Emphasis Contributors
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Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Ash Wednesday - C
Frank Ramirez
Ash Wednesday is a day for remembering our sins, asking for forgiveness, and resolving to change. In his essay “On Forgiveness,” C.S. Lewis made an important distinction between asking forgiveness for sins and excusing our sins. Instead of confessing fault, people make excuses for what they’ve done – not only to God, but to each other. How many times have you heard (or made) what seemed to be an apology, but which ended up as an excuse for which no blame was taken?
This might work on other people, but I suspect God is discerning enough to know the difference, but I wonder how useful it is in our dealings with each other to mask our excuses – and our unwillingness to say we were wrong – with words that sound as if we’re sorry?
Joel lays it out for us. Confess your...
This might work on other people, but I suspect God is discerning enough to know the difference, but I wonder how useful it is in our dealings with each other to mask our excuses – and our unwillingness to say we were wrong – with words that sound as if we’re sorry?
Joel lays it out for us. Confess your...
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 58:1-12
The 2024 World Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the New York Yankees four games to one. It was not a particularly close World Series, but the last game, game 5, did have some controversy. Gerrit Cole is the ace pitcher for the Yankees and was doing well. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with two outs. Dodger star Mookie Betts hit a ground ball to first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo fielded the ball and looked to throw it to Cole who would normally be covering first. For some reason, though, Cole did not cover, and Betts beat Rizzo to the bag. A run scored and the Dodgers added four more to tie the game. Eventually, they won the game 7-6 and the championship. The game took a major turn when a star player failed to...
The 2024 World Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the New York Yankees four games to one. It was not a particularly close World Series, but the last game, game 5, did have some controversy. Gerrit Cole is the ace pitcher for the Yankees and was doing well. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with two outs. Dodger star Mookie Betts hit a ground ball to first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo fielded the ball and looked to throw it to Cole who would normally be covering first. For some reason, though, Cole did not cover, and Betts beat Rizzo to the bag. A run scored and the Dodgers added four more to tie the game. Eventually, they won the game 7-6 and the championship. The game took a major turn when a star player failed to...
First Sunday in Lent - C
David Coffin
Around 1987, an aspiring young musician left the confines of his Midwest rural Indiana home to try to find fame and fortune in the streets of Los Angeles, California. He found the streets as a place to fight survival as he saw homelessness, ruthless predators taking advantage of people and he ended up living in a friend’s mother’s basement. This inspired him to write a song entitled, “Welcome to the Jungle.” Axl Rose, the lead singer of the group Guns N Roses wanted to describe the daily fight he first encountered for survival in a city with bright lights, big nights and debauchery on many levels. This is a form of a wilderness which would greet any newcomer to the city streets of cities such as Los Angeles, California.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
The people of Israel celebrated together in worship. Sociologists have noted that the experience of sharing a legacy like common worship nurtures a sense of fidelity to oneself which in turn enhances character and is good for society (Richard Sennett, The Corrosion of Character, pp.145-148). Worship also gives you a sense that there is something else going on in life in addition to what you accomplish. It helps you to recognize that what we have is undeserved, by the grace of God. Famed modern theologian Karl Barth explained things well. He wrote:
There is a people like this, a people of Jesus Christ, elected and called by God. But there are no men who have any right of claim to be this people. They can be what...
The people of Israel celebrated together in worship. Sociologists have noted that the experience of sharing a legacy like common worship nurtures a sense of fidelity to oneself which in turn enhances character and is good for society (Richard Sennett, The Corrosion of Character, pp.145-148). Worship also gives you a sense that there is something else going on in life in addition to what you accomplish. It helps you to recognize that what we have is undeserved, by the grace of God. Famed modern theologian Karl Barth explained things well. He wrote:
There is a people like this, a people of Jesus Christ, elected and called by God. But there are no men who have any right of claim to be this people. They can be what...
Lectionary Commentary and Sermon Illustrations
Emphasis Preaching Journal provides in-depth lectionary-based commentary on lectionary texts, plus thousands of sermon illustrations to help you create riveting sermons.For over 45 years, Emphasis has provided subscribers with scripturally sound, lectionary-based commentaries and sermon illustrations that connect with the people in the pews.
For each week, Emphasis writers delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you with several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. They look for overall themes that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the themes and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single idea each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, writers suggest several, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
