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

We don't have any money... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
"We don't have any money," Doreen cried to her older sister. Doreen's husband had left
If you were hungry and... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
If you were hungry and needed food, would you call the wealthiest or the poorest person
A changed life is strong... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
A changed life is strong evidence for the Christian faith. Jacob DeShazer was one of
Paul tried, in his own... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Paul tried, in his own strength, to be a channel for the grace of God but he found that he
When witnesses are called to... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
When witnesses are called to testify in a trial they are told to tell "the truth, the whole
Do you remember the old... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Do you remember the old movie, Oh, God, starring George Burns? God, an
In February 2001, thirteen-month... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
In February 2001, thirteen-month-old Erika Nordby wandered from her home in
Ruth had an appointment with... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Ruth had an appointment with her doctor. As she waited, she struck up a conversation
In my lifetime, I don't... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
In my lifetime, I don't expect to see an event like this. It's not that I doubt that Jesus
A character in Dostoyevsky's novel... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
A character in Dostoyevsky's novel, The Brothers Karamazov, stated,
Jezebel -- she lied, she cheated... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Jezebel -- she lied, she cheated, she worshiped other gods, she threatened, she stole, and
Today's text deals with the... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Today's text deals with the story of Naboth and his beloved vineyard and how King Ahab
It had been so many... -- 1 Kings 1:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
It had been so many years since the incident, Silvia had lost count; it was something
The theologian, Ernst Kasemann, tells... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
The theologian, Ernst Kasemann, tells this story at the beginning of his book, Jesus
Mr. Finkelmann, principal of the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Mr. Finkelmann, principal of the high school, decided to try something different. The
One Sunday, Allen asked if... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
One Sunday, Allen asked if he could share his story during the worship service. He told
I have been crucified with... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
"I have been crucified with Christ." Life contains many enigmas. One of the greatest is
Everyone knows that Harriot has... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Everyone knows that Harriot has the biggest heart in town. She delivers food to the
In an earlier century, the... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
In an earlier century, the great violinist, Bocher, substituted his talent for that of a poor,
The centerpiece of this text... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
The centerpiece of this text shines on a woman with a sordid reputation that came to
As often as we seek... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
As often as we seek forgiveness, it is God's wish and pleasure to grant it. So it was with
In a speech to the... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
In a speech to the Religious Communication Association, Quentin Schultze quoted Søren
Nearly twenty years ago, Marisa... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Nearly twenty years ago, Marisa was diagnosed with a debilitating illness. Her days were
Elijah was what I'd call... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Elijah was what I'd call a "running contradiction." He'd just stood up to the king and
The Tuesday night prayer meeting... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
The Tuesday night prayer meeting was in full swing. They had begun by singing several

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