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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

God revealed himself through his... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
God revealed himself through his servant Moses, through whom, moreover, God worked many "signs and w
It used to be that... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
It used to be that a handshake would seal a deal.
Many times great leaders have... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
Many times great leaders have been permitted a vision of what was to come through their efforts, but
Why are we so hesitant... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
Why are we so hesitant to echo Isaiah's, "Here I am! Send me!"?
As you travel down the... -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
As you travel down the freeway you generally keep your eyes peeled for all the road signs you need t
And all spoke well of... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
"And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth." (L
All ministers know the truth... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
All ministers know the truth of the statement of Jesus that no prophet is honored in his own hometow
When President Reagan celebrated his... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
When President Reagan celebrated his election victory late in 1984, 3,000 supporters crowded into th
There are several points of... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
There are several points of interest in this week's Gospel, which is a sequel to the last week's.
That face, that face! That... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
"That face, that face! That Cover Girl Face!" sings the famous commercial.
Whenever I read this Scripture... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C
Whenever I read this Scripture text, I think about Michelangelo's famous sculpture of Moses with the
I once heard it said... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
I once heard it said that in our day we have lost sight of the "once for all" dimensions of life.
I attended a mass at... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
I attended a mass at the large cathedral in San Salvador in which they recently held the martyred Bi
Viktor Frankl is well known... -- Romans 8:31-39 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Viktor Frankl is well known for his book, Man's Search For Meaning.
As a university professor she... -- Romans 8:31-39 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
As a university professor she had taught many people who were now famous artists.
At one time, said Martin... -- Romans 8:31-39 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
"At one time," said Martin Luther, "I was sorely vexed and tried by my own sinfulness, by the wicked
A pastor friend of mine... -- Romans 8:31-39 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
A pastor friend of mine reported on a visit he made to the Soviet Union.
It is remarkable how many... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
It is remarkable how many of God's prophets have come to us after spending time in the wilderness.
Surely Jesus knew the consequences... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Surely Jesus knew the consequences.
Brenda spoke to the Administrative... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
Brenda spoke to the Administrative Board with a quavering voice, filled with emotion.
When Newton Minnow made his... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B
When Newton Minnow made his now-famous remark about commercial television programming, it resonated
Jeremiah was a prophet... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
Jeremiah was a prophet who acknowledged that the source of his eloquence was God.
I was fifteen years old... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
I was fifteen years old, riding the city bus towards downtown and my 4:00 p.m.
A gifted child used to... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
A gifted child used to be thought of as someone possessing a very high I.Q.
One of the symbols of... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
One of the symbols of the Epiphany season that may be easily overlooked is that of movement o

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wildfires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However, as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez

Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

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The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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