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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

YahwehBurn bush, burn... -- Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
YahwehBurn bush, burn!Light our lives with fire!Banish darkness forevermore
In 1993 Pope John Paul... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
In 1993 Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical called "Veritatis Splendor" (Splendor of the Truth).
A marriage and family counselor... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
A marriage and family counselor once told me that there are at least three solutions to every proble
Spring was coming and the... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Spring was coming and the children knew that soon the first batch of chicks would arrive.
Lincoln had attempted time and... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Lincoln had attempted time and again to make plain his thought and purpose with regard to the issue
A story is told of... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
A story is told of a man whose wife was a fanatically religious woman who despised doctors, but beli
The older man watched from... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The older man watched from a distance. He had worked for the company for a long time.
In Reynolds Price's book, A... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
In Reynolds Price's book, A Whole New Life, he tells the story of his struggles with cancer of the
Is it possible that God... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Is it possible that God plays the game of hide-and-seek with us?
The world's largest shopping mall... -- Isaiah 55:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The world's largest shopping mall is in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, not far from the church I current
Fr. Jerzy Popielusko, a Polish... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Fr.
The young man, clad in... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The young man, clad in grey overalls, white shirt and black riding boots, was lead out to the gallow
Greg loved the Southwest United... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Greg loved the Southwest United States, its deserts, mesas, and canyons, so rich with color and stee
Although Albert Einstein did not... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Although Albert Einstein did not invent the atomic bomb, his scientific genius provided theoretical
E. Stanley Jones was one... -- Philippians 3:17-4:2 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
E. Stanley Jones was one of the most powerful evangelists of his day.
Spy stories may not be... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Spy stories may not be on everyone's reading list.
A writer once spoke of... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
A writer once spoke of his "starving artist" period as a young man in a large city, and described a
Power, prestige and money -- the... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Power, prestige and money -- the three great temptations of our day.
Among the feats for which... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Among the feats for which Mohawks among the Native American population are known and widely-respecte
I am always intrigued by... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
I am always intrigued by the parts of scripture which are left out of the lectionary.
Faith can accomplish many experiences... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Faith can accomplish many experiences in our personal lives, but faith cannot count.
Whate'er we leave to God... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Whate'er we leave to God, God does,and blesses us;
Almost every day we hear... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Almost every day we hear things that are hard to believe.
From her kitchen window, Mary... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
From her kitchen window, Mary looked out at her garden and noted the squirrel cavorting around the e
The German language contains a... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The German language contains a word for which there is no comparable English equivalent: Gottesdiens

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
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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.

Special Occasion

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