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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Son of God -- Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
A celebration of the baptism of Jesus always stands at the head of the Epiphany season, for it marks
Sinners ministering to sinners -- Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 1998
This Sunday's lessons pair two call narratives: that of Isaiah the prophet and that of Simon Peter t
A change of perception -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Luke's wonderful parable of the prodigal son dominates the lectionary for today.
Focus -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1998
A couple years ago there was a fad involving optical illusions called "Magic Eye" pictures.
God's word -- Jeremiah 8:18--9:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C -- 1998
Today's lessons are not necessarily connected by any particular theme, but as I read them I am moved
Now and then -- Haggai 1:15b-2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
One day, shortly after the funeral of a beloved woman, I walked through a cemetery with her widower.
Crisis of decision -- Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 1998
A crisis of decision is presented in the lessons for today, especially the first and third readings.
Treasure in heaven -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1998
Today's lessons contrast the emptiness of religion with the substance of faith.
Don't mention it? -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
Saying "thank you" is something we do ten, twenty, thirty times a day.
Celebration -- Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
A prominent theme in today's lessons seems to be celebration of life.
Christ's glory revealed -- Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 1998
Transfiguration Sunday concludes the Epiphany season with a focus on the one biblical story that mor
Hear and heed -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
Søren Kierkegaard said a long time ago now that "purity of heart is to will one thing." People who d
Repent and bear fruit -- Isaiah 55:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
All three lessons for this day challenge our perception of the good life, calling us to ask whether
The triumph of humility -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
What exactly was Jesus doing when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey the week that Passover festivit
Seeking spiritual fulfillment -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 1998
Spiritual questing seems to be the theme that holds together the three lessons for today.
The Lamb as Shepherd -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Although most lectionary guides (including this one) deal only with the three lessons appointed for
Faith in God -- Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Jeremiah 31:27-34 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 1998
Will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?
God-centered worship -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The book of Deuteronomy provides us with our first lesson for this day and that book is also quoted
Christ reigns -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
Although the ascension is perhaps referred to in a few other writings, it is narrated only in Luke a
Can God be trusted? -- Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A -- 1998
The central issue for this week's pericopes is the question of whether God is faithful to God's prom
Sharing in Christ's suffering -- Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
As we move to the end of this year's Lenten journey, the New Testament texts speak of Christ's suffe
No pretensions -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 1998
The common theme in the lessons for this day is an explication of what we might call "religion of th
What a difference the day makes -- Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
Available at most video stores is a movie called Places of the Heart.
Filled with the Spirit -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
Christians did not start the day of Pentecost.
Judgment and forgiveness -- 1 Kings 21:1-21a, Galatians 2:15-21, Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 1998
The concept of "judgment" is almost universally viewed as negative today, though the term itself is

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In 1952, composer John Cage... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
In 1952, composer John Cage wrote a piece called 4'33" (Four minutes, 33 seconds).
A concern for the television... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Ron Love -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
A concern for the television industry today is what is being referred to as "Zero TV" households.
Elijah, the great man of God... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
Elijah, the great man of God, was in despair, ready to quit.
The law is not our schoolmaster... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
The law is not our schoolmaster. It leads us to our teacher, who is Christ.
Humanity revels in polarization... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
Humanity revels in polarization.
David Letterman, the host of... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Ron Love -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
David Letterman, the host of the Late Show, suffered for decades with depression.
The real point of this story... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
The real point of this story is not the miracle of healing Jesus did, but the miracle that it transf
If you are afraid of... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2013
If you are afraid of clowns, you are coulrophobic.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2013) -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem, Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
Hosea 1:2-10
Prophets seldom have a kindly... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
Prophets seldom have a kindly word to speak to the people.
It can be shocking sometimes... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
It can be shocking sometimes what God asks us to do.
When we encounter temptations... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
When we encounter temptations and other ideas that contradict faith, the insights of John Calvin and
The Seventh-Day Adventist... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Ron Love -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
The Seventh-Day Adventist denomination was founded upon the anticipation of the immediate return of
To "think outside the box"... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
To "think outside the box" is to be open to new ideas, free from tradition and routine and the way w
In Desmond Tutu's collection... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
In Desmond Tutu's collection of stirrings from the heart, An African Prayer Book, ther
There are a number of passages... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2013
There are a number of passages where Jesus is praying and his disciples can see him at prayer.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 16 | OT 21 -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Ron Love, Scott A. Bryte, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
It can be scary... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
It can be scary to think that God knows everything about us even before we were born.
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate, describes in her book Mighty Be Our Powers how sisterhoo
It's never good when... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Scott A. Bryte -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
It's never good when the earth moves. Earthquakes never build, they only destroy.
The text deals with... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
The text deals with the contrast between the two covenants (of the law and of the gospel).
A group of veterans... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Ron Love -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
A group of veterans goes to various churches around the country and asks permission to place America
There was a woman in Nepal... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
There was a woman in Nepal who couldn't walk. She had been crippled for many years.
What rejoicing words... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2013
What rejoicing words would the crowd utter after Jesus healed the crippled woman?
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 (2013) -- Jeremiah 2:4-13, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Mark Ellingsen, Scott A. Bryte, Ron Love, Bob Ove -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2013
Jeremiah 2:4-13

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Object: A packet of mustard seeds, or a packet of the smallest seeds you can find.

* * *

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

One day Jesus was talking with his friends and he wanted to tell them something really, really important. So, this is what he told them. He said:

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The kingdom of God is described in many different ways in the Bible. In Mark 4, the kingdom of God is described in terms of small seeds quietly planted by a farmer. The seeds can grow to great size, like a mustard plant which in ancient Israel became one of the largest of bushes. Small beginnings can have great endings.
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