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

Living in a desert nation... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
Living in a desert nation, it would have been no news to Moses that you could get water from strikin
We always want more... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
We always want more. Sometimes it is greed: we want more wealth, a bigger house, another car.
In the October 1739 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
In the October 1739 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac, Benjamin Franklin made this astute obs
We live in a society dominated by the American dream... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
We live in a society dominated by the American dream.
When Wayne Muller was ordained he invited Henri Nouwen to preach... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
When Wayne Muller was ordained he invited Henri Nouwen to preach his ordination sermon.
Everybody at school calls Crystal names behind her back... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
Everybody at school calls Crystal names behind her back. Bad names.
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair.
It can be tempting to look admiringly at some politicians... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
It can be tempting to look admiringly at some politicians for the amount of power they hold.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 (2011) -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4-14, Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
There have been many historical inspirations... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
There have been many historical inspirations for our current system of law and jurisprudence.
There is an old story about a bandit... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
There is an old story about a bandit in the Far East who was badly injured and taken to a Christian
President John Adams described himself as... -- Philippians 3:4-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
President John Adams described himself as "a church-going animal." He and his wife Abigail believed
Louise was born to a family of accountants... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
Louise was born to a family of accountants -- brilliant accountants, no less -- CPAs.
In our own time... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that pro
Impeachment is a process... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
Impeachment is a process in which a government official is removed because of unlawful activity comm
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2011) -- Exodus 32:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
Exodus 32:1-14
It's easy to see and condemn the impetuousness of the Israelites... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
It's easy to see and condemn the impetuousness of the Israelites who with their own eyes had seen th
Grandpa died when Maggie was a baby... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
Grandpa died when Maggie was a baby.
In the late 1800s... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
In the late 1800s, Native Americans were considered "wards" of the federal government.
When reading through a book... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When reading through a book like Foxe's Book of Martyrs or DC Talk's Jesus Freaks, you
Pastor Ted Wardlaw describes a communion service... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
Pastor Ted Wardlaw describes a communion service he held a number of years ago in Atlanta.
It's like Salvador Dali... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
It's like Salvador Dali came into the gospel and painted a story -- Salvador Dali, of the dripping c
There usually isn't too much of a problem... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
There usually isn't too much of a problem if someone cannot make it to a wedding for some good reaso
When Benjamin Franklin died... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When Benjamin Franklin died, late in the evening of April 17, 1790, he had a picture of the Day of J
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2011) -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Exodus 33:12-23

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL