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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A small coastal town in... -- Isaiah 57:14b-21 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
A small coastal town in France was blessed with a fine natural harbor.
The gospels tell us that... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The gospels tell us that when Jesus was baptized God spoke from heaven and said to him, "You are my
The media would have a... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
The media would have a field day with this one.
I saw a poster that... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
I saw a poster that read, "A friend is someone who hears the song in my heart and sings it for me wh
A magazine ad for Nike... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
A magazine ad for Nike shoes reads: "There you are.
This entire commandment that I... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
"This entire commandment that I command you today you must diligently observe ..."
I once received too much... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
I once received too much change after making a purchase at a large department store.
Marvin and Nellie were both... -- Numbers 11:25-29 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Marvin and Nellie were both retired and itching for something to do.
One day, Abraham Lincoln was... -- James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
One day, Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street with his two sons, both of whom were crying.
The story is told of... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
The story is told of a servant named Aesop who was asked to prepare a great banquet.
In the 1980 Olympic Winter... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
In the 1980 Olympic Winter Games Bob Johnson was the coach of the American Hockey Team.
Many of you will remember... -- Isaiah 59:(1-4) 9-19 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
Many of you will remember the movie, Paint Your Wagon, which starred Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin.
Norman was driving through the... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
Norman was driving through the mountains of Tennessee.
One afternoon, author and sociologist... -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
One afternoon, author and sociologist Tony Campolo received a phone call from a friend who was meeti
My son once was given... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
My son once was given an assignment to write out instructions for making a paper airplane.
The country parson was asked... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
The country parson was asked to visit a parishioner on his farm.
The next time you watch... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
The next time you watch a baseball game and some mighty slugger swaggers up to the plate, ask yourse
A pastor was quite discouraged... -- Daniel 12:1-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A pastor was quite discouraged and depressed.
Bishop Sheen tells this story... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Bishop Sheen tells this story of deliverance and hope in his daily devotional book.
Dorothy Thompson, in a speech... -- Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
Dorothy Thompson, in a speech given in 1941, said what many a philosopher and theologian has taken m
An elderly saint once said... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
An elderly saint once said to me, "I've been through some hard times in my life, you know; times whe
In the rock opera, Jesus... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
In the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, there are two resurrections. One is spectacular.
A young lady had taken... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A young lady had taken her children to the mall.
We called him Brother McAllister... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
We called him "Brother" McAllister -- the pastor of our little Free Methodist Church in my home tow
Dr. Eddie Fox tells the... -- 1 John 4:7-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Dr. Eddie Fox tells the story of two little boys whose pictures appeared in a newspaper.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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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