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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The African Lion Safari is... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
The African Lion Safari is a wildlife park near Hamilton, Ontario.
When Isaiah speaks for God... -- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - C -- 1995
When Isaiah speaks for God in crying out against Judah for false rituals of worship, is he not also
Have you ever purchased a... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Have you ever purchased a new outfit of clothing, only to hang it in the closet, continuing to wear
A couple once came to... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
A couple once came to their pastor to get his opinion on an argument that they were having.
The news from the doctor... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
The news from the doctor was mixed. Bob had suffered a serious heart attack.
Jerry had always enjoyed writing... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Jerry had always enjoyed writing, but the request he had just received presented an unusual challeng
It is rumored that in... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
It is rumored that in a fire station in California an electric light has been burning for 86 years.
What is the old adage... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
What is the old adage from World War I?
Eyewitness accounts have become very... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
"Eyewitness" accounts have become very popular on television as they seem to carry some added weight
What is particularly troubling right... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
What is particularly troubling right now is the status of the nuclear weapons in the former Soviet U
The movie Grand Canyon got... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
The movie Grand Canyon got its title from the fact that one of the central characters, who brings gr
During the period 1861-1865, America... -- Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
During the period 1861-1865, America was gripped by the cruel hold of a great, wrenching war.
Mary had stopped subscribing to... -- Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Mary had stopped subscribing to her local newspaper.
The writer of Ecclesiastes says... -- Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
The writer of Ecclesiastes says the activity of man is "vanity" and as useless as "striving after wi
Driving to work one morning... -- Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Driving to work one morning, it suddenly occurred to Jane that she had everything and she had nothin
My best friend worked one... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
My best friend worked one summer as a mosquito control officer in a mountain resort area.
Mom? Judith's heart skipped a... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
"Mom?" Judith's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the voice on the line.
The great Quaker mystic Rufus... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
The great Quaker mystic Rufus Jones tells the following story.
After all I've been through... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
After all I've been through with that kid, I ought to just strangle him.
Da Vinci's Mona Lisa has... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Da Vinci's Mona Lisa has intrigued viewers for several centuries.
Respect for the white-haired... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
Respect for "the white-haired ones" is nearly universal amongst Native American peoples.
A few years ago, the... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1995
A few years ago, the national news was focused on a couple living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who had ra
Tom was an outstanding college... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Tom was an outstanding college student.
The year was 1973 and... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The year was 1973 and I was a graduate of one of the world's premier theological seminaries.
In Rembrandt's painting of the... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
In Rembrandt's painting of the parable, both brothers are cast in those deep baroque shadows.

Political Pulpit

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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
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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