Login / Signup

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hold down Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) for multiple selections (scroll list to see all options)

Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

When reading through a book... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When reading through a book like Foxe's Book of Martyrs or DC Talk's Jesus Freaks, you
Pastor Ted Wardlaw describes a communion service... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
Pastor Ted Wardlaw describes a communion service he held a number of years ago in Atlanta.
It's like Salvador Dali... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
It's like Salvador Dali came into the gospel and painted a story -- Salvador Dali, of the dripping c
There usually isn't too much of a problem... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
There usually isn't too much of a problem if someone cannot make it to a wedding for some good reaso
When Benjamin Franklin died... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2011
When Benjamin Franklin died, late in the evening of April 17, 1790, he had a picture of the Day of J
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2011) -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Exodus 33:12-23
Some things are simply too powerful for us to gaze upon... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Some things are simply too powerful for us to gaze upon.
Moses had a special relationship with God... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
As our biblical passage indicates, Moses had a special relationship with God.
Charles Darwin remains a controversial individual... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Charles Darwin remains a controversial individual because of his theory of evolution.
Through darker times in our lives... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Through darker times in our lives, the faiths of others can become invaluable.
Amnesty International is an organization... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Amnesty International is an organization that works to free prisoners of conscience around the world
Marcus Borg, in his provocative book... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
Marcus Borg, in his provocative book simply titled Jesus, gives us a radically different inte
The American tax code is often the source of headaches... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
The American tax code is often the source of headaches for many people during the first part of the
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 (2011) -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Julie prayed daily for the persecuted church in North Korea... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Since high school, Julie prayed daily for the persecuted church in North Korea and over time her hea
Abraham Lincoln was shot six days after the Confederate surrender... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
On April 14, 1865, arguably the greatest president in the history of the United States was assassina
One of the earliest problems with microscopy... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
One of the earliest problems with microscopy was the fact that only one person at a time could look
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 Christian missionaries in the unevangelized world today.
Preaching professor Tom Long... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Preaching professor Tom Long tells a story about shopping in a grocery store one day.
An old brain-teaser... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
An old brain-teaser: "A man and his son are on a fishing trip when their boat capsizes.
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
One of the most famous riddles is that of the Sphinx: "What creature goes on four legs in the mornin
Carol Burnett was struggling financially... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Ron Love -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
Carol Burnett was struggling financially to remain at UCLA as a drama student.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 (2011) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
Joshua 3:7-17
God provided a way through the Jordan River... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
In this passage, we see a genuine miracle.
The novelist Thomas Wolfe... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2011
The novelist Thomas Wolfe who wrote the classic You Can't Go Home Again, wrote the following

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pentecost 21
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 24 | OT 29 | Pentecost 22
31 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 25 | OT 30 | Pentecost 23
32 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
21 – Worship Resources
30 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A football, a hand-held microphone, a camera, a stack of play money bills. These are the objects I used, but you can use any objects that might symbolize “success”.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
For October 20, 2024:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (v. 4)

The outhouse on the farm where I grew up was beside the ash pile, at the end of a well-worn path, under a boxelder tree about fifty yards from the back door of the house. It was a two-seater – cold in winter, smelly and hot in summer. There was always a Sears and Roebuck catalogue on the floor in the corner, which served as both reading and wiping material.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Most people assume God’s answer to Job, showing him the depth and breadth of the universe is meant to cow Job’s resistance, leading him, now broken, to repent, abjectly saying “...therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (42:6).”
Mark Ellingsen
All the lessons testify to the theme that it’s not at all about you and me; it’s all about God!

Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said, "What is it you want me to do for you?" In our worship, let us explore what we want Jesus to do for us today.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we are sometimes selfish in our requests to you.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we are sometimes unreasonable in our requests to you.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, help us to make you the centre of our world.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

David E. Leininger
The story of Job is familiar to all of us -- a man whose world was spinning merrily along with everything falling into place is suddenly confronted with one misery after another ... disaster, death, disease, and despair. In some of the most moving poetry ever written, chapter after chapter attempts to deal with the age-old question of why, so often, life is unfair.

Schuyler Rhodes
The voice of praise rings beautifully through this psalm as each verse gives poetic color to the glories of creation and its maker. It is something to be read and re-read as we contemplate the wonders of God.
Steven Molin
There is a candy shop in the city of Keystone, South Dakota, just a few hundred yards down the mountain from that infamous Mount Rushmore monument. I can't tell you the name of that candy store, but I can certainly recall the sign on the counter that stands at just about eyeball-level for the average seven-year-old. The sign says this: "If Mom says, 'No,' ask Grandma!"

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
An elementary principle in the business world is the law of supply and demand. When supplies outrace the demand for a product, prices are low. We call that a "buyer's market." On the other hand, when there are more buyers demanding a product than there are supplies of the product, prices are high. We call that situation a "seller's market."

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL