Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Storms on the water are... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Storms on the water are frightening to watch, much less be in.
The Sea of Galilee was... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
The Sea of Galilee was one of the fishing hot spots of the ancient world.
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln, contains a memorable scene.
The news that Tom and... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
The news that Tom and Lori were expecting another child came as a surprise to both of them.
In February 2009, about the... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
In February 2009, about the time Barry Bonds was going to court to face perjury charges, Alex Rodriq
Many times we need to... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
Many times we need to be reminded of reasons.
Lily was never in the... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
Lily was never in the science fair, but she was a proud 4-H girl.
A beggar confronted a social... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
A beggar confronted a social worker and her welfare client as they walked together.
There’s a famous story of... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
There’s a famous story of Frederick the Great of Prussia, a man of great scientific curiosity.
Scott and Brenda were looking... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
Scott and Brenda were looking forward to their retirement for several years.
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les... -- Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Misérables, woodcutter Jean Valjean finds himself in a desperate situa
The 1975 newspaper clipping of... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
The 1975 newspaper clipping of a young man’s election as a county commissioner takes on a new sense
The farmers of an area... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
The farmers of an area were in the middle of a drought.
When David was made king... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
When David was made king of Judah, the nation of Israel became divided.
There was a time in... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
There was a time in the Battle of Britain when things looked dark indeed for the British people.
Two years after Dr. King’s... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
Two years after Dr.
In high school, Doug was... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
In high school, Doug was the one most often picked on by the macho-type boys.
In Mark Twain’s Life on... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
In Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi, his chapter “A Cub-Pilot’s Experience” portrays a young man
Stephen came from a small... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
Stephen came from a small, rural town, but through hard work and ambition, he became a successful CE
The people in Jesus’ hometown... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2009
The people in Jesus’ hometown had failed to respond to his messiahship, but he still intensified eff
There’s a Hasidic tale about... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
There’s a Hasidic tale about a famous rabbi who accepted an invitation from a small village to come
One Sunday a liturgical dance... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
One Sunday a liturgical dance troupe from a nearby Christian college worshiped at church.
When liturgical dance was first... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
When liturgical dance was first introduced at the youth Easter Sunrise service, it was met with enth
Our new house was built... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
Our new house was built on a new, small cul-de-sac.
Ellen Rankin’s novel, The Westing... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2009
Ellen Rankin’s novel, The Westing Game, tells the story of sixteen people brought together in a biza

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 22
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A football, a hand-held microphone, a camera, a stack of play money bills. These are the objects I used, but you can use any objects that might symbolize “success”.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
For October 20, 2024:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (v. 4)

The outhouse on the farm where I grew up was beside the ash pile, at the end of a well-worn path, under a boxelder tree about fifty yards from the back door of the house. It was a two-seater – cold in winter, smelly and hot in summer. There was always a Sears and Roebuck catalogue on the floor in the corner, which served as both reading and wiping material.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Most people assume God’s answer to Job, showing him the depth and breadth of the universe is meant to cow Job’s resistance, leading him, now broken, to repent, abjectly saying “...therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (42:6).”
Mark Ellingsen
All the lessons testify to the theme that it’s not at all about you and me; it’s all about God!

Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, "What is it you want me to do for you?" In our worship, let us explore what we want Jesus to do for us today.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we are sometimes selfish in our requests to you.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we are sometimes unreasonable in our requests to you.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, help us to make you the centre of our world.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
The story of Job is familiar to all of us -- a man whose world was spinning merrily along with everything falling into place is suddenly confronted with one misery after another ... disaster, death, disease, and despair. In some of the most moving poetry ever written, chapter after chapter attempts to deal with the age-old question of why, so often, life is unfair.

Schuyler Rhodes
The voice of praise rings beautifully through this psalm as each verse gives poetic color to the glories of creation and its maker. It is something to be read and re-read as we contemplate the wonders of God.
Steven Molin
There is a candy shop in the city of Keystone, South Dakota, just a few hundred yards down the mountain from that infamous Mount Rushmore monument. I can't tell you the name of that candy store, but I can certainly recall the sign on the counter that stands at just about eyeball-level for the average seven-year-old. The sign says this: "If Mom says, 'No,' ask Grandma!"

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
An elementary principle in the business world is the law of supply and demand. When supplies outrace the demand for a product, prices are low. We call that a "buyer's market." On the other hand, when there are more buyers demanding a product than there are supplies of the product, prices are high. We call that situation a "seller's market."

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL