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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

As part of their church... -- Luke 4:21-30 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1995
As part of their church planning, the Southern Baptists in Alabama estimated that 67% of the state'
A test was conducted at... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
A test was conducted at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Rosa Parks sat on the... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
Rosa Parks sat on the only available seat when she entered the bus.
The declaration of Jesus that... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
The declaration of Jesus that he had come to set the prisoners free would be welcome news to most of
Garry Wills developed a study... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
Garry Wills developed a study of the colorful and influential Kennedy family titled The Kennedy Impr
Have you ever tired to... -- 1:4-10 Jeremiah -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1995
Have you ever tired to recruit volunteers? I have and it's hard.
The Bible indicates that the... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1995
The Bible indicates that the call of God comes to those of all ages.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was proud... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1995
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was proud of his faithfulness to his country, as exemplified in his service
From the back of the... -- Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 1995
From the back of the University Chapel, the wedding coordinator signals the organist that the bride
The prophet has a positive... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
The prophet has a positive message for negative times for the nation of Israel.
The changes in South Africa... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
The changes in South Africa in the past four years have been nothing short of revolutionary.
A husband is seen at... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
A husband is seen at the gift counter of a department store, buying a ballpoint pen.
Popular among young ministries and... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
Popular among young ministries and outdoor ministries as well as in corporate and educational settin
At Camp Ahus in Sweden... -- Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
At Camp Ahus in Sweden, a group of physically challenged, confirmation-age young people are mentored
The great Peter Marshall's Keeper... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
The great Peter Marshall's Keeper of the Springs tells the story of a small town that decided it no
Sitting at the edge of... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
Sitting at the edge of the rickety porch haphazardly attached to Mr.
Jesus, don't you know when... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1995
Jesus, don't you know when enough is enough?
Walter Trobisch, a German Lutheran... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1995
Walter Trobisch, a German Lutheran pastor, published a book a decade or so ago titled I Married You.
The lumber truck backed into... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
The lumber truck backed into the doorway. Then the driver came to the door.
Most people are familiar with... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
Most people are familiar with the tale of the British ship, Bounty, and of its mutineers, Fletcher C
The mother began to straighten... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
The mother began to straighten her daughter's bedroom.
When I was a boy... -- Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
When I was a boy in the 1950s, most of the calendars in our home had holidays printed in red, causin
Each of us have known... -- Isaiah 61:1-6 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1995
Each of us have known them in our past and know them in our present, those we might call oaks of rig
Martin Luther may in fact... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1995
Martin Luther may in fact not have proclaimed to the Diet of Worms: "Here stand I: I can do no other
A man appeared before a... -- Isaiah 62:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1995
A man appeared before a judge in order to have his name legally changed.

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The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
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

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffie.

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Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! Let’s get started!

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For June 22, 2025:

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (vv. 25-28)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
David Kalas
We’re not far from the 4th of July. And while for so many Americans, it seems that the holiday has become more about long weekends, cookouts, and fireworks shows, the theme of freedom is still there at least in the background. We might take advantage of that, therefore, and give some thought to the theme of freedom as it is revealed in our assigned texts for this week.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

The madman cried out to Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" In our worship today let us explore what Jesus has to do with us and invite him to heal our brokenness.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, we often find ourselves thinking, saying and doing things that we quickly regret.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
When Jill was five, she began to have headaches. The headaches were so severe she would throw up. Sometimes she would pass out. They usually came once a month. Jill could be playing, resting, or watching television when the headaches would come. Her only warning was a sudden pain in her head, then a blinding light would appear, and she would be rocked with pain. In her teenage years, they became debilitating, causing Jill to be in bed for three days at a time.
Stan Purdum
I'm not sure when the term "burn out" ceased being only a description of what happened to a campfire when you ran out of firewood to a term describing the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest, usually coming immediately after an extended period of overwork, but the expression seems to fit that later situation, doesn't it? Exhaustion, deep weariness, all used up, nothing more to give, wiped out, burned out -- call it what we will, its symptoms are all too familiar to many of us.
April Yamasaki
In the classic movie, Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews plays a no-nonsense, yet delightful, nanny to two young children. As a nanny to a wealthy family, she is part teacher, part parent, and part disciplinarian. She gets the children up in the morning, puts them to bed at night, supervises their many adventures, and guides them in many ways. While they are in her care, she is responsible for their overall safety and well-being.

Julia Ross Strope
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi

Call To Worship
Leader: I'm so glad you're here! There are seats for everyone; there's slight air movement; the windows engender tranquility and imagination and words will stimulate fresh thoughts.

People: It's good to be here, in sanctuary. We're glad for opportunities to gather and to express our gratitude to God and our appreciation for one another.

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