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

One preacher tells of the... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
One preacher tells of the time when a Sunday School class was studying the prophets.
My Mission --John Cardinal Newman... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
"My Mission" --John Cardinal Newman
Paul and Barnabas were bold... -- Acts 13:14, 43-52 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Paul and Barnabas were bold and direct.
A teenage girl trying to... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
A teenage girl trying to decide on which dress she should buy for the prom breaks into tears and cri
A cartoon on the editorial... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
A cartoon on the editorial page of a newspaper showed a picture of Jesus eating the last supper with
What keeps us looking back... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
What keeps us looking back? Throwing glances over our spiritual and emotional shoulder to the past?
Leslie Weatherhead wrote a book... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Leslie Weatherhead wrote a book called Jesus and Ourselves.
Joseph Pintauro wrote in his... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Joseph Pintauro wrote in his book, To Believe in God, "Nowadays to be on your way is to be ho
On the popular television program... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
On the popular television program, "Star Trek the Next Generation," there is a character named, simp
Harry Houdini, the famous magician... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Harry Houdini, the famous magician, did not make contact from his grave as he had promised his frien
Anthony Bloom in his helpful... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Anthony Bloom in his helpful little book Beginning to Pray recalls his earlier years as a you
Fred Craddock, preaching professor at... -- John 20:19-31 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Fred Craddock, preaching professor at Candler Seminary, tells the story of the group of professors t
I remember walking into an... -- Acts 5:27-32 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
I remember walking into an Armenian history class in college and the professor was standing on the d
Fred must have been born... -- Acts 9:1-20 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Fred must have been born a workaholic. He was an overachiever in sports, music, and academics.
Perhaps one of the classic... -- Acts 9:1-20 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Perhaps one of the classic conversion stories comes from David Wilkenson's The Cross and the Swit
Ananias' times of prayer were... -- Acts 9:1-20 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Ananias' times of prayer were very ordinary, only a quiet gentle presence.
When we hear the story... -- Acts 9:1-20 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
When we hear the story of Saul's conversion, we know a turning around so dramatic that Saul became k
In 1939, when thousands of... -- 1 Kings 19:15-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
In 1939, when thousands of English children were evacuated from London during the blitz, the authori
The question for discipleship is... -- 1 Kings 19:15-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
The question for discipleship is a good one, "...
Elisha had to learn to... -- 1 Kings 19:15-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Elisha had to learn to let go so he could follow Elijah.
Agnes Sanford once told a... -- 1 Kings 17:17-24 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
Agnes Sanford once told a story about herself that is strikingly similar to the experience of Elijah
There is a very old... -- 1 Kings 17:17-24 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
There is a very old rabbinical tale too long for me to describe in detail.
Give me a miracle! Today's... -- 1 Kings 17:17-24 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
"Give me a miracle!" Today's world is full of wholesale miracles, at least that is what some would h
The preacher was reading from... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-18 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
The preacher was reading from the fifth chapter of Galatians about Christ setting us free to serve o
About 20 years ago a... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-18 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C
About 20 years ago a rather prophetic person suggested a significant change was coming in the nature

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