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Ash Wednesday - B

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the midst of drought... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2008
In the midst of drought, famine, and starvation, the prophet Joel calls us to fast and turn toward G
Karl Barth once said: Look... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Karl Barth once said: "Look at the face of a criminal and you will see what God sees when he looks a
A small Presbyterian college in... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
A small Presbyterian college in the Midwest received a letter from an attorney telling them that a g
Executives who travel a lot... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Executives who travel a lot and want to cheat on a spouse, but can't find a convention to attend so
Frithjof Meidell, a Norwegian immigrant... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Frithjof Meidell, a Norwegian immigrant who sought his fortune in the California Gold Rush, found a
The recent international crisis with... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
The recent international crisis with Iraq has involved United Nations weapons inspectors.
When I was growing up... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
When I was growing up, I was very proud to be a member of "The Clean Plate Club." I'm sure my mother
Everyone likes a story in... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Everyone likes a story in which people change places.
Paul considered himself a servant... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Paul considered himself a servant of Christ and, consequently, cared nothing for recognitions and ti
Former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder is... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
Former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder is an example of how repentance, which means "turning around," ca
Humility never comes easily, especially... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
Humility never comes easily, especially for those with a lot to lose.
A cowboy rode into town... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
A cowboy rode into town and stopped at the saloon for a drink.
Religious faith is not only... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
Religious faith is not only a private matter.
Nearly everyone had loved Jane... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
Nearly everyone had loved Jane.
Ambassadors in the Roman Empire... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
Ambassadors in the Roman Empire were understood to be the personal representatives of the Emperor hi
An old fable tells of... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
An old fable tells of Jesus stepping into human history to be born in Bethlehem.
It is almost a crime... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
It is almost a crime against Christ, the tendency to narrow the meaning of the biblical word "salvat
If you are like most... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2000
If you are like most people, every once in a while you get a piece of mail that tells you that you h
An old adage says: What... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
An old adage says: "What you don`t know won`t hurt you.
William Jennings Bryan was not... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
William Jennings Bryan was not exactly the religious bigot that he was pictured to be in accounts o
Catherine Marshall tells the story... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
Catherine Marshall tells the story of what their family decided to do one fall day.
The need to practice one... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
The need to practice one`s piety publicly suggests a need for pompous display (no doubt masking one`
Do as I say, not... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
"Do as I say, not as I do is an often quoted humorous response given by parents when caught in cont
During my university days I... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
During my university days I recall a conversation I had with a fellow student who used to ride the s
In 1995, the Pennsylvania Department... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1997
In 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue offered people a chance to be made right.

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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

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For July 6, 2025:
  • Who Is My Neighbor? by Tom Willadsen based on 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20; Psalm 30.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children.

Note: You will need an older volunteer to help with this activity. One option would be to find a teenager with some physical ability. If a teen is not available, an adult could be used instead. For simplicity here, I will refer to my older volunteer as “TOM”. You will also need to select three of your younger children to serve as volunteers in the story.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
2 Kings 5:1-14
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30
Naaman seeks healing. He travels hoping healing will come to him when he visits the king of Israel. Yet, healing does not come in that way. Rather healing comes through Elishah. Healing comes from believing and being cleansed in the River Jordan. Healing comes through Naaman’s faithfulness and through God’s grace. Psalm 30 also reminds us to seek healing; to seek God and God will heal and restore us. Do we believe that? Do we believe that God can bring healing?

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (vv. 10-11)

When I visit your church for the first time, consider the possibility that I might be looking for a church home. I am a good-looking old guy, but I have gray hair and I dress down in the summer, so don’t be put off by my cargo shorts and tank top. Talk to me!

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Damien and Ora grinned at each other in excitement. The time had come - at last! They'd been with the Leader for months and months, waiting for this moment. Not that it had felt much like training. They'd simply lived with the Leader, listening to his stories, hearing about the Kingdom, learning to get along really well with all the other people at Mission Headquarters. Now all seventy of them were ready, the spaceship had docked, and the Mission was about to begin. Ora was glad she'd been paired up with Damien again.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Stan Purdum
Carlos Wilton
(See Epiphany 6/Ordinary Time 6, Cycle B, and Easter 3, Cycle C, for alternative approaches.)

Anyone who has ever had the experience of losing a friend because of some conflict or dispute, and then has had the friendship restored because of love and forgiveness, has a unique insight into the meaning of this psalm. Although the poem begins and ends with praise, there is in the middle of the poem a brief moment of confession and contrition that puts the praise portions of the psalm in an entirely different light.

April Yamasaki
A word of encouragement came from an unlikely source the other day in a television interview with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The former football player, wrestler, and now actor was asked about a low time in his life when he was very discouraged about his career and future.

"How did you make your way back from that?" he was asked.

The Rock replied, "You have to put yourself out there. You have to get out there and fail, and learn from your failures."

Larry D. Powell
In the summer of 1983, I participated in a ministerial exchange program sponsored by my denomination. My assignment was to a circuit of churches on the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea. The months preceding the exchange included considerable correspondence with the minister on the island with whom I would exchange pastoral duties for six weeks.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
A wealthy businessman decided to take a walk and eat his lunch at the same time. He strolled by a park. There he purchased a hot dog and a soft drink. As he walked through the park two different "street people" approached him one by one. Each asked, "Can you help me? I am hungry." Each time the businessman looked straight ahead and kept walking. After finishing his lunch, he stopped and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert. As he was about to take the first bite, he was forced to jump out of the way as a young boy raced by on his skateboard. The eclair went flying and landed on the ground.

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