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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The town was in an... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
The town was in an uproar! The Clown was coming back!
When he saw that they... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
"When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came toward them early
This past summer was the... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
This past summer was the final playing year for several legendary baseball players ...
The dawn is a time... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
The dawn is a time of day when light and lingering shadows mingle.
While laws may differ depending... -- Mark 2:23-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
While laws may differ depending on cultural or geographic contexts, they are usually intended to pro
Water in third world countries... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
Water in third world countries is a problem. It's not a matter of turning on a faucet.
When the Cultural Revolution hit... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
When the Cultural Revolution hit China, all those who had been in any kind of "soft" job were put to
The Book of Revelation is... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
The Book of Revelation is an example of apocalyptic writing.
The Sunday school class was... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
The Sunday school class was discussing current events.
Two men moved into the... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
Two men moved into the same community at about the same time.
A truly incredible story surfaced... -- Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
A truly incredible story surfaced in the news a few months ago.
To be a Christian in... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
To be a Christian in Egypt means to be acquainted with suffering.
If you're a city person... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
If you're a city person, raised to know how to get around by bus or freeway, but knowing nothing of
When Mother Teresa of Calcutta... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
When Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her Missionaries of Charity, first began their work in Australia
The dirt road invited her... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
The dirt road invited her to leave the highway that April morning, beckoning her toward woods that g
While society is often caught... -- Mark 2:23-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
While society is often caught up in rules and regulations, God is concerned with matters of the hear
A few years ago a... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
A few years ago a drought fell on the eastern part of the United States. No rain fell for weeks.
A pastor was visiting with... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
A pastor was visiting with a young couple that had just moved into the neighborhood.
The symbolic city of Jerusalem... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
The symbolic city of Jerusalem, where no temple and no sun are needed because the presence and glor
At the end of the... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
At the end of the movie, Fiddler on the Roof, the Jewish villagers have been ordered off their land
Go, said Jesus. Your faith... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
"Go," said Jesus. "Your faith has healed you."Ruth A. Morgan wrote:
Does suffering serve some purpose... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
Does suffering serve some purpose?
As amazing as Jesus' miracles... -- John 6:1-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
As amazing as Jesus' miracles are, what seems equally amazing is the response of those who witnessed
A professor of 19th century... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
A professor of 19th century American literature illustrates the power of point-of-view in writing by
A family was putting the... -- Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 -- 1994
A family was putting the finishing touches on their Christmas tree when the five-year-old son asked,

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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...
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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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