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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A Sunday school teacher was... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
A Sunday school teacher was highly regarded by those who attended his young adult class.
We were driving along a... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
We were driving along a country road one evening about 5:30.
Paul praised the Thessalonians for... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
Paul praised the Thessalonians for a labor of love.
The child looked up at... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
The child looked up at his teacher and asked, "How long have you been teaching?" The teacher sat dow
I visited a convenience store... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
I visited a convenience store after a meeting of Boy Scout leaders and, as usual, I hadn't eaten sup
It was time for the... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
It was time for the provincial elections in Ontario and the government was sure it had the election
Richard Jessen, a now retired... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
Richard Jessen, a now retired Lutheran bishop in Omaha, Nebraska, understood that responsibility wel
The GAP (Grace Action Program... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2002
The GAP (Grace Action Program) program at Grace Church finds one local family a year to help.
Jessie was the only child... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
Jessie was the only child of parents who were determined that she would become a great success.
My boyhood pastor was a... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
My boyhood pastor was a model for me in ministry.
The Apostle knew from hard... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
The Apostle knew from hard, and sometimes bitter, experience that those who do a good thing will nev
In a conversation with 12... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
In a conversation with 12-year-old Tommy, his grandmother mentioned that their minister baptized him
We remember the day when... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
We remember the day when we were in northern Michigan, in Sault Sainte Marie.
Jesus provides a righteousness that... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
Jesus provides a righteousness that we, who lack any of our own, can borrow.
No! No! No! the rabbi... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
"No! No! No!" the rabbi cried. "That is not right.
William Henry Seward was Secretary... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
William Henry Seward was Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.
Dale was a middle child... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
Dale was a middle child. Her oldest brother, Brian, had been sick since birth.
A coach had a private... -- John 1:1-14 -- 2002
A coach had a private session with his quarterback. They watched the film of a recent game.
One year we decided to... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 2002
One year we decided to put together an object lesson for our children.
John and Noel had a... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- 2002
John and Noel had a baby girl. Her entry into the world was assisted by a midwife.
Jean is a Native American... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- 2002
Jean is a Native American and a Christian.
Route 62 and Route 65... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- 2002
Route 62 and Route 65 run together as an improved highway to a few miles northwest of Harrison [Arka
Ever hear of fig trees... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- 2002
Ever hear of fig trees in Ohio?
Nazareth was the town where... -- John 1:1-14 -- 2002
Nazareth was the town where a carpenter named Joseph and a young woman named Mary lived, the town wh
In The Twelve Days of... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- 2002
In "The Twelve Days of Christmas," we sing about "a partridge in a pear tree," and "two turtle doves

Political Pulpit

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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 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

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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