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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

John the Baptist is like... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
John the Baptist is like that eccentric uncle who visits every year around Christmas.
John the Baptist's diet certainly... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
John the Baptist's diet certainly was one that we moderns would find strange.
While on vacation at a... -- Mark 1:1-8 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
While on vacation at a well-known Atlantic Ocean beach, a couple went to one of the local attraction
Every believer wants to do... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Every believer wants to do something. Every believer can do something.
My Lord! What A Morning... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
"My Lord! What A Morning" is the title of a hymn found in many hymnals.
The night sky is a... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
The night sky is a thing of beauty and a thing of change as the year progresses.
Fran always expected her estranged... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Fran always expected her estranged son to come home for the holidays.
Daryl's boss thought he could... -- Mark 13:24-37 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Daryl's boss thought he could beat the system. He cheated on safety-guard measures in the factory.
A weary couple will again... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
A weary couple will again welcome their adult son home from the addiction services rehab center afte
Pikeville, Kentucky, is located in... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Pikeville, Kentucky, is located in the southeast part of the state.
In the early 1980s, Queen... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
In the early 1980s, Queen Elizabeth II came to Canada for a royal tour.
Back in the 1960s there... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - B
Back in the 1960s there was a top ten hit titled "Expressway To Your Heart." The "Soul Survivors" re
In her book, Receiving the... -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
In her book, Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time, Dorothy Bas
The preschool children at the... -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
The preschool children at the church came to see Pastor Mary and were thrilled to present her with s
Mike's experience was no different... -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Mike's experience was no different from others graduating from high school and joining the service.
It is a bittersweet moment... -- Isaiah 64:1-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
It is a bittersweet moment for Carla.
A family and their recent... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
A family and their recent college-graduate daughter never imagined she would still be waiting for a
The story is told about... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
The story is told about a man who was shipwrecked and marooned on an island alone for twenty years.
Bill and Mary's son, David... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- First Sunday of Advent - B
Bill and Mary's son, David, was going camping on his own for the first time.
One evening, in the front... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
One evening, in the front of Julie's home, a young man pulled up, got out of his car, and waved a gu
As Dorothy sits in the... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
As Dorothy sits in the bleachers to view her daughter, Stephanie, who is the captain of the varsity
It was the December of... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
It was the December of 1999 when many churches were on alert regarding the doomsday predictions of Y
Lance Armstrong won the Tour... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France for the seventh consecutive year in 2005.
Jackie left home at ten... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Jackie left home at ten in the morning to care for her aged mother.
Crime statistics indicate one burglary... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Crime statistics indicate one burglary takes place every twelve seconds in the United States.

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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
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Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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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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