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

The passage speaks of the... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
The passage speaks of the imitation of Christ.
In The Great Stone Face... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
In The Great Stone Face by Nathaniel Hawthorne, we are told about an Indian legend which stat
Each member of our confirmation... -- Philippians 3:17-4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Each member of our confirmation class is assigned a mentor.
A chicken's wings are useless... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
A chicken's wings are useless for flying.
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City made national news not long ago when its minis
Jesus' warning to Jerusalem was... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Jesus' warning to Jerusalem was a grim reminder that some people die spiritually before they get to
There is a story from... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
There is a story from Taiwan of a young king who was dismayed by the practice of human sacrifice, wh
When an athlete exercises rigorously... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
When an athlete exercises rigorously for conditioning or competes in a contest, there is bound to be
God's glorification of Israel draws... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
God's glorification of Israel draws the nations to the Lord.
An advertisement mailed by Bottom... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
An advertisement mailed by Bottom Line Publishing insists that "Starting today, nothing is impossibl
I have tried most of... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
I have tried most of the popular (and weird) diets at least once in my adult life.
Corrie ten Boom, who survived... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Corrie ten Boom, who survived a Nazi concentration camp, told the story of how, as a child, she went
God makes it possible for... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
God makes it possible for us to stand up successfully to temptation, but we have to want to succeed
Samuel Johnson, who created the... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Samuel Johnson, who created the famous dictionary, was a realist and something of a skeptic when it
Henry Box Brown, a slave... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Henry Box Brown, a slave in the antebellum south, prayed that God would aid him in obtaining his fre
Unlike my wife, I do... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Unlike my wife, I do not have a "green thumb." In fact, I have killed many a plant either through to
Abraham Lincoln, on March 4... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Abraham Lincoln, on March 4, 1865, just weeks before he was killed, gave what was probably his great
The focus of the passage... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
The focus of the passage is bearing fruit. Fruit farming is important in many areas of the world.
There is so much sadness... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
There is so much sadness to report in the news of the day.
If a dead man is... -- Joshua 5:9-12 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
"If a dead man is raised to life, all men spring up in astonishment.
For the children... -- Joshua 5:9-12 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Was the stone at Jesus... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C
Was the stone at Jesus' tomb round or square?
When you are interiorly free... -- Acts 5:27-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
"When you are interiorly free, you call others to freedom, whether you know it or not.
Bees are very communicative in... -- Acts 5:27-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Bees are very communicative in sharing the location of a food source with their hive mates.
Knowing your ABCs in Jesus... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Knowing your ABCs in Jesus' day was just as important as it is today.

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

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
For August 3, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

Note: The gesture used both hands. Hold both hands in front of you and make the thumbs-up sign with both hands with both thumbs pointing back at your chest. This is the “ME!” gesture. Then simply rotate your hands back so your thumbs are pointing straight up in the air, like two “OK” signs. This is the “US” gesture.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11: 1-13
The prophet compares Yahweh to a father who exercises compassion despite his original plan to punish Israel. John Calvin nicely explains these dynamics:
Mark Ellingsen
Hosea 11:1-11

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
John W. Wurster
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL