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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

There are many reasons... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you. But don't worry.
The boy Samuel served... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
The boy Samuel served a faithful apprenticeship at the shrine at Shiloh, without seeking perso
Part of the thrill... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Part of the thrill of competing in team sports is the honor of wearing the uniform.
Every mother or grandmother... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Every mother or grandmother who sews probably can tell a story of sewing a garment for a child
The greatest immigration of Irish... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
The greatest immigration of Irish folks to America was due to the death of the potato in Ireland.
The raising of Lazarus is... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
The raising of Lazarus is a text interested in the issue of Jesus' authenticity.
Mary and Martha loved their... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
Mary and Martha loved their brother, Lazarus, and mourned him deeply but some so-called relatives ca
My grandfather was a stoical... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
My grandfather was a stoical man; he showed very little emotion.
On a late summer afternoon... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
On a late summer afternoon, Pastor Rick found himself sitting around the kitchen table with Helen an
Houses vary in size... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Houses vary in size.
There is a carnival... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
There is a carnival atmosphere to the celebration of the new creation.
It was all her... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
It was all her fault.
In his book, I... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In his book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum tells
Paul admonishes his readers... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Paul admonishes his readers always to be gentle with others.
In his play I... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In his play Dancing at Lughnasa, Brian Friel tells the story of five unmarried sisters
Catherine Marshall, in I... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Catherine Marshall, in Stories for the Heart, tells the parable of the king who offered
God loves me just... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
"God loves me just the way I am," Allen said with a tinge of doubt.
The message to each... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The message to each group mentioned in the text is particular to the temptations with which th
The judge in Washington... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The judge in Washington, D.C., noticed the change in the 15-year-old before him.
Growing up in a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Growing up in a home where both of my parents were ordained clergy in the Salvation Army, I wa
The year is 1941... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
The year is 1941, and Hitler's armies are on the march.
The prime minister of... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
The prime minister of Australia, Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, was running for re-election when,
Charles Schulz, the recently... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
Charles Schulz, the recently deceased creator of the comic strip Peanuts and recipient
On October 18, 2002... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
On October 18, 2002, Jake Porter, 17, scored a touchdown in a game between McDermott (Ohio) No
Our friends moved recently... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2003
Our friends moved recently to a retirement village.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

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
and more...
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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