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

Fred began attending Sunday school... -- John 17:1-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Fred began attending Sunday school when he was just a baby. "My family lived a mile
What greater joy for any... -- John 17:1-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
What greater joy for any church than to have a faithful Sunday school staff. These
These Christians in Acts 2... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
These Christians in Acts 2 aren't the priesthood's hierarchy or the temple's choir. They
One lesson of Pentecost is... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
One lesson of Pentecost is a call and reminder to "take time to be holy."
Bruce Springsteen sings of an... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Bruce Springsteen sings of an old friend who is stuck back in the "glory days" of his high
Violet Little was troubled, there... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Violet Little was troubled, there in the city of Philadelphia, when she saw a homeless
Whenever Deloris hosted a party... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Whenever Deloris hosted a party at her home, her guests were always eager to attend.
Regina, who raised seven daughters... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Regina, who raised seven daughters and two sons, never allowed her girls to tamper with
My friends lived at the... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
My friends lived at the end of a dark, dead-end street a quarter mile from a prison. They
Most of us wonder what... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Most of us wonder what kind of life we'll have in heaven. Will we have an ethereal
One of the strongest statements... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
One of the strongest statements against war is that which Mark Twain wrote in the form
Consider what we know about... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Consider what we know about the size of this God-created universe ...
The opening words of the... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
The opening words of the book of Genesis, which are the opening words of the whole
One day, Jackie found a... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
One day, Jackie found a kitten in her trash can. The kitten could not have been more than
Dr. Elizabeth Roberts' important work... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Dr. Elizabeth Roberts' important work on the working-class lives in industrial towns
The doctrine of the Trinity... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
The doctrine of the Trinity has led to excesses. Teachers have instructed children in
Those of us who take... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Those of us who take Bible commands seriously face a dilemma. This and other New
Each of the epistles of... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Each of the epistles of the New Testament concludes with a sentence of blessing or with
Church-growth consultant, Tom Bandy... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Church-growth consultant, Tom Bandy, writes about the ways some churches have of
Did you notice, when the... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Did you notice, when the gospel was read, that after Jesus was crucified, died, and was
Anne accompanied her father to... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Anne accompanied her father to the doctor's office. Harold hadn't been feeling well for
Former US pilot and magazine... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Former US pilot and magazine editor, Og Mandino, said the following: "Every
Margaret was adopted. As a... -- Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Margaret was adopted. As a child, she asked about her birth mother. As an adult, she
Isaiah wrote to a once... -- Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Isaiah wrote to a once proud and successful people. For over 100 years during the tenth
Cell phones have become the... -- Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Cell phones have become the palm-sized message board. Just recently, I needed to copy a

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