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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Part of what this dramatic... -- 1 Kings 19:9-14 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Part of what this dramatic story of Elijah teaches us is that there are often circumstances in life
When a very important message... -- 1 Kings 19:9-14 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
When a very important message comes to us, it does not have to be shouted or presented in large prin
The Lord promises to pour... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The Lord promises to pour out upon his people the "spirit of compassion and supplication." Sometimes
Pat is a Methodist from... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Pat is a Methodist from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who went to a Lutheran University in Columbus, Ohio, w
Homes of famous people, which... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Homes of famous people, which are open to the public, draw numerous visitors each year.
Although the fulfillment of Zechariah's... -- Zechariah 12:7-10 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Although the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy is evidently for the future, his words reveal an et
A time of public mourning... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
A time of public mourning becomes fixed in the minds of those who experience it.
Their ears were pierced. His... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Their ears were pierced.
The only act of apology... -- Zechariah 12:10-11 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
The only act of apology I know of in the Scriptures is in Acts 16:39.
I have known two... -- 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
I have known two ministers who have had severe physical and emotional disorders.
It is a paradox... -- 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
It is a paradox of the Christian faith that the more obstacles we overcome, the stronger we gr
As chaplain of a... -- 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
As chaplain of a long-term care facility I am with older people quite a bit.
Gloom settles over the... -- Mark 6:1-6 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Gloom settles over the scene as we read, "He could do no mighty work there," and, "He marveled
One summer some friends... -- Mark 6:1-6 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
One summer some friends and I were vacationing in Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay.
In his hometown, when... -- Mark 6:1-6 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
In his hometown, when Jesus began to stand out from the crowd, the neighbors said, "Isn't this
Booker T. Washington once... -- Mark 6:1-6 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Booker T.
In his book,I... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-17 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
In his book, The Salty Tang, Fred Speakman tells the story of a Mid-western grandmother.
It is a natural... -- Mark 6:1-6 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
It is a natural human assumption that people are distrustful of others until proven otherwise.
Sometimes the best intentions... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-17 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Sometimes the best intentions of human beings fall.
Lamentations is seldom used... -- Lamentations 3:22-33 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Lamentations is seldom used in any Lectionary except during Holy Week.
In the midst of... -- Lamentations 3:22-33 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
In the midst of Jersualem's sufferings, Jeremiah offered hope to the people by speaking of the
She was dying, but... -- Lamentations 3:22-33 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
She was dying, but she wouldn't tell me.
On one of the... -- Ezekiel 2:2-5 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
On one of the early episodes of the television program My Sister Sam, the gist of the s
News came of the... -- Ezekiel 2:2-5 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
News came of the sudden passing of one of my beloved seminary professors.
We need to hear... -- Ezekiel 2:2-5 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
We need to hear and respect the Word of the Lord as spoken through his prophets, like Ezekiel.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – 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, 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”.

* * *

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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