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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Near the beginning of his... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
Near the beginning of his book, Roots, Alex Haley describes the special event of naming a chi
It is difficult to believe... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
It is difficult to believe that it is the same Saint Paul who, in First Corinthians 14:19 says that
This past Christmas our family... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
This past Christmas our family was unexpectedly invited to a post-Christmas party.
The text is an example... -- Acts 10:34-38 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
The text is an example of the preaching of the early church. It is one of Peter's sermons.
A current phrase I have... -- Acts 10:34-38 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
A current phrase I have been hearing recently is "It is the state of the art." When people speak abo
If you were selecting a... -- Acts 10:34-38 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
If you were selecting a person to be given an important position of trust, who would be carefully tr
In the days when public... -- Acts 10:34-38 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
In the days when public transportation was still earthbound, a young woman boarded a passenger train
When John came preaching repentance... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
When John came preaching repentance, he was proclaiming God's "about face" command to us.
I could see pride in... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
I could see pride in my father's eyes as he volunteered me for a job I had never done and knew nothi
God's creative energies are not... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
God's creative energies are not confined to the atom, the proton, and that marvelous sub-atomic part
The Sunday school class, which... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B
The Sunday school class, which my daughter attends, has a club which they call "The Din Din Club." T
A number of years ago... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
A number of years ago I was working for anational youth ministry organization which required a great
Bill Myers seemed to have... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Bill Myers seemed to have it made.
In a former church I... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
In a former church I was criticized because I preached with notes.
Alvin Toffler's Future Shock was... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Alvin Toffler's Future Shock was a disturbing assessment of our present age.
Arise, shine; for your light... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." Those are rev
The mother is dark haired... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
The mother is dark haired and very attractive.
While visiting in a southern... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
While visiting in a southern state recently, I came across two churches of the same denomination jus
Jerry Herman, responsible for such... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
Jerry Herman, responsible for such popular song hits as "People Who Need People" and "I Am What I Am
The Temple of Israel had... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
The Temple of Israel had many courtyards. The outer area was called the court of the Gentiles.
It's been a generation or... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
It's been a generation or two now since the rather foolish tale circulated about one Elroy T.
The only man-made building... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
The only man-made building that can be seen from outer space is the Great Wall of China.
A pastor received a letter... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
A pastor received a letter from a woman in which she recounted her life experience of the past year.
And the search goes on... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
And the search goes on ...
To paraphrase Shakespeare ... There is... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
To paraphrase Shakespeare ...

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
and more...
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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