothera, Antarctica, part of the British Antarctica Survey (BAS
Joseph Cardinal Bernadin, former Archbishop... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
Joseph Cardinal Bernadin, former Archbishop of Chicago, tells of an experience that taught him how t
During operation Overlord, June 6... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
During operation Overlord, June 6, 1944, plans included the dropping of large elements of three airb
In the movie, I Am... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
In the movie, I Am Sam, Sean Penn is a retarded father, Sam Dawson, who tries to raise his li
She was the world's slowest... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
She was the world's slowest checkout person ... and I was in a hurry.
Ernst Haeckel, nineteenth--century zoologist... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
Ernst Haeckel, nineteenth--century zoologist, wanted but one question answered with authority: Is
Steve Cohen, a pastor in... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Steve Cohen, a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, told in the devotional booklet, Port
My family was excited about... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
My family was excited about our vacation. We were taking three weeks to travel out west from Ohio.
In 1966, about a year... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - C
In 1966, about a year before he died, J.
Lord Dufferin, governor general of... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Lord Dufferin, governor general of Canada during the 1870s, once addressed an audience at McGill Uni
The sailing class at church... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - C
The sailing class at church camp was getting ready for another day on the water.
In his book, Language in... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - C
In his book, Language in Danger: How Language Loss Threatens Our Future, linguist Andrew Dalb
Wouldn't it be nice to... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Wouldn't it be nice to have two birthdays?
Annually one of the most... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Annually one of the most popular issues of Forbes magazine is the one containing its listing
Arthur Boone is a missionary... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Arthur Boone is a missionary for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
My best friend in fifth... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C
My best friend in fifth and sixth grade was awesome.
Nearly 30 years ago, Dr... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
Nearly 30 years ago, Dr.
Trusting ourselves to God can... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
Trusting ourselves to God can be as risky -- and as exciting -- as trusting ourselves to an untested
George looked disgruntled as he... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
George looked disgruntled as he sat down next to his buddy Harry at the lunch counter of the coffee
In May 1784 Thomas Jefferson... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C
In May 1784 Thomas Jefferson was appointed minister plenipotentiary in Paris for the newly constitut
Through all the accounts in... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
Through all the accounts in Acts of Paul's missionary journeys, there is a clear sense of God workin
The Apostle Paul traveled to... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C
The Apostle Paul traveled to tell people about the Living God.

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?

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