Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

A pastor was eating dinner... -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
A pastor was eating dinner in a small restaurant next to the church where she would be conducting wo
As in the earthquake narrative... -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
As in the "earthquake" narrative of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, God often uses natural events in a mo
Opposites! Two stories based... -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Opposites! Two stories based on opposites.
The Bristlecone pine is recognized... -- Acts 16:16-34 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
The Bristlecone pine is recognized as the oldest living tree in the world, with some specimens in th
Robert Waller's first big selling... -- Acts 16:9-15 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Robert Waller's first big selling novel was The Bridges of Madison County.
I don't think anything can... -- Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
I don't think anything can be more damaging to a relationship than miscommunication and half-truths.
When the early Christians argued... -- Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
When the early Christians argued over the practice of circumcision and its application to the Christ
I was attending a church... -- Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
I was attending a church potluck supper one evening.
Dr. Barbara Racioppo, a clinical... -- Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Dr.
From the New York Times... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
From the New York Times comes the story of a healing different from the healing in the text appointe
Occasionally, I have been mistaken... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Occasionally, I have been mistaken for another person.
Many churches have known financial... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Many churches have known financial difficulties at one time or another, my own being no exception.
When someone achieves something notable... -- Acts 14:8-18 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
When someone achieves something notable and significant we want to know their secret -- the key to t
According to this passage, here... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
According to this passage, here are some things in this life we can take lightly: *The Lamb (and
Seasonal Affective Disorder is now... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Seasonal Affective Disorder is now recognized as an ailment that plagues millions of people every ye
Some modern prophets seem all... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Some modern prophets seem all too prepossessed with the apocalyptic, cataclysmic end of human histor
Journey InwardDeep the... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Journey InwardDeep the river runs in silencejoining humankind to Triune God --
If a teacher tells her... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
If a teacher tells her health class that smoking is bad for them, and then she lights up a cigarette
Pat, the attorney said, leaning... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
"Pat," the attorney said, leaning forward, "I'm telling you, this is the last offer your husband is
The Gospel appointed for the... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
The Gospel appointed for the Sixth Sunday of Easter is a continuation of the readings for the previo
My Peace I Give Unto... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
My Peace I Give Unto YouBlessed are the eyes that see
Queen Elizabeth II was visiting... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
Queen Elizabeth II was visiting in St. Catharines, Ontario.
I suppose most Christians have... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
I suppose most Christians have often looked to the heavens and wondered about Christ's ascension and
The chaplain at a large... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
The chaplain at a large state university died suddenly of a heart attack in late October.
Recently a germ was making... -- Acts 14:21-27 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Recently a germ was making headlines.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL