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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

On April 5, 1887, in... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
On April 5, 1887, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Anne Sullivan experienced a real breakthrough when Helen Ke
Jesus would not let them... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Jesus would not let them punish the woman, neither would he condemn her.
I have always wondered about... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
I have always wondered about the quality of that adulterous woman's life after the Master told her t
Words have prodigious power, for... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C
Words have prodigious power, for good or for ill, to destroy or to make new.
The runner wore blue running... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C
The runner wore blue running shorts and a blue singlet when he ran the Boston Marathon.
Dare Mighty Thingsbr... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C
"Dare Mighty Things"Theodore Roosevelt
Because the Sovereign Lord helps... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C
"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced ..." Life piles layer upon layer of va
A parent and a grandparent... -- Deuteronomy 32:36-39 -- Passion Sunday - C
A parent and a grandparent were talking about raising children.
In Mark Twain's play, I... -- Deuteronomy 32:36-39 -- Passion Sunday - C
In Mark Twain's play, Adam and Eve, Adam is depicted as arrogant and, at times, rather obnoxi
This Scripture passage describes the... -- Deuteronomy 32:36-39 -- Passion Sunday - C
This Scripture passage describes the attitude God takes toward a powerless and erring creation.
Glendon Harris reported a story... -- Deuteronomy 32:36-39 -- Passion Sunday - C
Glendon Harris reported a story from The New York Times (April 5, 1972).
Shortly after the beginning of... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
Shortly after the beginning of this century, Charles Pean went to Devil's Island, the famous French
Charles Spurgeon, the great English... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
Charles Spurgeon, the great English Baptist preacher of the 19th century, was fond of telling the st
An Episcopal, Leonel Mitchell, wrote... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
An Episcopal, Leonel Mitchell, wrote a book titled Liturgical Change: How Much Do We Need?, i
Paul speaks of Jesus having... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Paul speaks of Jesus having "humbled himself." If anyone was ever justified in not being humble, it
Although we might ask some... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Although we might ask some serious questions as to meter and tune, this passage of Scripture is an e
Barabbas got off scott free... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
Barabbas got off scott free.
While in Jerusalem our tour... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
While in Jerusalem our tour group went to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus and his disciples were... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee, a town about four miles from N
Back in the fifties an... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C
Back in the fifties an English printing house published a charming little book titled, If Jesus C
Can you identify with the... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Can you identify with the people who began to cry when they heard what the law required?
The new policy manual had... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
The new policy manual had just been distributed to all the employees one week earlier.
Can you imagine? The entire... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Can you imagine?
My friend Clyde is a... -- Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
My friend Clyde is a weeper. He weeps at weddings and at funerals.
Paul employs the image of... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C
Paul employs the image of the human body in order to stir loyalty and cooperation.

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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