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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The passage celebrates the incredible... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2003
The passage celebrates the incredible love and commitment of God to humanity and the sacrificial "Ye
Ephesians begins with God's redemptive... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- 2003
Ephesians begins with God's redemptive plan for humanity.
In training for the Tour... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2003
In training for the Tour de France, the world's most challenging sporting event, Lance Armstrong goe
As part of a recent... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2003
As part of a recent mission trip, I accompanied a group of high school students to a community garde
The text reminds of the... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2003
The text reminds of the requirement that one deliver the message to the recipient, not require the i
God's free grace unleashes new... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
God's free grace unleashes new possibilities in the lives of grateful people.
As Peter speaks of the... -- 1 Peter 3:18-22 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
As Peter speaks of the all-sufficiency of Christ, he considers the incredible efficacy of such a sac
When I was growing up... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2003
When I was growing up, I was very proud to be a member of "The Clean Plate Club." I'm sure my mother
Make no mistake about it... -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
Make no mistake about it, there is money to be made in religion.
The Flying Wallendas have been... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
The Flying Wallendas have been one of the world's most amazing aerialist acts.
John Spencer recently won an... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2003
John Spencer recently won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Leo McGarry, the chief o
The text talks about the... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The text talks about the relationship of the beloved as children of light.
One of the most fascinating... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
One of the most fascinating achievements of the United States Government has been the establishment
Paul attests to his apostolic... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Easter Day - B -- 2003
Paul attests to his apostolic authority and the integrity of his witness to Christ.
Following a service at our... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2003
Following a service at our church just before Christmas I saw one of our junior highs staring into t
Stealth aircraft operate on the... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
Stealth aircraft operate on the principle of failing to reflect radar emissions.
The Christ hymn attends the... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
The Christ hymn attends the servant leadership of Jesus.
The word salvation comes from... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The word salvation comes from a Latin word that means "to be well, to be in good health." The name f
The eunuch wanted to be... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
The eunuch wanted to be baptized. He desired that his life be bonded with Jesus in this sacred act.
Caesarea was located on the... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Caesarea was located on the Mediterranean coast.
Gath and Ashkelon were two... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2003
Gath and Ashkelon were two of the five principle cities in the Philistine territory along the Medite
Magic supports the plots of... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2003
Magic supports the plots of such cable-favorite programs as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed.
One of the marks of... -- Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2003
One of the marks of a great leader is the ability to delegate.
Philistines were the Klingons of... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2003
Philistines were the Klingons of the Old Testament.
What language shall I borrow... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2003
"What language shall I borrow?" That is the question asked by the hymn from another church season.

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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