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

You know the old saying... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
You know the old saying, "What goes around comes around."
Pam was at a turning... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Pam was at a turning point in her life. She signed up for an in-depth Bible study at a
Geoffrey Chaucer told a marvelous... -- Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Geoffrey Chaucer told a marvelous tale of a trickster getting tricked. Actually, he had the
A friend told me of... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
A friend told me of a perfect prayer he'd heard. His congregation was experiencing strife.
Over our fifty-plus years... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Over our fifty-plus years of marriage, my wife has prepared many great meals. She's
For many, their favorite verse... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
For many, their favorite verse in the Bible is Romans 8:28: "We know that all things
An antiques dealer is making... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
An antiques dealer is making the rounds of the garage sales, looking for merchandise.
About thirty years ago, a... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
About thirty years ago, a farmer in Xian (SHEE-on), China, was plowing his field when
Jane was running late one... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Jane was running late one afternoon for an appointment and as she drove into the church
The mustard seed, though tiny... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
The mustard seed, though tiny, produces a plant that can accommodate many birds. The
We might expect religion to... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
We might expect religion to make our life with God easier. That wasn't the religion of
The famous black pitcher, Satchel... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
The famous black pitcher, Satchel Paige, became famous for saying, "Don't look back.
Have you ever tried to... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Have you ever tried to sleep using a stone for a pillow? No wonder Jacob had some
Mel Gibson's film, The Passion... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ, attracted a great deal of
Last week we talked about... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Last week we talked about the amazing "Terra Cotta Army," the rows and rows of life-
Fred shared with his study... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Fred shared with his study group an email he had received from an acquaintance. The
The pastor sat in the... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
The pastor sat in the living room of the grieving parents. Just a few hours ago, their son,
On my first Sunday as... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
On my first Sunday as pastor in Myrtle Point, Oregon, Casey and Louise Jones drove
Several things besides the miracle... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Several things besides the miracle should grab our attention concerning Jesus feeding
One of the true stories... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
One of the true stories told concerning the sinking of the Titanic tells how a
In every generation, there are... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
In every generation, there are those who would kill the dreamers. John F. Kennedy
Our Genesis lesson today starts... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Our Genesis lesson today starts out with a startling statement. It says, "Jacob settled in
On a warm summer day... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
On a warm summer day, the church youth fellowship visited a regional amusement park.
In Andrew Lloyd Weber's Joseph... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
In Andrew Lloyd Weber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the
Richard Haklyut (1552/3-1616) was a... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Richard Haklyut (1552/3-1616) was a force in English politics. He was a priest serving in

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