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

We have lived so long... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
We have lived so long with an understanding of the openness and inclusiveness of the Gospel that it
Prejudice really means to weigh... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Prejudice really means "to weigh out ahead of time" or to prejudge someone.
In West Side Story, Maria... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
In West Side Story, Maria is advised to "stick to her own kind." There seems to be a part of
Then they asked him to... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:48b)
True Christian love is shown... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
True Christian love is shown in giving of self to others.
The name Lee Iacocca has... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
The name Lee Iacocca has become a household name in this country.
The Word of God spread... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
The Word of God spread like wildfire from the Jews to the Greeks.
Reverend F. B. Meyer relates... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Reverend F. B.
From time to time woodsmen... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
From time to time woodsmen fell trees that are of medium size. They appear healthy and strong.
The story is told of... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
The story is told of a woodsman who visited a friend in a large city.
Measuring with a different rule... -- 1 John 3:18-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Measuring with a different rule ...
As I read this Scripture... -- 1 John 3:18-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
As I read this Scripture, I thought of a story I heard a minister tell about a man who took his twel
I have a very good... -- 1 John 3:1-2 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
I have a very good friend who was "born out of wedlock." He was born in the early fifties, when such
The world cannot see child... -- 1 John 3:1-2 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
The world cannot see "child of God" on the face of a believer.
In the original Star... -- 1 John 3:1-2 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
In the original Star Wars movie R2D2 has a primary goal which it seeks to fulfill: to get a l
The old man looked like... -- 1 John 3:1-2 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
The old man looked like a fool to busy passers-by.
In 1983 a certain church... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
In 1983 a certain church softball league voted to exclude the Mormon team from participating on the
The Eiger SanctionI... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
The Eiger Sanction is a novel about spy and counterspy activity.
Bob related to me one... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Bob related to me one day that he never really understood the good shepherd passage until he learned
To love someone is to... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
To love someone is to know them. A seminarian once told a professor that he really loved him.
This story of the conversion... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
This story of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch is a story filled with mystery.
A French journal reports the... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
A French journal reports the discovery of a book of theological discussions, written by some monks o
Talk about streams in the... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Talk about streams in the desert! The roads of life take many twists and turns.
Erasmus (1466-1536) was, above all... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Erasmus (1466-1536) was, above all, a man of letters and culture.
Perhaps for the first time... -- Acts 9:26-31 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Perhaps for the first time we realize in this text that the same Saul who had been occupied with imp

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
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
George Reed
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