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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

During the Christmas season of... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- 1994
During the Christmas season of 1991, the ACLU targeted the town of Vienna, Virginia.
In the movie, Mass Appeal... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
In the movie, Mass Appeal, the parish priest dares to have a Sunday series titled, "Dialogue Sermons
Amidst the elegance and grandeur... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Amidst the elegance and grandeur of the world-famous Hamptons of eastern Long Island, there is situa
As parents, we have assisted... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
As parents, we have assisted in bringing forth another life into this world.
Whose brilliant idea was this... -- Exodus 16:2.4, 12-15 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
"Whose brilliant idea was this trip, anyway?" The less-than happy inquiry issued from the rear of th
God chose a successor for... -- 2 Kings 2:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
God chose a successor for the prophet Elijah, Elisha.
The Holy Spirit is the... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The Holy Spirit is the first installment on God's promises of fulfillment.
In a rural area of... -- Isaiah 57:14b-21 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
In a rural area of England, it was decided that a road needed to be built to help people to be able
The term dark horse may... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
The term "dark horse" may have originated with Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-1881).
For James, the idea is... -- James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
For James, the idea is not to be uninvolved with the world, but to be appropriately involved -- resp
In an old book, Legenda... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
In an old book, Legenda Monastica, there is a story of a choir that sang very enthusiastically, but
Dressing in a particular way... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
Dressing in a particular way usually serves a purpose.
The young woman was desperate... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
The young woman was desperate for a parking space.
This passage from Numbers is... -- Numbers 11:25-29 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
This passage from Numbers is often used to illustrate the doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believer
Shelby Foote, in his narration... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
Shelby Foote, in his narration of The Civil War series of videos, talks of the state of the Negro s
Kate had never understood the... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
Kate had never understood the maliciousness of the bullies who had confronted her and her brother th
He was a powerful speaker... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1994
He was a powerful speaker. Following the Great Depression, his country lay prostrate.
Once, as a child, I... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
Once, as a child, I was taken to visit a family farm.
Social chaos had led the... -- Isaiah 59:(1-4) 9-19 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
Social chaos had led the people of Israel to believe that God didn't care.
During the Black Hawk Indian... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1994
During the Black Hawk Indian War, Abraham Lincoln fought as a captain.
In the movie, Raiders of... -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
In the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, archaeologist Indiana Jones receives word of the possible exi
As the pioneer of human... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1994
As the pioneer of human salvation, Jesus must share all the conditions of humanity, including suffer
I have always wondered how... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
I have always wondered how and why.
It's a matter of confidence... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1994
It's a matter of confidence -- it has happened.
In my mind there is... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
In my mind there is a scene from a play which has never been -- and probably never will be -- writte

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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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