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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Beyond compare -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44, Psalm 127 -- David Kalas -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Much of the rest of our culture is unapologetic about sacrifice.
Rejection -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-32 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C
The debilitating effects of rejection may be felt by the unemployed and the homeless, by deserted or
When the grip begins to slip! -- Genesis 32:22-30, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Genesis 32:22-30 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C
Who hasn't seen the sign on a billboard or auto bumper, "He is coming soon!" The "He" is obviously J
What makes a king? -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
By the time this issue of Emphasis reaches your desk, we will probably know whether Peter Jac
The power of life and death -- Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30, Psalm 23 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
In the sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), the alien Klaatu, having been sho
Keeping Others in Mind -- Isaiah 35:4-7a, Mark 7:31-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Those of you who read my material know that I am always insistent that we keep the people and the ev
Getting to yes -- Isaiah 43:18-25, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Mark 2:1-12 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B
A number of years ago, a colleague and I were in a kind of leadership stalemate.
Cross and church -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Holy Week always makes me realize how inadequate I am in finding ways to express or even to think ab
Family privilege -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39, Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A
My daughters know the direct access code to my office phone.
Goal or gift -- Genesis 45:3-11, 15, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C
The ethical injunctions in the gospel lesson from Luke for this Sunday, like their parallels in the
Called before born -- Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42, Psalm 40:1-11 -- William H. Shepherd -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
"Who's your family?" Southerners know this greeting well, but it is not unheard of above, beside, an
Are we great enough? -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
Can we measure up to Christmas?
And now, introducing ... -- Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday of Advent - A
In the United States just now, we're in the period between the election and the inauguration of the
Renewal -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C
Since the Sundays in Lent are a time for renewal, rather than for mourning or self-negation, the scr
New Things -- Acts 14:8-18, John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
To hear some people talk, one might conclude it is the task of the church to call people back to som
What triumph? -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, 9:9, 10, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B
A scared band of disciples anxiously watching out of the corner of their eyes as they come into Jer
How do I love thee? -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20), Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19, Psalm 30 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Doing our part -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B
My four-year-old daughter wanted to be near her daddy the other day, even though I was busy in the g
And then what? -- 2 Kings 13:14-20a, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
The focus of the lessons for the final three Sundays in July honed in on the dimensions of responsib
Signs -- Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Why does God make things so difficult for us?
School of rock(s) -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122 -- William H. Shepherd -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Christianity is, among other things, an intellectual quest. The curriculum to know God truly.
The Greatest Space Shuttle of All -- Ephesians 5:21-31, John 6:60-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
In this series I have put much emphasis on the matter of keeping body and mind and spirit, heaven an
Faith -- Jeremiah 18:1-11, Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A
So many definitions have been given for faith it seems impossible to talk or write about it without
The day God got lonely -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 32 -- Wayne Brouwer -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Today is the first Sunday during Lent. This is an important fact to note.
The foundation of all that goes before -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- Easter Day - C
"According to all I've studied, the essential belief in Christianity is the virgin birth.

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Jesus never spoke of equality with God.
NULL -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2012
Jesus is right. Our piety is full of hypocrisy.
Sermon Illustrations for Lent 2 (2013) -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Philippians 3:17--4:1, Luke 13:31-35 -- Ron Love, Mark Ellingsen, Bob Ove, Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
NULL -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Jeremiah Denton, a Navy pilot who was held captive in the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War, under
NULL -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
The American Dream seems to be in shambles today.
NULL -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
NULL -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Bob Ove -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
Where is your citizenship? Day to day we think only of what we are going to do this day.
NULL -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
John Calvin calls attention to the implication that Jesus' reference to being like a hen who gathers
NULL -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 2012
July 18, 1965.
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 5 (2012) -- Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
Isaiah 40:21-31
100 billion stars... -- Isaiah 40:21-31 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
It's estimated that there are over 100 billion stars in our galaxy.
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Ron Love -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
On February 24, 1742, Peter Bohler gathered a group of Moravians who would sail to the American colo
What is the first thing we do in the morning?... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2012
What is the first thing we do in the morning? Turn on the coffee maker? Read the paper?
Sermon Illustrations for Epiphany 6 (2012) -- 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
2 Kings 5:1-14
Lynn Caines and lifelines -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
Lynn Caines, in her autobiographical Lifelines, tells how in the midst of her struggle to ove
During the NFL lockout... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2012
This past summer during the NFL lockout, coaches and staff were prohibited from working with the pla
Sermon Illustrations for All Saints Day (2012) -- Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 -- Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen, Cynthia E. Cowen, Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Ron Love -- All Saints Day - B -- 2012
Note: Because of a scheduling error, we are highlighting these illustrations from 2012.
Sermon illustrations for Transfiguration Sunday, Cycle A (2011) -- Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
Exodus 24:12-18
Let the record show... -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
"Let the record show..." Parliamentary procedure can be an arduous process.
In Tom Wilson's cartoon Ziggy -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
In Tom Wilson's cartoon, Ziggy, who always seems to be struggling with his place in life, is
No one can argue that technology... -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
No one can argue that technology is developing at an unbelievable rate.
So Jesus and his disciples go up a mountain -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
"So Jesus and his disciples go up a mountain, where they meet up with Moses and Elijah…" It almost s
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Ron Love -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
In 1898, Florence Nightingale wrote a book on nursing that was titled, Notes on Nursing: What It
We all have those strange dreams... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Leah Thompson -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2011
We all have those strange dreams.
NULL -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2011
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

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New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
In the sometimes-tiresome debate over science and scripture with respect to creation, it’s easy to become distracted. While the argument typically requires a focus on the how, we may lose sight of the what. And so, for just a moment, let me invite us to think for a moment about what God created.
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 8:26-40
As a local church pastor, I was often asked if I would baptize a child whose family were not members of the church. Some churches rebelled against this, but I remember this scripture — the hunger for understanding and inclusion of the Eunuch and Philp’s response — to teach and share and baptize in the name of our God. How could we turn anyone away from the rite of baptism?

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
“Dad, I think you worked a miracle.” Rolf slowly walked around the tree. “After that windstorm, I assumed this tree was as good as gone.”

“We just needed to give the branches time to heal and come back,” Michael replied.

 “I know, but so many of them were battered and broken I figured that it couldn’t recover. Now though it looks just like it did before the storm.” Rolf paused. “Do you think it will bear any fruit this summer?”

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John Jamison
Object: A live plant that produces fruit, and a broken branch from that plant. I used a tomato plant from a local greenhouse. Ideally, find a plant with blossoms or small fruit already growing. If you use a different kind of fruit-producing plant, just change the script to fit.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Elena Delhagen
Dean Feldmeyer
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For April 28, 2024:
  • On The Way To Gaza by Chris Keating based on Acts 8:26-40. On the way to Gaza, Philip discovers the startling ways the Spirit of God moves across borders, boundaries, customs, and traditions.
  • Second Thoughts: Abiding by Katy Stenta based on John 15:1-8.
  • Sermon illustrations by Mary Austin, Tom Willadsen, Elena Delhagen, Dean Feldmeyer.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. In our service today, let us absorb from the vine all the nourishment we need.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes our branches become cut off from the vine.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our branches are withered.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we fail to produce good fruit.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stan Purdum
We will meet Psalm 22 in its entirety on Good Friday, but here the lectionary designates just verses 23-31. The lectionary psalms generally illuminate the week's First Lesson, which in this case is about the covenant initiated by God with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17. The nine verses from this psalm, while not inappropriate, nonetheless leave us looking for an obvious connection with the First Lesson.

John S. Smylie
I think some people are natural-born gardeners. Our Lord grew up in a society that was familiar with agriculture. The images that he used to explain the ways of his Father in heaven are familiar to his audience. Growing up, my closest experience to agriculture was living in, "the Garden State." Most people, when they pass through New Jersey, are surprised to see that expression on the license plates of vehicles registered in New Jersey. Most folks traveling through New Jersey experience the megalopolis, the corridor between New York City and Washington DC.
Ron Lavin
A pastor in Indiana went to visit an 87-year-old man named Ermil, who was a hospital patient. A member of his church told the pastor about this old man who was an acquaintance. "He's not a believer, but he is really in need," the church member said. "I met him at the county home for the elderly. He's a lonely old man with no family and no money."

Paul E. Robinson
"Love is a many splendored thing...." Or so we heard Don Cornwall and the Four Aces sing time and again. Of course you or I might have other words to describe love, depending on our situation.

Love. "I love you." "I love to play golf." "I just love pistachio lush!" "It's tough to love some people." "Jesus loves me, this I know."

Love.

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