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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Through darker times in our lives... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Through darker times in our lives, the faiths of others can become invaluable.
Amnesty International is an organization... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Amnesty International is an organization that works to free prisoners of conscience around the world
Marcus Borg, in his provocative book... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Marcus Borg, in his provocative book simply titled Jesus, gives us a radically different inte
The American tax code is often the source of headaches... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
The American tax code is often the source of headaches for many people during the first part of the
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2011) -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Julie prayed daily for the persecuted church in North Korea... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Since high school, Julie prayed daily for the persecuted church in North Korea and over time her hea
Abraham Lincoln was shot six days after the Confederate surrender... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
On April 14, 1865, arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States was assassina
One of the earliest problems with microscopy... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
One of the earliest problems with microscopy was the fact that only one person at a time could look
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries in the unevangelized world today.
Preaching professor Tom Long... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Preaching professor Tom Long tells a story about shopping in a grocery store one day.
An old brain-teaser... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
An old brain-teaser: "A man and his son are on a fishing trip when their boat capsizes.
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx: "What creature goes on four legs in the mornin
Carol Burnett was struggling financially... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Carol Burnett was struggling financially to remain at UCLA as a drama student.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2011) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
Joshua 3:7-17
God provided a way through the Jordan River... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
In this passage, we see a genuine miracle.
The novelist Thomas Wolfe... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
The novelist Thomas Wolfe who wrote the classic You Can't Go Home Again, wrote the following
At local taverns, pubs, and bars... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Ron Love -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers.
The Johnsons owned a hardware store... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
The Johnsons owned a hardware store and they devoted their lives to their business -- tracking what
In the popular game show To Tell the Truth... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
In the popular game show To Tell the Truth, a celebrity panel would ask questions to a group
John Ambrose Wood... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
John Ambrose Wood, father of author Catherine Marshall, was a pastor who served mostly rural churche
From a secular perspective... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
From a secular perspective, leadership is viewed as a measurement of status or charisma, a sign that
Sermon Illustrations for Reformation Day (2011) -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ladies wore corsets... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Ron Love -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front.
Two types of laws... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
We can think of two types of laws: external and internal.
If you live in Ohio... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Leah Thompson -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2011
If you live in Ohio, you don't walk around saying, "Hey! Do you know about Ohio?

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Coffin
Another natural disaster has flattened a number of coastal communities. Despite the weather and major television station warnings, and government disaster preparations, the dystopian destruction nightmare of Luke 21 has decimated another community. Also, it is reasonable to believe that this is not the last year for hurricanes, Tsunami’s, wild fires, mudslides and tornados. They will occur again. However as weary citizens are interviewed in one group of people with the background of homes in rubble and streets still draining flood waters, they will not leave. This is their home.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (v. 25)

A week after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, country singer Toby Keith — who died Feb. 5, 2024 — wrote a patriotic ballad titled “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” It was filled with populist fighting rhetoric that matched the mood of a nation shaken by the shocking death and destruction of that day.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A blood pressure monitor. It is actually called a sphygmomanometer, and is pronounced “sfig·mow·muh·naa’·muh·tr”.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3

John W. Clarke
No reading of Luke is complete without coming to realize that Luke is concerned that the world understands that Jesus is the hope of the world and that any teaching that leads away from that fact is a false teaching. No matter what, no matter when, Jesus will be there to give us life.

Scott Suskovic
Whoever does not work should not eat!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)

Wow! Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? Not a lot of ambiguity in that rule. "You don't work, you don't eat." For a religion based on grace, it seems a bit unyielding.

Mark Ellingson
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it? What does it mean to you? Webster's New World Dictionary defines freedom as being exempt from control or from arbitrary restrictions. Freedom is said to be the ability to choose or determine one's own actions.

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