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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Jim had never been one... -- Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 1995
Jim had never been one to keep his mouth shut, and this morning was no exception.
As the last embers of... -- Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 1995
As the last embers of the campfire dissipated, five members of our boy scout troop, armed with flash
Those who had cares of... -- Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 1995
Those who had cares of King Zed's affairshad terribly great concern,
Benjamin Martin Weir has led... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Benjamin Martin Weir has led a remarkable life.
Not too long ago, the... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Not too long ago, the police in our area were warning the families of the bride and groom not to pub
In 1961, an insurance executive... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
In 1961, an insurance executive retired and moved from Chicago to a small farm in southwestern Illin
After a great deal of... -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
After a great deal of thought, prayer and discussion, he and his wife finally reached their decision
Dudley Wrinkle had felt like... -- Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 1995
Dudley Wrinkle had felt like a highly successful businessman until this latest fiasco.
Logical responses to impossible promises... -- Genesis 15:1-6 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Logical responses to impossible promises: Yeah, right; no way; jump back; how dumb do you think I am
A couple friends of mine... -- Genesis 15:1-6 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
A couple friends of mine wanted to have a child and after tests revealed no physical problem, they t
Contemporary author Clarissa Pinkola Estes... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Contemporary author Clarissa Pinkola Estes writes of a dream she once had.
Bob had had a heart... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Bob had had a heart attack, and it was bad: He had lost a good deal of muscle tone, and his blood pr
In recent years there has... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
In recent years there has been more and more anger directed against immigrants to the United States.
The story of Abraham was... -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
The story of Abraham was one of the paradigms the writer to the Hebrews used to illustrate the faith
The parents knew the process... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
The parents knew the process by heart. They had followed it often already.
Since Dave, Frank and Mike... -- Wisdom 18:6-9 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Since Dave, Frank and Mike enjoyed building model cars and the sport of racing, the three young boys
Pondering the past is something... -- Wisdom 18:6-9 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Pondering the past is something we all do, especially as we grow older in years. Why?
A gag often used by... -- Wisdom 18:6-9 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
A gag often used by the Smothers Brothers was, "Mother always did like you best." A young girl came
Rose and Barry had been... -- Genesis 15:1-6 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Rose and Barry had been married for ten years.
Forget it! Don't worry about... -- Genesis 15:1-6 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
"Forget it! Don't worry about it! It's not written down and they'll never know.
Orson Welles' epic movie, Citizen... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Orson Welles' epic movie, Citizen Kane, chronicles the life of one man determined to control his des
There is a Buddhist story... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
There is a Buddhist story about a wrestler who wore a precious stone in an ornament on his forehead.
Before gambling was permitted in... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Before gambling was permitted in Atlantic City, it had the 50th lowest crime rate among American cit
David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize winner, has made it his calling to comment on political and econo
Throughout Western culture there is... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
Throughout Western culture there is much talk and not a little frustration with the state of the Chr

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 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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...

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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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