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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Risky giving. A young monk... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Risky giving.
Joe was a lifelong member... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Joe was a lifelong member of the church.
It was a dangerous thing... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
It was a dangerous thing to do taking the youth fellowship to the mall. The directions were simple.
In one of the episodes... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
In one of the episodes of Little House on the Prairie, there was to be school election for cl
In their book, titled Reframing... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
In their book, titled Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership, author
Bill raised and trained border... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Bill raised and trained border collies to work with sheep.
The prophet quotes God as... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
The prophet quotes God as saying that God will seek out those who have been scattered and bring them
This passage echoes the beloved... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
This passage echoes the beloved Psalm 23, and reminds us both of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep an
The Japanese poet, Issa, is... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
The Japanese poet, Issa, is considered to be among the greatest practitioners of the simple poetic f
Paul Baloche has written or... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Paul Baloche has written or co-written more than 120 recorded worship songs.
The pastor explained to the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
The pastor explained to the board that sponsoring a Boy Scout troop would be a good thing since it w
Brad was able to get... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Brad was able to get into the university he most wanted to attend. He was grateful.
When I come in the... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
When I come in the guiseof the needy, the helpless,the cold and the hungry,
Boys and Girls Town is... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
Boys and Girls Town is a care and treatment facility for youth ages ten to seventeen, located near O
The successful young businessman was... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
The successful young businessman was well on his way to quickly reaching the top of the corporate la
In the 1970s televisions series... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
In the 1970s televisions series, Barney Miller, Captain Barney Miller and the detectives of t
In Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
In Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC, preacher and writer, Frederick Buechner likens miracles
When the great tsunami of... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
When the great tsunami of 2004 hit Indonesia, some miraculous stories began to emerge.
One way to cross a... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
One way to cross a river with dry feet is by way of what is called a "fair weather crossing." These
When the high school football... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
When the high school football coach addressed his players before the first game of the season, he to
Pastor Smith received an interesting... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Pastor Smith received an interesting phone call from a member of his church.
Author E. B. White found... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Author E. B.
Leading a life worthy of... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Leading a life worthy of God means doing our best with what God has given us.
A father who was carefully... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
A father who was carefully raising his sons in the values of the church allowed them to play on a lo
Just as the Pharisees and... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Just as the Pharisees and teachers of the law wanted to keep things from changing because the status

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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
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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