Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Years later, Mick reflected upon... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Years later, Mick reflected upon his being swindled out of half his lifesavings.
How good a listener are... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
How good a listener are you?
It's hard not to smile... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
It's hard not to smile if you're reading an Amelia Bedelia book to your favorite youngster.
As the sun sets each... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
As the sun sets each evening, our vision is lessened.
In Thomas Cranmer's marriage ceremony... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
In Thomas Cranmer's marriage ceremony from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, after the vows wer
A study at a Midwestern... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
A study at a Midwestern school showed that 80% of the women who had intercourse hoped to marry their
Teen facts. Since the popular... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Teen facts.
Are we being desensitized by... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Are we being desensitized by the present evil world?
Carol grew up attending church... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Carol grew up attending church but stopped once she started college.
Dale needed a bigger working... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Dale needed a bigger working surface on his desk at college.
On the Sunday before the... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
On the Sunday before the season's first football game Pastor Matt always talked about football in th
At the close of life... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
At the close of life, the question will not be, "How much have you gotten?" but "How much have you g
Clarence Jordan, author of the... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation and founder of the interraci
If you're not from Ohio... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
If you're not from Ohio or Michigan, it's hard to understand the rivalry between the University of M
Come! Follow me. Come and... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
"Come!
Anger, writes Eugene Peterson in... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
"Anger," writes Eugene Peterson in commenting on this story of Jonah, "is a useful diagnostic tool.
Some people will change when... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.
The seminar began with the... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
The seminar began with the leader asking, "What are you avoiding doing that you know needs to be don
Whatever else that can be... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
Whatever else that can be said about him, Adolf Hitler was aware of his ability to use language and
A WWII soldier stated, The... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
A WWII soldier stated, "The funny thing about war is this: the 'right' thing to do in one situation
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding
A change in the way... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
A change in the way people view the world is known to historians as a paradigm shift.
The apostle Paul calls on... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
The apostle Paul calls on the Corinthians and us for a radical reordering of our lives in the light
There's a Peanuts comic strip... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
There's a Peanuts comic strip in which Linus is listening carefully as his sister, Lucy, boas
For as long as anyone... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2008
For as long as anyone could remember Janet and Mary were the best of friends.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For August 17, 2025:
  • When Good News Is Bad News by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Charles Darwin believed that the two most significant achievements in human history were the development of language and the harnessing of fire. Today we apply both, language and the symbol of fire, to our understanding of the gospel.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Isaiah 5:1-7
David Coffin
When does the status quo no longer seem to be working? In her book, The Last Flight Julie Clark begins with the seemingly flawlessly choreographed life of Claire Cook, the wife of a wealthy politician at the peak of this political dynasty. Despite the elegant surroundings of the Manhattan townhouse, staff of ten servants, life behind closed doors is different. Her husband Rory has a hot temper, and is abusive. There is also the memory of the mysterious death of his first wife.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? (Jeremiah 23:26)

You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12:56)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A fire extinguisher.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started. But I need to warn you that this is a really strange story. At least the things that Jesus says sound really strange. But let’s see if we can figure out what the story is really all about.

(Show the fire extinguisher.)  This is a little reminder that sometimes it is really hard to follow Jesus and do what he wants us to do!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that life would not be easy for Christians, but calls us to stand up for our beliefs. In our worship today let us acknowledge and explore the difficulties of standing as a Christian in today's society.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we find it easier to go with the flow than to stand against other people.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the number of people who ignore you.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

James Evans
(See Advent 4, Cycle A, and Advent 1, Cycle B, for alternative approaches.)

William E. Keeney
49"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided:
father against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her
Elizabeth Achtemeier
This passage is famously known as Isaiah's "Song of the Vineyard." It begins with the prophet singing, in what we would describe as troubadour-fashion, a love song about his dod, his friend, the beloved. Everyone is interested in a love affair, of course, and so the song is intended to capture the interest of Isaiah's listeners.
Clayton A. Lord Jr.
What can faith do? It can part a raging sea and allow a nation to walk through. What can faith do? It can knock down the walls of a fortified city so that God can prove a point. What can faith do? It can single out a woman who follows God's lead and protect her from certain death. Today many people are into "reality" television shows where individuals are put to extreme tests. We watch them because we like to see others battle against great odds and come out victorious.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL