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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I have a friend who... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
I have a friend who, for everything she doesn't understand or can't explain, has a simple
Julie and Craig looked forward... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Julie and Craig looked forward to their winter vacation for months. It would be the first
Unsearchable riches. In the history... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Unsearchable riches. In the history of humankind, there have been several commodities
Church consultant, Lyle Schaller, identifies... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Church consultant, Lyle Schaller, identifies congregations that are realistically in
Herod had more power than... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
Herod had more power than any governor or president in the United States. He answered
they knelt down and paid... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2007
"... they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasurer chests, they
It is very easy to... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
It is very easy to be servants of the word without disturbing the world: a very
On a recent trip to... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
On a recent trip to a war-torn area in Central America, the visiting bishop was presented
A local service club announced... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
A local service club announced that it had invited the mayor of a rural town to speak
In compiling one's genealogy, surnames... -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
In compiling one's genealogy, surnames are given the most attention. However, as Angus
Peter, who had denied his... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Peter, who had denied his Lord three times, summarizes his Lord's earthly ministry and
God shows no partiality. Peter... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
"God shows no partiality." Peter said this about 40 AD in the house of Captain Cornelius.
Dr. Neighbor recalls a baptism... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Dr. Neighbor recalls a baptism, when the candidate for baptism said, "Please wait one
Many voices ask for our... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Many voices ask for our attention. There is a voice that says, "Prove that you are a good
Soapy Williams, the governor of... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Soapy Williams, the governor of Michigan from 1948-1960, was the sole delegate at the
A retired pastor was visiting... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
A retired pastor was visiting one of the churches he served years ago. Since his pastorate
Back in the days when... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2007
Back in the days when high school frosh week meant seniors got to freely lord it over the
Distance runners talk about a... -- Isaiah 49:1-7 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
Distance runners talk about a "second wind." The experience is of being out of breath and
Who is the servant that... -- Isaiah 49:1-7 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
Who is the "servant" that Isaiah mentioned throughout the book? Was it the nation of
God has become my strength... -- Isaiah 49:1-7 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
"God has become my strength." As I write this, the news is being dominated by the
The apostle wishes that his... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
The apostle wishes that his friends in Corinth would not be "lacking in any spiritual gift."
It is increasingly common in... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
It is increasingly common in small churches for a seminary-trained pastor not to be called
Last month, Libby received a... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
Last month, Libby received a Christmas card from an older woman living in remote
Everyone knows the need to... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
Everyone knows the need to be prepared for emergencies. When such emergencies are
Who is Jesus? We learn... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2007
Who is Jesus? We learn a lot of Jesus' identity from what goes on here: He is "The Lamb

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
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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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