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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I can't either!br... -- Philippians 2:6-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
I can't either!
If these were silent, the... -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Passion Sunday - C
"If these were silent, the very stones would cry out." (v. 40)
On Palm Sunday, in many... -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Passion Sunday - C
On Palm Sunday, in many of our congregations, we reenact the events of Jesus' triumphant entry into
An intriguing story came out... -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Passion Sunday - C
An intriguing story came out of Houston, Texas, last year about a young female private detective who
Palm Sunday of 1985, I... -- Luke 19:28-40 -- Passion Sunday - C
Palm Sunday of 1985, I walked with thousands of Palestinian Christians from the village of Bethany,
The Passion narrative is, of... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - C
The Passion narrative is, of course, ultimately the account of God's great victory over evil.
Not too long ago there... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - C
Not too long ago there was a board meeting at a local church, when suddenly the church phone rang.
Greed is not only for... -- Matthew 26:14-27:66 -- Passion Sunday - C
Greed is not only for gold or for thirty pieces of silver.
When God said, I will... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
When God said, "I will write it (my law) upon their hearts," I believe he meant it for all time.
The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, is much read and quoted today.
Being married isn't too bad... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Being married isn't too bad. Actually a lot of the time it is good -- really good.
When Jeremiah spoke his glorious... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
When Jeremiah spoke his glorious message of hope to a forlorn and desolate Israel, no one in the are
Unleavened bread and bitter herbs... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Unleavened bread and bitter herbs; each part of the meal that is Passover.
Our passage from Exodus proclaims... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Our passage from Exodus proclaims the institution of the Feast of Passover (pesach).
A certain pastor I... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
A certain pastor I knew a number of years ago would frequently refer to his previous assignmen
Doug had it made. He... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Doug had it made.
God is in the redeeming... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
God is in the redeeming business and the way of the Lord must be prepared.
Panic at the checkout counter... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Panic at the checkout counter. Chaos at the cash register.
Some Scriptures pose a difficulty... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Some Scriptures pose a difficulty in understanding or comprehension.
The young man had already... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
The young man had already served his country, being honorably discharged from the armed services wit
In June of 1985, eight... -- Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
In June of 1985, eight tornadoes hit in the State of Ohio, dealing death and destruction as only tor
It is still necessary to... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
It is still necessary to point out that verse eight is to be interpreted in terms of Deuteronomy 15:
A man who couldn't accept... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
A man who couldn't accept charity paid back a debt no one expected him to pay and that wasn't owed i
The ancient story of Mary... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
The ancient story of Mary and Martha speaks to our often frantically busy lives with the clear remin
Anton Boisen is a name... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Anton Boisen is a name that should be better known because his incorporation of personal rejection i

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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

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, wild fires, 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 September 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”.

* * *

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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