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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Relationships are important to us... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Relationships are important to us. In the past, relationships defined a person.
My wife and her friend... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
My wife and her friend, Tina, attended university in Spain for their senior year.
By raising Christ from the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
By raising Christ from the dead and by seating him at God's own right hand, God has indeed "raised u
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told me a story about a large statue of Christ in front of the Castle
Sandy and Joan had known... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Sandy and Joan had known each other since high school and enjoyed each other's company.
Barry relates his experience at... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Barry relates his experience at a Christian college. Barry played on the volleyball team.
What's so great about the... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
What's so great about the number twelve that the apostles cast lots to find a replacement for Judas?
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River flows north toward the Red Sea but dribbles out in the sand before arr
After Jesus ascended into heaven... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the remaining eleven disciples got down to business.
In order for lawyers to... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In order for lawyers to win a case in court, they need to have something they themselves cannot gene
Marcus greets everyone who enters... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Marcus greets everyone who enters the building with a salutation and a bright smile.
The old proverb, which was... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
The old proverb, which was popularized in 1605 in Don Quixote, states, "The proof of the pudd
Teaching children to swim can... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Teaching children to swim can be challenging.
Peter Arnett was awarded the... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Peter Arnett was awarded the 1966 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting.
Janet's six-year-old son... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Janet's six-year-old son, Jason, had declared his independence and stated that from now on he was ol
Like a wildfire. That's how... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
"Like a wildfire." That's how Eugene Peterson describes the Pentecost tongues of fire, in his Bible
Several years ago Albert was... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Several years ago Albert was on a flight from Egypt to South Africa.
In July 2008, youth from... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
In July 2008, youth from all over the world converged on Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day, an
What is it about humans... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
What is it about humans that makes us so dependent on the idea of hope? Hope is unrealistic.
One Sunday morning in late... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
One Sunday morning in late spring the day was so beautiful that instead of driving to worship I walk
Have you ever wanted something... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you could "taste" it?
In old Hawaii, there was... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
In old Hawaii, there was once a settlement called Kalaupapa for people with leprosy.
Anne was looking forward to... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Anne was looking forward to attending a women's conference in another town.
Mr. Evans was the school's... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Mr. Evans was the school's guidance counselor. And he was very good at his job.
One of the most privileged... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
One of the most privileged tasks of a minister is to be a counselor.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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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”.

* * *

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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