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

I would rather live in... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
"I would rather live in a world where life is surrounded by mystery," wrote Harry
Paul tells us today that... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
Paul tells us today that we're not to judge one another, and how could we possibly make a
In his book, The Year... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
In his book, The Year of Living Biblically, A. J. Jacobs wanted to live an entire
Paul notes that stewards are... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
Paul notes that stewards are to be trustworthy. It has become customary that a
Abraham Lincoln once polled his... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
Abraham Lincoln once polled his Cabinet on a very crucial national issue. They were
The church reformer, Martin Luther... -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- 2008
The church reformer, Martin Luther, said that as he sat and drank his little mug of
I remember well the labor... -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- 2008
I remember well the labor-intensive job we had when "making hay" on the farm when I
Acts 17:22-31 What... -- John 14:15-21, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Acts 17:22-31 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 17:22-31
Acts 1:1-11 We'd... -- Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2008
Acts 1:1-11
Acts 1:6-14 Ben... -- John 17:1-11, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Acts 1:6-14 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 1:6-14
Acts 2:1-21 These... -- John 20:19-23, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Acts 2:1-21
The ark is wherever people... -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
The ark is wherever people come together because this is a stormy world where nothing
We all know the story... -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
We all know the story of Noah and the ark, and we give our children wooden toys of the
The movie, Evan Almighty, is... -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
The movie, Evan Almighty, is a story of a modern-day Noah. God instructs Evan
As Jews in France during... -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
As Jews in France during the Nazi occupation, Aaron Jean-Marie Lustiger's family had
It's the power of God... -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
"It's the power of God for salvation for everyone who has faith." It's the heart of Jesus'
An elderly widow, who in... -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
An elderly widow, who in her younger years was sought after as a pianist, was restricted
There's a story about a... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
There's a story about a man who volunteered to serve at a soup kitchen run by nuns in
Our gospel for today gives... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Our gospel for today gives us Jesus' final words from his Sermon on the Mount in
Three years ago, Dalmar moved... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Three years ago, Dalmar moved to the United States from his native Africa. He witnessed
Jacob recounts his grandfather's experience... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Jacob recounts his grandfather's experience in pre-World War II Germany. His
Genesis 1:1--2:4abr... -- Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Genesis 1:1--2:4a
Bruce Catton, Civil War historian... -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Bruce Catton, Civil War historian, told of Civil War veterans of his youth and a war
The term Old Testament both... -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
The term "Old Testament" both misleads and confuses. Some think the Old Testament is
When no one else was... -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
When no one else was tuned in to God, Abraham was tuned in. When no one else was

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