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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A new heaven and a... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
"A new heaven and a new earth": It's hard enough for people to get used
A pastor thought it clever... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
A pastor thought it clever to add a new section to the church's monthly newsletter. He
Even today, when the French... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Even today, when the French think of Charles de Gaulle they know that no one has
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was an American pilot serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Vern was 48 when he... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Vern was 48 when he contracted a rare form of cancer. He was told that treatment rarely
Jody viewed her life as... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Jody viewed her life as both a gift and a miracle. Having suffered a near-fatal heart
Imagine a doctor who regularly... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Imagine a doctor who regularly neglects one part of a standard three-part procedure. His
In WWII, Nora Lam's family... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
In WWII, Nora Lam's family fled from Japanese-occupied China. After 37 days and
The journey from Moab to... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The journey from Moab to Bethlehem was no small undertaking, especially for an elderly
Some unknown writer left these... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Some unknown writer left these beautiful words about friendship:
Most pastors cringe when a... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Most pastors cringe when a couple comes to get married and requests this scripture to be
William Willimon tells a story... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
William Willimon tells a story that took place at the Field Museum in Chicago, where his
The fair was coming to... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The fair was coming to town and with it came the midway -- rides, cotton candy, and
The pastor noticed a middle... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The pastor noticed a middle-aged man kneeling near the altar following his first Sunday
He was an agnostic, and... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
He was an agnostic, and his wife an atheist. After receiving a direct-mail flier from our
When constructing a building, it... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
When constructing a building, it must be plumb and level. It must be perfectly vertical
Some Bible scholars believe Jesus... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Some Bible scholars believe Jesus was the first to combine Deuteronomy 6:4 with
There was a human-interest... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
There was a human-interest story in The New York Times several years ago that
Teilhard de Chardin wrote: Someday... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Teilhard de Chardin wrote: "Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the
One preacher tells the story... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
One preacher tells the story that comes from Mark Twain's writings. He was dealing with
Security is a good thing... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
Security is a good thing (no doubt about it!). A certain group of steelworkers discovered
Scientists have long been fascinated... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
Scientists have long been fascinated by the factors which cause one person to be attracted
Cathy had pretty much given... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
Cathy had pretty much given up on the idea that she would meet "Mr. Right" and live
If you were to ask... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
If you were to ask young people what two things are the most important, they'd probably
People repeat themselves, complaining about... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
People repeat themselves, complaining about others who repeat themselves -- like

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 28 | OT 33 | Pentecost 23
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
34 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
24 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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