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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

For the first time ever... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
For the first time ever, Ben was recruiting Sunday church school teachers.
When Jesus was not welcomed... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
When Jesus was not welcomed by the Samaritans, the disciples angrily wished the Samaritans to be pun
You remind me of another... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
"You remind me of another pastor I know."
My daughter came home from... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
My daughter came home from school one day and said to me, "What would you do if you had ten million
Community service the judge had... -- 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
"Community service" the judge had called it.
The challenge to great leadership... -- 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
The challenge to great leadership is choosing a successor to faithfully lead God's people.
Elisha kissed his ma and... -- 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
Elisha kissed his ma and pa, and set off with great moxie.
A woman was discussing with... -- 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
A woman was discussing with her spiritual director what God might be calling her to do with her life
Many of the old Negro... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
Many of the old Negro spirituals that we sing, "Michael Row The Boat Ashore," "Swing Low, Sweet Char
Cable television operators know that... -- 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
Cable television operators know that quite a few people illegally tap into their lines and receive t
Edward Rutherford developed a Michener... -- 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
Edward Rutherford developed a Michener-type novel, tracing the history of a portion of Wiltshire Cou
Francis Bernadone was expected to... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
Francis Bernadone was expected to lead the life of a wealthy Italian cloth merchant, first assisting
An adult class was discussing... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
An adult class was discussing the Sunday school material that was being used by the class.
Kids just loved to watch... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1995
Kids just loved to watch Fred Marshall come into a room.
King James I of England... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
King James I of England was greatly concerned about the influence of the Puritans in the Church, not
Can we praise God only... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
Can we praise God only in a standing position?
One day my son came... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
One day my son came home from his baseball game with good news, "The coach selected me for an All St
An ancient legend tells about... -- Luke 13:22-30 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
An ancient legend tells about the origin of humanity.
A group of clergy gathered... -- Luke 13:22-30 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
A group of clergy gathered monthly for a meeting and lunch.
Six thousand feet above the... -- Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
Six thousand feet above the wooded hillside beyond the Pittsburgh airport USAir flight 427 was being
They say that experience is... -- Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
They say that experience is the best teacher. That was definitely true for two-year-old Jeffrey.
An elderly salesman had been... -- Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
An elderly salesman had been calling on businesses in the small towns of southwestern West Virginia.
This was the first Sunday... -- Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
This was the first Sunday since the fire that destroyed the church building.
Paul can't remember exactly how... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
Paul can't remember exactly how long he has been a resident of the convalescent center.
Marie decided she had been... -- Isaiah 28:14-22 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1995
Marie decided she had been the target of one too many pranks staged by the camp clown; it was time t

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
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29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

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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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