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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Oskar Groning was an SS guard at Auschwitz... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
Oskar Groning was an SS guard at Auschwitz.
It all began at a red light... -- Amos 8:1-12 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
It all began at a red light.
Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote that "Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime;
You know the story by heart... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
You know the story by heart -- perhaps you have this story.
The term "workaholic" often comes as part of a joke... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
The term "workaholic" often comes as part of a joke, like "What can you do with a workaholic?
The women's and children shelter became a mission project... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
The women's and children shelter became a mission project for the women's circle at church.
In filming the movie Jesus of Nazareth... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Ron Love -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
In filming the movie Jesus of Nazareth, Ernest Borgnine played the role of the centurion who
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 11 | OT 16 (2010) -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2010
IllustrationsAmos 8:1-12
NULL -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
My name is unique.
NULL -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
"If you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk." We want our role models to practice what they pre
NULL -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
It was one of those Sunday mornings we all have from time to time.
NULL -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
I can still remember studying Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in my first-year English class in c
NULL -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Ron Love -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
The mystery of the blue lines was the topic of discussion among the television audience of the 2010
NULL -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
Technological advancement over the past decade ushered in many new systems to help support us.
NULL -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
In a traditional retelling of the story Beauty and the Beast, the Beast asks Beauty the same
NULL -- Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2010
IllustrationsHosea 1:2-10
NULL -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
Several years ago Jackie was traveling with her two young children to visit her parents who lived an
NULL -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
Fred Rogers was invited to be the baccalaureate speaker for Boston University's class of 1992.
NULL -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
One of the most traumatic experiences a family can have is when a child runs away.
NULL -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
An anonymous author expressed what it means to come to Christ and discover the wonderful experience
NULL -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
In the classic musical My Fair Lady, Professor Henry Higgins bets a friend that he can transf
NULL -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Ron Love -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
John D. Rockefeller Jr. believed in the United Nations.
NULL -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
I remember when I was younger hearing the story of Howard Hughes, one of the richest men of his day.
NULL -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
Eric will admit that he is a collector who hates to throw anything away, even if the clothes no long
NULL -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2010
IllustrationsHosea 11:1-11

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 13 | OT 18 | Pentecost 8
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 14 | OT 19 | Pentecost 9
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 15 | OT 20 | Pentecost 10
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

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 10, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A treasure chest containing photos of some of your family members and friends, and a small, worn-out bag or purse. The treasure chest could be as simple as a small, metal lockbox, or you could have some fun with a larger box that actually looks like a treasure chest.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But before I tell you the story, I have something that I want to show you. (Show the treasure chest.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Personal rant here — since childhood I’ve been annoyed that the winners of the 100-meter dash at the Olympics are hailed as the world’s fastest humans. To me it’s been obvious that the greatest, and fastest, athletes are the women and men who endure the trials and tribulations throughout the 26.2-mile marathons, and who then somehow find it within themselves to sprint to the finish line.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return… (Luke 12:35-36)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
-- Psalm 50:23

Clayton A. Lord Jr.
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them. Our heroes are men and women that we look up to. Our heroes are those individuals that inspire us and help us to strive to be our very best.

There is a cute story about a Texan who was trying to impress on a Bostonian, the valor of the heroes of the Alamo. After finishing his story about Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and countless others, he says "I'll bet you never had anyone so brave around Boston."

"Did you ever hear of Paul Revere?" asked the Bostonian.

Thomas A. Renquist
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of. "Sell your possessions," he says, "give alms ... risk ... be dressed for action ... have your lamps lit ... be prepared ... be alert." Sounds very ominous, quite scary to me.

Christopher Reeves, the actor, knows what it is to be afraid. On Memorial Day weekend, 1995, in a tragic fall from his horse, he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and fighting for his every breath.
John W. Wurster
"Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah" (1:10; cf. Genesis 19).

Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as long as it feels good?

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