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

If there's one biblical character... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
If there's one biblical character who's most often associated with strength, it's the hero,
When one reads the stories... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
When one reads the stories of many of the immigrants who make their way from war-torn
A group of friends kept... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
A group of friends kept in touch by email and with a group chat room. They had been
Something about the picture of... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
Something about the picture of the beauty queen and her court fascinated me. It wasn't
Some things are so basic... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
Some things are so basic to human life that, even if you've never put them into words or
As a college student, I... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
As a college student, I heard Dr. Tony Campolo speak about caring for those who were
A sermon outline I have... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
A sermon outline I have always remembered was given by Dr. Wayne Clymer when he
James Sanders, a very fine... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
James Sanders, a very fine Old Testament scholar, has said that if we are to properly
Ron Scott was sitting at... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2007
Ron Scott was sitting at his desk in the First Common Wealth Bank one Friday afternoon,
Suppose a chauffeur drives a... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Suppose a chauffeur drives a sleek limousine through the streets of New York with a
Olga was raised in the... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Olga was raised in the former Soviet Union. Her parents owned a contraband Bible,
For many years, Irvin has... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
For many years, Irvin has had a garden in his backyard. His wife will tell you that every
Amos' countrymen faced imminent disaster... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Amos' countrymen faced imminent disaster because of their disobedience. Few of his
Philosophy teachers swap stories about... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Philosophy teachers swap stories about the sophomore summarizing all of existence in
When I speak about First... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
When I speak about First Church, I usually say, "My church that I serve is First Church."
Winfred Grenfell was a medical... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Winfred Grenfell was a medical student in London when he responded to the invitation of
We are unsure of exactly... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
We are unsure of exactly what heresies or sub-Christian practices troubled the church at
Someone once asked a great... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Someone once asked a great man who had risen out of humble beginnings, "What did
Martha did what was expected... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Martha did what was expected of her, indeed, what most hostesses would have done if an
Betty is an amazing woman... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Betty is an amazing woman. When people hear all that she does for her church, they have
When discussing the Mary-Martha... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
When discussing the Mary-Martha incident with groups, I like to take polls. "How many
A friend and his wife... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
A friend and his wife are both over fifty years of age. They've been married over thirty
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was... -- Hosea 1:2-10<br> -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished by being forced to roll a huge rock up a
I have the habit of... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
I have the habit of blaming God and others when my life becomes a complicated mess of
Hosea was not blessed with... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hosea was not blessed with the message of the love of Christ. He would have rejoiced to

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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For October 26, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
Not all suffering is equal.

We know, of course, that some pain is worse than other pain and some suffering is more difficult to endure. I have discovered, for example, that I classify some troubles as “headaches” while other troubles are “heartaches.” The “headache” type of suffering is a nuisance, no doubt, but it is not nearly so painful to me as the “heartache” type of suffering. Troubles at work are headaches; troubles at home are heartaches.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:22-32
Martin Luther sings the praises of God’s love revealed in this Lesson. He wrote:

The love of God which lives in man loves sinners, evil persons, fools and weaklings in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. (Luther’s Works, Vol.31, p.57)

John Wesley nicely summarizes the Spirit’s role in fighting the lure of our old sinful habits:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. You will need two children to play the roles of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I usually ask two children if they will help me as they are all coming forward for the message, but you may select them however you choose.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
(vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

We all dislike people who blow their own trumpets, although sometimes we may be in awe of them. Jesus too deplored such behaviour and was never in awe of those who practised it. In our worship today let us open ourselves to Jesus, allowing him to see what is in our hearts.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we allow other people's behaviour to intimidate us.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we refuse to reach our own fullest potential because we are afraid.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Every morning when sleep leaves and waking comes there is cause for praising God. Caught up, as we are, in the currents and eddies of our lives, this is easy to forget. This wonderful psalm is a reminder. God's bounty and abundance spill into our lives like waters over a causeway. God's delight in creation explodes in a million different colors. In every moment there is reason to give God praise.
Robert R. Kopp
When I was a little boy growing up in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania's First Presbyterian Church, one of those Christian chalk artists with black light, neon colors, and black felt canvas who made pictures of Jesus look like those Elvis portraits for sale on the side of the road at the beach showed up as entertainment for a Sunday evening potluck dinner.
John E. Berger
Today's sermon begins with this little one-person drama.
Mark Ellingson
Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope? Sometime during the years of 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. that is the way the people of Judah felt. It seems that their land had been ravaged by a plague of locusts which had had catastrophic consequences.

Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL