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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

On the eve of Yom... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
On the eve of Yom Kippur there is a Jewish service known as "Gates of Forgiveness." From this servic
The prophet Hosea reminds us... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
The prophet Hosea reminds us that God "has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us
Nobody loves me, everybody hates... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
"Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms." One of the great frustrations of chi
Back in the 1940s Eugene... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
Back in the 1940s Eugene Talmadge, the governor of Georgia, died while in office.
That Jesus intimately shares in... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
That Jesus intimately shares in our sufferings is sometimes hard to believe.
In the 1920s, the London... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
In the 1920s, the London County Council opened up the old slum district in East London.
Novelist Fred Buechner mentions going... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
Novelist Fred Buechner mentions going to Sequoia National Forest in California to see the giant redw
In his book, Wherefore... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
In his book, Wherefore Art Thou Come, James Cleland gives a special meaning to Maundy Thursda
The novel Shoeless Joe... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
The novel Shoeless Joe by W.P.
The end is the beginning... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C
The end is the beginning. How Often that is true in our experience.
April 17, 1961, was the... -- John 18:1-40; 19:1-37 -- Good Friday - C
April 17, 1961, was the day of failure of the Bay of Pigs as the invasion of Cuba by U.S trained Cub
How could they do such... -- John 18:1-19:44 -- Good Friday - C
How could they do such a thing? How could Judas betray Jesus? How could Peter deny he even new him?
But by the grace of... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." Mostly, we do
I was in elementary school... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C
I was in elementary school in the 1950s at the height of the cold war.
Roland Huntford's The Last... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C
Roland Huntford's The Last Place on Earth recounts the classic race for the South Pole.
Peter spoke of a God... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C
Peter spoke of a God who does not show favoritism but accepts those from every nation who fear him a
Paul Valery wrote, Two dangers... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C
Paul Valery wrote, "Two dangers constantly threaten the world: order and disorder." We are familiar
An individual may not be... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C
An individual may not be advancing in his job or he may be bypassed for a promotion, and he asks, "W
One of the natural outpourings... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C
One of the natural outpourings of human joy and hope is that of music.
The Jews celebrate Passover and... -- Exodus 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - C
The Jews celebrate Passover and remember the escape from Egypt.
Malcolm Muggeridge, the British writer... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C
Malcolm Muggeridge, the British writer and television celebrity who late in life embraced the Christ
The 19th century American writer... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
The 19th century American writer, Henry David Thoreau, wrote: "If a person does not keep pace with o
In spite of human ineptitude... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
In spite of human ineptitude, we pray. We pray in the manner that we are able.
A judge went to visit... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
A judge went to visit a wise old colleague.
Psychiatrists tell us that we... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Psychiatrists tell us that we don't have to live long before each of us is carrying around a large b

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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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