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

There is an old legend... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
There is an old legend, of mysterious origin. It says that when God decided to create the
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once... -- Galatians 3:23-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once sent a telegram to the exclusive Friar's Club in
It's a strange story, this... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
It's a strange story, this healing of the demon-possessed man in the country of the
Helen was a young mother... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Helen was a young mother who was returning to work for the first time since her first
On the surface, Carlos seemed... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
On the surface, Carlos seemed like a nice young man. His job involved long hours at a
Return to your home and... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
"Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you." Many folks become
The eighteenth-century Polish rabbi... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The eighteenth-century Polish rabbi, Baal Shem Tov, began what would be called the
Mr. Holland's Opus is a... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Mr. Holland's Opus is a touching movie about a music teacher who spent 35 years
The Old Testament lesson tells... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The Old Testament lesson tells of one of the most sensational transfers of power from the
Isaac Newton, looking back over... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Isaac Newton, looking back over his achievements said, "If I have seen further than
William Willimon tells the story... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
William Willimon tells the story of a bishop from Angola (the former Portuguese colony
The Canadian Charter of Rights... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms defines four fundamental freedoms of
This Independence Day weekend we... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
This Independence Day weekend we celebrate our freedom. Fireworks will light up the
Do not use your freedom... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
"Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence." Many contemporary
Upon the Montana prairies few... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Upon the Montana prairies few rises or gullies break the landscape. There, tractors have
I spend a great deal... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
I spend a great deal of time driving to hospitals due to the distance and the various
In third-world countries, the... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
In third-world countries, the use of a plow pulled by horses, oxen, or water buffalo is still
In this text, we find... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
In this text, we find two pointed illustrations of how demanding this discipleship business
Kermit Roosevelt, son of President... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Teddy Roosevelt, once said of his father, "The trouble
Financial advisors shudder when they... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Financial advisors shudder when they hear of people who take a shotgun method to
Little did actor Stephen Baldwin... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Little did actor Stephen Baldwin know that his life was about to change when he and his
The proud commander, Naaman, suffered... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
The proud commander, Naaman, suffered an incurable malady. He had ordered burly
Zen Buddhism includes methods of... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Zen Buddhism includes methods of disturbing the mind and of abandoning one's usual
Annie had been diagnosed with... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Annie had been diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 36 and was the mother of three
John Wanamaker (1838-1922) had considerable... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
John Wanamaker (1838-1922) had considerable wealth and his generous giving included

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL