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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

James tells us that we... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1997
James tells us that we are to pray in times of trouble, happiness, and sickness.
Alcoholism tends to run in... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
Alcoholism tends to run in some families.
James reminds his readers that... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1997
James reminds his readers that faith must not only be professed, it also must be practiced.
There is a bit of... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1997
There is a bit of wisdom that says: "If someone is 'into their cups' and alcohol has loosened the to
What wonderful news for all... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1997
What wonderful news for all Christians: Jesus is our eternal High Priest who intercedes for us witho
There was a certain church... -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1997
There was a certain church member who was very pleased with how the pastor of his congregation preac
How easy it is for... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1997
How easy it is for Christians and churches to forget that we are called to be obedient disciples for
The writer of Hebrews calls... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1997
The writer of Hebrews calls Jesus a "pioneer" in 2:10.
Abraham Lincoln is reported to... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1997
Abraham Lincoln is reported to have said, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhel
And to him was given... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1997
"And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages shoul
The Hebrews writer quotes Jeremiah... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1997
The Hebrews writer quotes Jeremiah 31:33-34 when he says that the Lord will put his law in our heart
The city seems like a... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 1997
The "city" seems like a strange and uninviting image for heaven.
A pastor was looking for... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1997
A pastor was looking for a good illustration with which to help his Confirmation students to underst
There is a character in... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- 1997
There is a character in the play, The Trial of God, by Elie Wiesel, by the name of Berish.
The motorist stood with hands... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
The motorist stood with hands on hips, shaking his head in frustration. The battery was dead.
It is a strange thing... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1997
It is a strange thing, but those who canvass for charities report that the best givers are usually f
Out of the horror of... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1997
Out of the horror of the civil war in El Salvador during the 1980s comes the touching story of Juani
God always calls us to... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1997
God always calls us to act in whatever situation we find ourselves.
Those Wedding Bells Are Breaking... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1997
"Those Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine": do you remember that tune?
There is a popular movement... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1997
There is a popular movement toward better fitness and health.
Do only preachers preach Christ... -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- 1997
Do only preachers preach Christ?
What we will do to... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
What we will do to avoid pain, both physical and mental! Understandably so.
A good shoe will take... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
A good shoe will take on the unique form of the foot that wears it.
The young curate lived alone... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
The young curate lived alone in an apartment.
Nobody liked Corey. He was... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Nobody liked Corey. He was a bully par excellence.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

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, 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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