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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The day is the way! -- Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A
Adventus, "Coming!" That Latin word sounds like the theme for the four weeks ahead of us.
The Immediacy of Epiphany -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B
Never does the Bible recommend that some day we ought to listen, to respond, to change.
Affirming a mystery -- Proverbs 8:22-31, Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
The Holy Trinity is a mystery indeed.
Share the joy reach out and include -- Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.
Of grease and squeaky wheels -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30 -- David Kalas -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Conventional wisdom says that it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
Aim high -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
It comes with the territory of capitalism, for we are continually encouraged to want more, to get wh
People you can count on -- Exodus 1:8--2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20, Psalm 124 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A
Some years ago, a major research firm conducted a survey to determine what people would be willing t
God's Bounty -- Psalms 139:13-18, 2 Kings 4:8-17, Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Turn to whichever selection for today that you wish and you will soon discover that the common theme
Reminding Us of Who We Are -- Psalm 145, Luke 19:1-10 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
All of us know that it is by the grace of God that we are what we are and that the church is what it
Perfection -- Psalm 15, Genesis 18:1-10a, Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
I am certain that when I hear some people speak of the Christian life, I am hearing them say that no
Prophecy -- 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
No Advent season would be complete without a consideration of the role of prophecy.
Universalism Versus Exclusivism -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43, Galatians 1:1-10, Luke 7:1-10 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - C
The issue as to whether Yahweh was the God of Israel alone or the God of all the nations was always
Typing and timing spirituality -- Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 52 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C
You are having guests over for dinner. The meal is nearing completion.
Bucking Up -- Jeremiah 20:7-13 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
Did you ever have someone come to you when you were down in the mouth and ready to throw in the towe
Ambition comes with the territory. -- Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 107:1-9, 43 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C
It comes with the territory of capitalism, for we are continually encouraged to want more, to get wh
New Beginnings -- Isaiah 43:16-21, John 12:1-8, Philippians 3:8-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C
Sometimes all our talk about Lent would lead one to think our major Lenten task is to look backward.
Far from the tree -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17, Psalm 121 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
Two thousand years earlier, Abram sat alone one night, when the Lord came to speak to him.

Communicating God's Love

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Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Craig Kelly -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden in New York City was abuzz.
NULL -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Exodus 17:1-7
NULL -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I have no problem with aging and getting older.
NULL -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In word processing programs, one of the formatting choices is the "justification." Options include l
NULL -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Elie Wiesel is most often recognized for his book Night, in which he recounts his captivity a
NULL -- John 4:5-42 -- Craig Kelly -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
One of the "holy grails" of modern technology is the long-lasting battery.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Genesis 12:1-4a
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mohandas Gandhi once said, "Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement.
NULL -- Genesis 12:1-4a -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
"I will bless you so that you will be a blessing." Are you blessed with special talents?
NULL -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Sometimes I wish I could have been there in the room with Thomas Edison when he heard the first reco
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Leah Thompson -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
When the sixteenth-century explorer Ferdinand Magellan came to the shores of South America, his crew
NULL -- John 3:1-17 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mother Teresa once said, "Be kind and merciful.
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
1 Samuel 16:1-13
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
"Expect the unexpected!" How often have you gone to a job interview or meeting having built up a par
NULL -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
David Livingston was placed gently on his bed. Ill, few believed he could live until morning.
NULL -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
I never experienced complete darkness until I was a teenager.
NULL -- John 9:1-41 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
We learn cause and effect at an early stage.
NULL -- John 9:1-41 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In order to foster congeniality and cooperation among various Christian denominations, the World Cou
NULL -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Ezekiel 37:1-14
NULL -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In any story of survival, one of the most important elements is hope.
NULL -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Ron Love -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
In the movie The Devil's Advocate (1997) Kevin Lomax is a defense lawyer who specializes in j
NULL -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Mary Jane and her husband Rob were happy together.
NULL -- John 11:1-45 -- Craig Kelly -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
It is often in the darkest of circumstances when God shows up the most.
NULL -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
Isaiah 50:4-9
NULL -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway Store, where there was an attempted assassination

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
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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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