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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Signs -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Why does God make things so difficult for us?
How do I love thee? -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19, Psalm 30 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
The day God got lonely -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 32 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Today is the first Sunday during Lent. This is an important fact to note.
School of rock(s) -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- William H. Shepherd -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Christianity is, among other things, an intellectual quest. The curriculum to know God truly.
And then what? -- 2 Kings 13:14-20a, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
The focus of the lessons for the final three Sundays in July honed in on the dimensions of responsib
The foundation of all that goes before -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Easter Day - C
"According to all I've studied, the essential belief in Christianity is the virgin birth.
The Impact Of Our Self-Images -- 2 Kings 13:14-20a, Luke 12:13-21, Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Some great philosopher declared, "I think, therefore I am." He might well have said, I think, theref
Read the manual -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- William H. Shepherd -- Third Sunday of Easter - A
My friend was overwhelmed by his first church convention.
Fireworks and waterworks -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Psalm 30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C
Independence Day is picnics and barbeques and the faint memory of throwing off tyranny like tea into
Tramplers, kings, crooks ... and others of note! -- Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Why is it that so many of the headlines in our newsprint and time slots on our newscasts are hogged
The Pursuing God -- Psalm 77:11-20, Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
How many times do you hear people speak of God and give you the idea that God is a bit stingy with h
Kings, Commoners and Foreigners -- Psalm 21:1-7, 2 Kings 5:1-15ab, Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A
Today's selections could not have been better chosen for their ability to reveal something of the br
Story versus Message -- Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
Christmastime is a wonderful time.
God's promise is true -- Acts 13:15-16, 26-33, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
The fourth Sunday of Easter grounds the new life in Christ in the ancient promise of God.
Changing times -- Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Advent reminds us of the flow of time. We are all bound by time.
The seven last words of Pilate -- Good Friday - A
Some stories in the Bible are so essentially visual that they almost demand that we act them out to
Home for Christmas -- Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12), John 1:1-14, Psalm 98 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
My living room contains a painting of the great race between a horse and a steam locomotive by the C
The future is now -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Isaiah has been called "the prophet of the holy." His personal encounter with God, described in
An eye to the future -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-12 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C
Without a doubt one of the strangest questions asked again and again in the weeks just after the ter
Look backward! Move Forward! -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C
How things do change over time!
Responding to Our Gifts -- Psalm 95:6-11, 2 Timothy 1:3-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A
Too many of us, I think, spend too much time blaming our past and the gifts we have received from ot
But what if it is broken? -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14 -- David Kalas -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Conventional wisdom says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That's fair advice.
The God of Initiative -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9, Ephesians 6:10-20, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
The God portrayed in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the life of Jesus is not only extraordinarily diff
Living in faith -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
After Christmas, with its striking combination of trying human circumstances and glorious divine rev
People you can count on -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20, Psalm 124 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Some years ago, a major research firm conducted a survey to determine what people would be willing t

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
July 18, 1965.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2012) -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
Isaiah 40:21-31
100 billion stars... -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
It's estimated that there are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy.
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians who would sail to the American colo
What is the first thing we do in the morning?... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
What is the first thing we do in the morning? Turn on the coffee maker? Read the paper?
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 6 (2012) -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
2 Kings 5:1-14
Lynn Caines and lifelines -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
Lynn Caines, in her autobiographical Lifelines, tells how in the midst of her struggle to ove
During the NFL lockout... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
This past summer during the NFL lockout, coaches and staff were prohibited from working with the pla
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2012) -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen, Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
Note: Because of a scheduling error, we are highlighting these illustrations from 2012.
Sermon illustrations for Transfiguration Sunday, Cycle A (2011) -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
Exodus 24:12-18
Let the record show... -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
"Let the record show..." Parliamentary procedure can be an arduous process.
In Tom Wilson's cartoon Ziggy -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
In Tom Wilson's cartoon, Ziggy, who always seems to be struggling with his place in life, is
No one can argue that technology... -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
No one can argue that technology is developing at an unbelievable rate.
So Jesus and his disciples go up a mountain -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
"So Jesus and his disciples go up a mountain, where they meet up with Moses and Elijah…" It almost s
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book on nursing that was titled, Notes on Nursing: What It
We all have those strange dreams... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
We all have those strange dreams.
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
In 2006, in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, Charles Carl Roberts IV entered a sma
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Leah Thompson -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
The poem "Poor Angus" by children's poet Shel Silverstein is written as if it were a conversation be
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
In January of 2011, when Dan Uggla signed the contract to be the coach of the Atlanta Braves, he did
NULL -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
Volunteering is often a thankless job.
NULL -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
NULL -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I must admit, I do enjoy watching legal dramas on television.
NULL -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Leah Thompson -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Before dictionaries, people spelled things… well, however they wanted to.
NULL -- Romans 5:12-19 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Rudyard Kipling, best known as the author of The Jungle Book, wrote a poem titled The Whit

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
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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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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