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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the movie, Chariots... -- 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2001
In the movie, Chariots of Fire, a true story, Eric Liddel concluded, because of his religious
People have always loved a... -- 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2001
People have always loved a good story.
Phillips Brooks was a New... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2001
Phillips Brooks was a New England preacher who influenced the thought of late 19th-century worshiper
Not too long ago I... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2001
Not too long ago I overheard a discussion between two 10-year-old boys, Eric and Ben.
The actor, Tony Danza of... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2001
The actor, Tony Danza of Taxi and Who's the Boss once appeared on a television talk sh
In the face of overwhelming... -- Luke 18:1-8 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2001
In the face of overwhelming odds, Monica kept praying for her wayward son. She would not stop.
Every time there's a natural... -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2001
Every time there's a natural disaster -- a flood, fire, hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, some peop
Inspiration is the internal motivation... -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2001
Inspiration is the internal motivation that enables us to do that which we might not otherwise be in
Leonora Howard King as a... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2001
Leonora Howard King as a child desperately wanted to be a doctor.
Medical studies have shown that... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2001
Medical studies have shown that you have a better chance of surviving a heart attack if only one per
A magazine ad for altavista.com... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2001
A magazine ad for altavista.com shows a weary doctor sitting beside a man on an operating table.
When American cyclist and Tour... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Reformation Sunday - C -- 2001
When American cyclist and Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was first diagnosed with cancer, one
The tragic shooting at Columbine... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
The tragic shooting at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, offered a stirring reminder of the c
Paul reminds us that suffering... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
Paul reminds us that suffering is to be expected as a part of following Jesus.
In 1996, U.S. Supreme Court... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
In 1996, U.S.
Francis Whitaker died on October... -- 2 Timothy 1:1-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
Francis Whitaker died on October 23, 1999, at the age of 92 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Alvin is a city council... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
Alvin is a city council member in a Rocky Mountain city.
Gary was worried. The next... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
Gary was worried.
The Chesapeake Bay retriever is... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
The Chesapeake Bay retriever is an extraordinary breed of dog.
It takes a lot of... -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2001
It takes a lot of faith to stay at sea for a month, fishing for one's livelihood under a carpet of w
In one scene of Bernard... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2001
In one scene of Bernard Shaw's play, Saint Joan, Shaw portrays Joan of Arc's inquisition.
The apostle reminds us that... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2001
The apostle reminds us that it is out of death that we receive life, and it is out of despair that w
Michael Saylor, the C.E.O. of... -- 2 Timothy 2:8-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2001
Michael Saylor, the C.E.O.
We advertised the trip to... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 2001
We advertised the trip to Europe with a "Christmas in Germany" flyer.
The off-Broadway musical I... -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- 2001
The off-Broadway musical Cotton Patch Gospel, by Tom Key and Russell Treyz (with music and ly

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 18
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 19
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 20
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – 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, wild fires, 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 September 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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