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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A man asked a rabbi... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
A man asked a rabbi how he could be living a full life despite having so little.
Bridgette was really worried. She... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
Bridgette was really worried. She had seen the horrors of war on the evening television news.
On his visit to our... -- Luke 16:19-31 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C
On his visit to our church this past July, Jesse Jackson stated that Dr.
A minister was visiting in... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
A minister was visiting in the hospital one day.
The 50 years between 1849... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
The 50 years between 1849 and 1899 were filled with the discovery of gold in North America.
From Ethiopia to Bosnia, from... -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
From Ethiopia to Bosnia, from Rwanda to South Africa, from the South Bronx to Watts, in one lifetime
At this writing the tragic... -- Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
At this writing the tragic pictures of Rwanda fill the television screens, showing the bodies of men
The dog is sick on... -- Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
The dog is sick on your new carpet. The kids are fighting. A plane crashes killing all on board.
Once, in the 1970s, I... -- Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Once, in the 1970s, I had the humbling opportunity to hear Connie ten Boom tell of her experiences i
On their way home from... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
On their way home from church a family stopped at Burger King to get something to eat.
The psychology class was one... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
The psychology class was one of Lee's favorites.
It's amazing what we can... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
It's amazing what we can do for God when we are inwardly empowered to do it.
The congregation leaders decided to... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
The congregation leaders decided to have a special award to honor a member who had been particularly
Sally was writing her letter... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Sally was writing her letter of resignation. "I hereby resign from any and all
Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece, The... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea, is a soliloquy on the tenacity of th
This passage contains the account... -- 2 Kings 5:1-15ab -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
This passage contains the account of how pride almost kept Naaman, powerful commander of the victori
When a new pastor arrived... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
When a new pastor arrived at a small rural parish, she found the church's self-image was fragile.
When the great Rabbi Israel... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov saw misfortune threatening the Jews, it was his custom to
Our high school wrestling team... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Our high school wrestling team, together with coaphing staff, cheerleaders and chaperones, 28 people
Many years ago I conducted... -- Genesis 18:20-32 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Many years ago I conducted a funeral for a man who didn't attend church regularly.
Diogenes visited Plato one day... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Diogenes visited Plato one day and seeing that his floors were magnificently covered with plush carp
One day Dr. Norman Vincent... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
One day Dr. Norman Vincent Peale walked through the streets of Hong Kong.
Anybody exploring new country, new... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Anybody exploring new country, new towns or villages, may have the good fortune to wonder through th
One sure way of detecting... -- Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
One sure way of detecting false religion is that it is concerned with plundering people, enslaving t
An old whaling captain tells... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
An old whaling captain tells of one morning when he had been sailing into strong winds and making li

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?

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