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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hosea has been a difficult... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hosea has been a difficult book for many believers. Why would God ask a prophet to
Emptiness and fullness at first... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Emptiness and fullness at first seem complete opposites. But in the spiritual life we find
Skyscrapers are amazing sights to... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Skyscrapers are amazing sights to behold, soaring so high. But what one often doesn't
Hope Church is a small... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hope Church is a small, non-denominational church in a small town. The church has
He taught guitar for forty... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
He taught guitar for forty years, instructing many students. He wasn't the best teacher, but
Richard Nixon's special advisor, Chuck... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Richard Nixon's special advisor, Chuck Colson, was convicted for breaking into the
Television interviewer and journalist, Larry... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Television interviewer and journalist, Larry King, describes three farmers who gather
Can you imagine every day... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Can you imagine every day sleeping with your whole family in one room? And also
Prayer is at the heart... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Prayer is at the heart of our faith. No wonder they called that prayer Jesus gave his first
Believers have tried on many... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Believers have tried on many images for God, from "rock" to "judge" to "builder" to
In the movie, As Good... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
In the movie, As Good As It Gets, Simon Bishop gets viciously beaten by a
The teenagers who live in... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
The teenagers who live in the rehabilitation center know they are there because they
He was an eminent surgeon... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
He was an eminent surgeon. I called on his stately home one evening raising funds for the
Josiah Harlan was the first... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Josiah Harlan was the first American to enter Afghanistan. In the 1830s, Harlan traveled
Just before the outbreak of... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Just before the outbreak of World War I, a small ship named Endurance set sail
I grew up in a... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
I grew up in a rural community in western Iowa. Our church was a little Evangelical
One denomination has for its... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
One denomination has for its mission motto: "A world without borders." Writing to an
Stuff is important. You gotta... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Stuff is important. You gotta take care of your stuff. You gotta have a place for your
Jim was an old bachelor... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Jim was an old bachelor who farmed in the district since he was a young man. No one
The father's tone was harsh... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
The father's tone was harsh toward his five-year-old son. "Not now, Tyler," he said as he
Hostility holds many hostages. Spouses... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Hostility holds many hostages. Spouses, brothers and sisters, neighbors, business
Many Christians play at religion... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2007
Many Christians play at religion, prancing along the shores of the great ocean of God and
After leading the fourth worship... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2007
After leading the fourth worship service of the day, I was tired, hungry, grouchy, and
In 1956, in the little... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2007
In 1956, in the little town of Crestline, California, in an area popular for camping, a new
Much of today's church has... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2007
Much of today's church has been affected one way or another with worship wars. Perhaps

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.

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