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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

How about this for non... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
How about this for "non-vanity" license plates based on this passage and made available to every Chr
Peter and Andrew, James and... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Peter and Andrew, James and John heard Jesus' call and immediately followed him.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book, The Tipping Point, in which he talks about the spreading of
In Who Speaks for God... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
In Who Speaks for God? Jim Wallis asks the question posed by the book title: "Who speaks for
Helena is the chairperson of... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
Helena is the chairperson of missions at her church.
The call of Philip and... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
The call of Philip and Nathanael gives meaning to the 1938 gospel song by Albert E. Brumley:
Marianne was a straight-A... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Marianne was a straight-A student all through college.
It is doubtful that we... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
It is doubtful that we will ever see as dramatic a repentance as Jonah saw in Nineveh, but there hav
Nineveh was the capitol of... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Nineveh was the capitol of the Assyrian Empire, in present-day Iraq.
Joe Briggs of the United... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Joe Briggs of the United Press International reported in December 2003, that Libyan leader Mu
Dorothy Haskin, in her book... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Dorothy Haskin, in her book, A Practical Guide to Prayer, tells about a noted concert violini
We find a sense of... -- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
We find a sense of urgency in many of the Apostle Paul's writings.
Dale, a novice carpenter, planned... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Dale, a novice carpenter, planned to make a desk that would carry him through his college years.
Jesus answered him, 'Do you... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
"Jesus answered him, 'Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under a fig tree?
Don's youth group planned a... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Don's youth group planned a service project at a local nursing home.
The word vocation comes from... -- John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
The word "vocation" comes from the Latin vocare, "to call," and it means the work a [person]
Wendell Berry's title character reflects... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Wendell Berry's title character reflects back on his call to ministry as a teenage boy in an orphana
In his book, Life Sentence... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
In his book, Life Sentence, Charles Colson relates how, after coming home from prison followi
Erwin McManus, in his book... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Erwin McManus, in his book Seizing Your Divine Moment writes about an immigrant from Argentin
So Samuel went and lay... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
"So Samuel went and lay down in his place" (1 Samuel 3:9).
Billions of dollars are spent... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Billions of dollars are spent every year on pornography, on and off the internet.
Luther, in dealing with the... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Luther, in dealing with the issue of sexual temptation, is reputed to have said that it's okay if a
Walt never imagined that he... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
Walt never imagined that he would find himself unemployed in his mid-fifties!
I pray therefore that you... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
"I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory" (Ephe
At a clergy seminar, Dr... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B
At a clergy seminar, Dr.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 10, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A treasure chest containing photos of some of your family members and friends, and a small, worn-out bag or purse. The treasure chest could be as simple as a small, metal lockbox, or you could have some fun with a larger box that actually looks like a treasure chest.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But before I tell you the story, I have something that I want to show you. (Show the treasure chest.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Personal rant here — since childhood I’ve been annoyed that the winners of the 100-meter dash at the Olympics are hailed as the world’s fastest humans. To me it’s been obvious that the greatest, and fastest, athletes are the women and men who endure the trials and tribulations throughout the 26.2-mile marathons, and who then somehow find it within themselves to sprint to the finish line.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return… (Luke 12:35-36)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
-- Psalm 50:23

Clayton A. Lord Jr.
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them. Our heroes are men and women that we look up to. Our heroes are those individuals that inspire us and help us to strive to be our very best.

There is a cute story about a Texan who was trying to impress on a Bostonian, the valor of the heroes of the Alamo. After finishing his story about Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and countless others, he says "I'll bet you never had anyone so brave around Boston."

"Did you ever hear of Paul Revere?" asked the Bostonian.

Thomas A. Renquist
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of. "Sell your possessions," he says, "give alms ... risk ... be dressed for action ... have your lamps lit ... be prepared ... be alert." Sounds very ominous, quite scary to me.

Christopher Reeves, the actor, knows what it is to be afraid. On Memorial Day weekend, 1995, in a tragic fall from his horse, he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and fighting for his every breath.
John W. Wurster
"Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah" (1:10; cf. Genesis 19).

Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as long as it feels good?

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