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Craig Kelly

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It may be hard to believe but the longest reigning... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- Craig Kelly -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
It may be hard to believe but the longest reigning monarchy on earth is in Japan, where its emperors
NULL -- John 14:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
It is never easy leaving someone behind.
Some things are simply too powerful for us to gaze upon... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Some things are simply too powerful for us to gaze upon.
This account of the birth of Christ is so commonplace... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- Craig Kelly -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
This account of the birth of Christ is so commonplace this time of year that it can tend to be gloss
NULL -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Craig Kelly -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Once, when I was a university student, I went to a debate between a well-known Christian apologist a
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.
I have been privileged to be the uncle of an adopt... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
I have been privileged to be the uncle of an adopted nephew.
NULL -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Image is everything these days. Consider Hollywood.
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
The first time I ever heard the term curriculum vitae... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Craig Kelly -- New Year's Day - B -- 2011
The first time I ever heard the term curriculum vitae, I was a youth delegate at our Anglican
NULL -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Craig Kelly -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
It is almost impossible to get an accurate count of how many Christians there are in the world today
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.
I have several different authors whose works I enjoy... -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 -- Craig Kelly -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2011
I have several different authors whose works I enjoy.
NULL -- John 20:19-23 -- Craig Kelly -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
Fingerprints have long been used as a means of identification.
Integration can sometimes be a very painful... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2011
Integration can sometimes be a very painful, harrowing process.
NULL -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Craig Kelly -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2011
Emily Price was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1872.
The first brush stroke... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- Craig Kelly -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2011
Whether it's the first brush stroke on the Mona Lisa, the first chipped marble off David
NULL -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
What illustration could possibly compare to this?
Growing up in a musical family... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- Craig Kelly -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2011
Growing up in a musical family, I've had the opportunity to get something of an insider's view into
NULL -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
In countries still loyal to the British crown -- countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand -
NULL -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
The term "brainwashing" was first used in a 1950 article in New Leader magazine.
Almost 75% of Americans are now considered overweight... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2011
According to Forbes, it is now estimated that almost 75% of Americans are now considered overweight
They say patience is a virtue... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Craig Kelly -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
"Patience is a virtue," they say.
Political correctness... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Craig Kelly -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 2011
When it comes to modern-day society, political correctness is the word of the day.
I thought it would be interesting to find out how many... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Craig Kelly -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
I thought it would be interesting for this illustration to find out just how many English translatio

Stories

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
Nazish Naseem
For November 16, 2025:

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, wildfires, 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 Sept. 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”.

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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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