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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The English mathematician and physicist... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
The English mathematician and physicist Isaac Newton was one of the great minds of history.
How would you describe wisdom... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
How would you describe wisdom? The writer of this text gives wisdom a feminine characteristic.
It is an accepted phenomenon... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
It is an accepted phenomenon that people who are on their deathbeds "choose" the time of their death
Life, what a beautiful choice... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
"Life, what a beautiful choice."
As the son turned to... -- Deuteronomy 30:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
As the son turned to his mother in the doorway before going to Tuskegee Institute, she tearfully sai
Onesimus woke from a troubled... -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Onesimus woke from a troubled sleep with a start: Had there been a soft noise, a warning of someone
Margaret Walker won a literary... -- Philemon 1:1-21 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Margaret Walker won a literary fellowship award for her novel Jubilee.
The young woman was dumbfounded... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
The young woman was dumbfounded. How could this be happening?
Jack was dying. He'd fought... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Jack was dying. He'd fought a long and losing battle with cancer. Now his time was limited.
I have never met anyone... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
I have never met anyone like him. Old Joe, I mean.
Paul uses all-inclusive language... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Paul uses all-inclusive language --"All have missed the mark of God's will." That includes all of us
A woman came to her... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
A woman came to her pastor with the tragic story of her marriage.
The seminarians and college students... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
The seminarians and college students at the university were eager to hear what the world-renowned th
Soon after Martin Luther died... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Soon after Martin Luther died, his friends discovered that, just before his death, he had written on
The figure of Martin Luther... -- John 8:31-36 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
The figure of Martin Luther looms so large in secular and sacred history that we are apt to forget s
Each year in New York... -- John 8:31-36 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Each year in New York City, the Ancient Order of the Hibernians sponsors the St.
The first step for an... -- John 8:31-36 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
The first step for an addict to take toward being free from addiction is to admit that we are no lon
Pastoral counseling is often perplexing... -- John 8:31-36 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Pastoral counseling is often perplexing.
It's for your own good... -- Hebrews 12:1-7 (8-10) 11-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
"It's for your own good."No child wants to hear it.Every parent has to say it.
In his Outline of... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
In his Outline of History H. G.
If you grew up in... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
If you grew up in a city, you probably have had no experience with a cistern.
Fiction writer John Edgar Wideman... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Fiction writer John Edgar Wideman captures the reality of African-American life in urban America thr
A flood had devastated the... -- Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
A flood had devastated the area around the small mountain town and a large tent city had been erecte
Mindy was the Director of... -- Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Mindy was the Director of Christian Education at a large city church.
Sam Walton, one of the... -- Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
Sam Walton, one of the great philanthropists in America in this century, was an elder and active mem

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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