Resources for Grief

A curated collection of grief-related poetry, books, prayers, and more.

Preaching Connections

Explore our Preaching Connections collection for illustrations and quotes on over 100 common preaching topics like joy, compassion, and sin.

This Week's Sermon Commentaries

Matthew 21:33-46 Sermon Commentary

If we thought the last parable was a pointed commentary, this one is sure to make us a little squirmy. Continuing to publicly address the leaders of the temple, Jesus builds his case about the disobedience and rejection he sees from those who ought to know better. Then, he makes a biting prophecy about his…

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Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Sermon Commentary

Textual Comments, Observations and Questions: Some commentators believe that these brief excurses (v. 5-6 and 10-11) signal a later addition to the original text, which could substantiate the lectionary compiler’s choice to excise them from the reading this week.  However, getting down to just 10 commands out of all the attitudes, postures, words and actions…

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Psalm 80:7-15 Sermon Commentary

Carving out only the middle section of Psalm 80 (as the Lectionary does) has several drawbacks, not least that if you only read those 9 verses, you miss the framing refrain of this poem as it occurs word-for-word in verses 3, 7, and 19: Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us,…

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Philippians 3:4b-14 Sermon Commentary

The Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to pack this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson with poetic and vivid imagery. Commentaries on the CEP website from 2016 and 2020 delve into some of these images. However, preachers whom the Spirit prompts to move in a slightly different direction might consider Paul’s imagery of “taking hold” (12, 13). It,…

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The Center for Excellence In Preaching

We provide pastors with fresh and vibrant resources to enhance your preaching. Explore our library of sermon commentaries including our new sermon commentaries made available each week. Dive into our key preaching connection topics and find relevant illustration ideas from movies and literature. Fine-tune your preaching with short, refreshing teaching videos on various aspects of preaching. We also curate lists of recommended commentaries and books and provide information on upcoming conferences and seminars.

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The Center for Excellence in Preaching serves the church by providing preachers with fresh ideas and resources to help make the weekly sermon from God's Word an eventful and vibrant proclamation of grace and hope. CEP is a resource from Calvin Theological Seminary.