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

Ray Bradbury's short story, All... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
Ray Bradbury's short story, All Summer in a Day, deals with the fictional human colonization
I have always loved to... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
I have always loved to sing songs about stars.
It was one of the... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
It was one of the strangest and most marvelous things ever to happen in the city of New York: a city
A telemarketer called a home... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
A telemarketer called a home one day, and a small voice whispered, "Hello?"
For the last decade, Beth... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
For the last decade, Beth has invited her neighbors to her home the first week in January.
One of life's frustrating mysteries... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
One of life's frustrating mysteries: Why is it so hard to swat a fly?
Six seminarians had met weekly... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
Six seminarians had met weekly in their externship with Don, the denomination's executive in their c
The word is deceit. Herod... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
The word is "deceit." Herod had no intention to go to the birthplace of Jesus and pay homage.
A mother and daughter were... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
A mother and daughter were driving home from a trip to the city.
On Epiphany we celebrate the... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2008
On Epiphany we celebrate the original gift-giving, the gifts of the magi, whose example is why we gi
The first chapter of Genesis... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
The first chapter of Genesis was probably edited into its final form during the Babylonian exile.
In September 1915 a small... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
In September 1915 a small steamboat carried a world-famous medical missionary slowly up Africa's Ogo
In the beginning it was... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
In the beginning it was nine o'clock, so God had to go to work.
Sharon vividly recalls the time... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
Sharon vividly recalls the time years ago when she was taking the youth fellowship to a retreat.
When God spoke, chaos immediately... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
When God spoke, chaos immediately came to order. How can this be?
Our surest Christian tenet of... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
Our surest Christian tenet of faith is that God has more for us.
The Harry Potter books are... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
The Harry Potter books are among the world's most popular children's literature.
A man was walking along... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
A man was walking along the river when he spotted another man struggling against the current.
Have you ever been to... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
Have you ever been to church and wondered where the power is?
Stephen Vincent Benet wrote a... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
Stephen Vincent Benet wrote a Christmas play in which the wife of the innkeeper -- truly a bit part,
In the movie, Godfather III... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
In the movie, Godfather III, mafia chief Michael Corleone meets with Cardinal Lamberto, repor
Bruce remembers watching a group... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
Bruce remembers watching a group of people gather at the river every spring for baptism.
Cindy was the team's utility... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2008
Cindy was the team's utility player.
Years later, Mick reflected upon... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
Years later, Mick reflected upon his being swindled out of half his lifesavings.
How good a listener are... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2008
How good a listener are you?

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