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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Thomas Costain's The Three Edwards, focuses on the life of... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Thomas Costain's The Three Edwards, focuses on the life of a fourteenth-century duke by the
Have you ever been in a bad argument with someone? -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Have you ever been in a bad argument with someone?
Margaret Lee suffered from asthma... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Margaret Lee suffered from asthma, so her husband, Sam Houston, the US Senator from Texas, decided t
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
I recently got the opportunity to see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Heritage Centre in Re
Joanne had been away from the church for too many years... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Joanne had been away from the church for too many years.
It should not have happened!... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
It should not have happened! The technology was the most advanced of the time.
Expecting parents have to be careful... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
Expecting parents have to be careful when it comes near their child's due date.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 14 | OT 19 (2010) -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 2010
IllustrationsIsaiah 1:1, 10-20
NULL -- Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Ron Love -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
In 1869, Fanny Crosby was addressing a group of working class men in New York City.
NULL -- Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
In the 1930s much of America's heartland experienced massive dust storms due to drought and over-far
NULL -- Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
A retired pastor tells of an experience when he was just starting out in ministry.
NULL -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
During the Underground Railroad, people would hide runaway slaves in their homes.
NULL -- Hebrews 11:29--12:2 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
I visited Israel as a tourist several years ago.
NULL -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
A friend from work asked Denny if he would like to go on a mission trip with him and other members o
NULL -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
This may seem to be an unusual statement coming from Jesus: He came to set "father against son and s
NULL -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Ron Love -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
In the comic strip Beetle Bailey the chaplain is standing in the pulpit.
NULL -- Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29--12:2, Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2010
IllustrationsIsaiah 5:1-7
NULL -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
There is an old, Dutch story about a little boy named Peter who saved all of Holland.
NULL -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
As a youngster my parents did not attend church and were not Christians. A godly aunt asked them if
NULL -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
One of the constants throughout history is that empires and dominions have risen and fallen.
NULL -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Ron Love -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Labor Day 2000 marked the fortieth anniversary of Betty Haughin's column, "Chit Chat." The column is
NULL -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Timothy Smith -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Helena was excited about her vacation near historic Savannah, Georgia.
NULL -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Derl G. Keefer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
H.G.B.
NULL -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
Freedom.
NULL -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2010
IllustrationsJeremiah 1:4-10

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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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