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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sports drinks are the rage... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Sports drinks are the rage these days.
The conductor, author, and composer... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
The conductor, author, and composer, Leonard Bernstein, was also a teacher.
There was once a town... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
There was once a town overrun by squirrels. They were everywhere, especially the churches.
John the Baptist is a... -- John 1:6-8, 19-28 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
John the Baptist is a popular preacher, having followers of his own.
It is among the oldest... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
It is among the oldest and most durable of the old vaudeville routines.
Eric shared with the youth... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Eric shared with the youth group the time when he accompanied his father to the service club's Chris
When Michael and David were... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
When Michael and David were ten, they decided that what their dad needed most for Father's Day was a
My father-in-law and... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
My father-in-law and his brother lived the last years of their life in an assisted living facility.
This section of Romans is... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
This section of Romans is called the final doxology.
In the concluding verses of... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
In the concluding verses of the letter to the Romans, Paul reflects on the "mystery that was kept se
Hail Mary, full of grace... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
"Hail Mary, full of grace.
Boys dressed in bathrobes portraying... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
Boys dressed in bathrobes portraying shepherds, a shy girl cast as Mary, alongside a giggling boy as
When the doctor gave sixteen... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2008
When the doctor gave sixteen year-old Mavis the news, it didn't come as a surprise. Pregnant.
At Christmas, people grab from... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
At Christmas, people grab from this text: "Prince of peace," and "endless peace," and miss "boots of
Put yourself in the month... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
Put yourself in the month of June.
The days are short and... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
The days are short and dark now, but it is a season of lights.
HERMON, Me. -- It was the... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
HERMON, Me.
It was a couple of... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
It was a couple of days before Christmas and Mitch was out of town on a business trip.
Athletes train hard for the... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
Athletes train hard for the chance to stand on the podium with a medal around their necks.
Shepherds experience the angels' message... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
Shepherds experience the angels' message at night.
Barbara Robinson's book, The Best... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
Barbara Robinson's book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, tells the story of the youth in a p
Tonight we find ourselves on... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2008
Tonight we find ourselves on the road to Bethlehem.
In an essay in his... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2008
In an essay in his Rumors enewsletter, Ralph Milton reflects on a visit he, his wife, and his
Jane was not looking forward... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2008
Jane was not looking forward to Christmas.
The highlight of prom night... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2008
The highlight of prom night is the crowning of the king and queen.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
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34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
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24 – 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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