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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Victor Frankl, a Jew who... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Victor Frankl, a Jew who spent three years in the jail at Auschwitz, and other Nazi prison
Spirit, in the Greek language... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
"Spirit," in the Greek language, is the word, pneuma. Literally, it means "wind"
As translators in Papua, New... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
As translators in Papua, New Guinea, came to the end of translating the New Testament
The choir reluctantly agreed to... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
The choir reluctantly agreed to sing at the local nursing home on a Sunday afternoon.
Nobody can see the wind... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Nobody can see the wind, but thanks to the Canadian Wind Energy Atlas, companies and
Chaplain Trent called on Kay... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Chaplain Trent called on Kay for two days. She remained in the hospital after surgery
Any church leader who becomes... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Any church leader who becomes impatient with the flock should read and reread what
The famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
The famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger, was asked what he would do if he knew he
A great many people -- particularly... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
A great many people -- particularly those involved with twelve-step programs -- are
One June 11, the feast... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
One June 11, the feast of Saint Barnabas, I went to the animal shelter. I was not looking
Last summer, the Talbott family... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Last summer, the Talbott family rode their bikes from coast to coast, from Oregon to
In his book, The Greatest... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
In his book, The Greatest Generation, news reporter, Tom Brokaw, makes the
In my first year of... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
In my first year of seminary, I lived near my friend, Cornell. A couple times a week we'd
Ever notice the audiences when... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
Ever notice the audiences when well-known televangelists speak? Cameras usually pan
A large boat filled with... -- John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2007
A large boat filled with tourists and travelers was near the mouth of the mighty Amazon
Though badly hurt at times... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
Though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 br... -- Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2007
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
The late Fred Rogers was... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The late Fred Rogers was a beloved children's television personality and also a minister.
I have a new hobby... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
I have a new hobby of making leather belts.
Alison and her mother always... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Alison and her mother always seemed to be at odds, never quite getting along, not agreeing on much o
When one looks at the... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
When one looks at the St.
The choir director and pastor... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The choir director and pastor were feuding.
Put on the Lord Jesus... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Paul us
Although the passage does not... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Although the passage does not speak specifically of grace and mercy, it certainly does in Romans 13:
Back on November 19, 2002... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Back on November 19, 2002, the New York Times ran an article under the ominous headline: "Ast

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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, 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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