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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The little dogs of God -- Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
The overarching theological theme in today's gospel lesson is the growing inclusiveness of the missi
Esther's choice -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, James 5:13-20, Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Esther's acceptance into the Jewish canon was attended by controversy.
Uniquely for these days -- Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
The preacher should feel no obligation to find any common link among the readings for any given Sund
Easter -- victory,vindication and validation -- Isaiah 25:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
George M. Wiseman has written:Too long the world has missed the Easter Glory,
"Even those who are pure in heart" -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
The preacher who chooses either the Old Testament or Gospel lesson as the basis for a sermon will wa
Empowered for mission -- Acts 3:12-19, Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
God's Easter people were called into being for a purpose.
The strange ways of God -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The sight of David and his entourage singing and dancing before the ark to the accompaniment of lyre
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
About the author
What goes around comes around! -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
The story of Absalom and his disastrous revolt is one of the great narratives of the Old Testament.
Abide with me -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
About the author
Who really sees him? -- 2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
The writer's task for this section of Charting The Course is to tie the week's readings together by
Celebrate the new year! -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9) 10-18 -- Second Sunday after Christmas - B -- 1994
About the author R.
The strenuous call of Jesus -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
There is a new wave of interest in angels that is part of the current religious smorgasbord in the A
Despite our feet of clay -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a, John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
I wonder how many adults were effectively immunized against serious Bible study as a result of vague
Come Holy Spirit! -- Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
This festival is often a problem. Who is the Holy Spirit?
The triumph of the cross -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
Imagine this scenario: a small religious group in America catches the headlines with their novel bel
Christ's peculiar community -- Acts 10:44-48, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
This Sunday's texts are a continuation of the previous week's discussions of God's presence in the c
Becoming an Easter people -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In 1972, Avery and Marsh wrote a song titled, "Every Morning Is Easter Morning From Now On." The son
This Lent give up sin -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
Traditionally, the church prepares for Easter by engaging in a time for penitence, prayer and fastin
A story for mean-spirited times -- Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
In the decade of the 50s, when one biblical epic after another came out of Hollywood, 20th Century F
Intergenerational traveling -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
Unfortunately my mother's father died several years before I was born.
From humiliation to exaltation -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
In the modern church, this Sunday has a dual designation: Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.
Your life has a purpose -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:43-51 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
We live in a time of deep religious hungering. This generation of seekers longs for meaning.
Mary, sister of the poor and oppressed -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
It is not the resplendent Queen of Heaven that we meet in Luke's nativity story but a flesh and bloo
Running scared -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
Whether by the choice of the designers of the lectionary or by coincidence, fear is operative in eac

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

We are still... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
We are still a nation plagued by slavery.
My old Renault... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
My old Renault sputtered and died on my third attempt to get to college for my sophomore year.
The Crimean War... -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
The Crimean War (1845-1856) was the first war that was brought into the living rooms of individuals
That passage can't... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
That passage can't help but make me think: I follow Luther! I follow Peter! I follow Calvin!
When the typewriter... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
When the typewriter was first developed and used in business, its use was restricted to men.
Christ came calling... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Christ came calling people of his day to repentance for their sins.
Many Americans think... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2013
Many Americans think that responding to the call of God is what makes the Christian a Christian, tha
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2014) -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20 -- Ron Love, Derl G. Keefer, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Isaiah realized... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Isaiah realized that the people of God had lost their impact upon society because they had misplaced
This is a text... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
This is a text that links the quest for social justice with worship (vv. 6-7).
During the Crimean War... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
During the Crimean War (1854-1856), Florence Nightingale organized a corps of nurses to tend to the
We got our... -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
We got our highfalutin' words of wisdom from seminary, but we had to translate them for the people i
With the advancement... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
With the advancement of higher education and the need to specialize, the age of "professionalism" be
Jesus wants his... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Jesus wants his disciples to be the salt of the earth (v. 13).
Disciples influence the world... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2013
Disciples influence the world as salt affects food.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 7 (2014) -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Matthew 5:38-48 -- Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
In Preaching Daily... -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
In Preaching Daily a story is told about a little two-year-old boy named Blaine Morris who ob
In August 2013... -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
In August 2013, a young Indian photojournalist and her accompanying boyfriend were on assignment in
Poverty plagues... -- Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
Poverty plagues America. The U.S.
We are each responsible... -- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
We are each responsible for building on the foundation in Christ.
In 1848 the papacy... -- Matthew 5:38-48 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
In 1848 the papacy was nearly overthrown, and in 1860 it lost most of its domains with the unificati
Americans have... -- Matthew 5:38-48 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
Americans have over-inflated images about themselves.
My coworker's fiance's... -- Matthew 5:38-48 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - A -- 2013
My coworker's fiancée's birthplace outlawed Christianity.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany of Our Lord (2014) -- Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 -- Bob Ove, Mark Ellingsen, Derl G. Keefer, Ron Love -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2013
Isaiah 60:1-6
The people of God... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Bob Ove -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2013
The people of God had been in a state of darkness, but now the light has come.

Political Pulpit

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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