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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Ezra Goodman, in his book... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1998
Ezra Goodman, in his book The 50-Year Decline and Fall of Hollywood, talks frankly about prim
A pastor had just resigned... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1998
A pastor had just resigned from his parish after fifteen years of service and had accepted another p
His frightening appearance from an... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1998
His frightening appearance from an eye disease kept people at a generous distance.
Several weeks ago I sat... -- 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 1998
Several weeks ago I sat in the church office on a sluggish Monday morning with little to do.
The Mosaic law clearly states... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 1998
The Mosaic law clearly states that "anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23).
In this passage Paul describes... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 1998
In this passage Paul describes Jesus in two ways: raised from the dead and a descendant of David.
Each year Phillips Brooks touches... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1998
Each year Phillips Brooks touches countless lives through the words of his lovely Christmas carol, "
In Mere ChristianityI... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1998
In Mere Christianity, C. S.
The room was far too... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1998
The room was far too quiet for the first class of a new course.
Prisms are interesting little instruments... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1998
Prisms are interesting little instruments.
Christmas Day! The day for... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1998
Christmas Day! The day for which we have prepared.
Whether it is an international... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1998
Whether it is an international event like the death of Princess Diana or a mere local event such as
The Hubble telescope, which modern... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1998
The Hubble telescope, which modern technology has hurtled into space, is announcing daily the wonder
God looked around. The hosts... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1998
God looked around. The hosts in heaven were in angelic array; the servants were far away.
In a former pastorate two... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 1998
In a former pastorate two of my elders used to call me the "Nazarene." I suppose that came from the
Thanksgiving in New York City... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1998
Thanksgiving in New York City. Basketball at Madison Square Garden and a concert in Carnegie Hall.
Grady was a superb athlete... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- 1998
Grady was a superb athlete and student in his high school.
Every lad likes to tell... -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- 1998
Every lad likes to tell stories about his granddad. Granddads are special, it seems.
Tim tells about his friend... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- 1998
Tim tells about his friend Jim, who nearly always came to Irvine in the summer to visit.
On December 28, 1996, Gary... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1998
On December 28, 1996, Gary Lewis, 33, of Denver, Colorado, was under his car changing the transmissi
In July 1953, Dan Keenan... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 1998
In July 1953, Dan Keenan spotted a little child, George (named after the sentry who had first found
Garrison Keillor, author and originator... -- Matthew 1:18-25 -- 1998
Garrison Keillor, author and originator of the popular radio show, A Prairie Home Companion,
When the Japanese raped Nanking... -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- 1998
When the Japanese raped Nanking, China, beginning December 12, 1937, an unlikely savior emerged in t
It is never pleasant to... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- 1998
It is never pleasant to find out what is wrong with us.
I've been told by friends... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1998
I've been told by friends who are pregnant that it is absolutely amazing what people will say to th

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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
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Thanksgiving
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80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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, wildfires, 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 Sept. 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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