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

For many handymen and handy... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
For many handymen and handy-women, duct tape is what holds things together. Duct
In 1915, the Turkish army... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
In 1915, the Turkish army slaughtered over a million Armenians. E. Stanley Jones tells of
Truly I tell you, today... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." I've heard this verse applied in
Though badly hurt at times... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2007
Though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. The cross demonstrates for all, the best
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 br... -- Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2007
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
The late Fred Rogers was... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The late Fred Rogers was a beloved children's television personality and also a minister.
I have a new hobby... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
I have a new hobby of making leather belts. I put an announcement in the church bulletin
Alison and her mother always... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Alison and her mother always seemed to be at odds, never quite getting along, not
When one looks at the... -- Isaiah 2:1-5 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
When one looks at the St. Elias mountain range, which borders Alaska, northern British
The choir director and pastor... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The choir director and pastor were feuding. The pastor announced his sermon,
Put on the Lord Jesus... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."
Although the passage does not... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Although the passage does not speak specifically of grace and mercy, it certainly does in
Back on November 19, 2002... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Back on November 19, 2002, the New York Times ran an article under the
Thirteen years ago, a concert... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Thirteen years ago, a concert musician, Barry Faldner, and Chip Altholz, a manager and
Katie collected information about families... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Katie collected information about families in the school district who were struggling
At a recent neighborhood watch... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
At a recent neighborhood watch meeting, the police presented several important ideas on
Isaiah describes a new leader... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Isaiah describes a new leader who will bring permanent peace. Yet, the chance of such a
In my early years at... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
In my early years at the Hollywood church, some young men planted a small tree at the
And a little child shall... -- Isaiah 11:1-10 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
"And a little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6c). A pioneer in California during the time
The great benediction of Romans... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The great benediction of Romans 15:13 begins and ends with hope. Here is an example of
On Hour, one of the... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
On Hour, one of the television "news magazines" many years ago, the host,
Early in December, Jack found... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Early in December, Jack found himself feeling low. He felt despair but was not able to
Katie was the unofficial church... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
Katie was the unofficial church welcomer. She didn't wear a greeter's tag. She wasn't on
The poet, R. S. Thomas... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
The poet, R. S. Thomas, describes Wales as a place with no future but only a past. His
John the Baptist used a... -- Matthew 3:1-12 -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 2007
John the Baptist used a word rarely heard anymore. The New York Times

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