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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

He had to make a... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
He had to make a choice.
Oh great! A broken watch... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1994
Oh great! A broken watch! Now what was he supposed to do?
In October of 1983, American... -- Acts 8:26-40 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
In October of 1983, American medical students were held hostage in the revolt in Grenada.
At one time or another... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1994
At one time or another the United States had been involved in wars against Great Britain, Japan, and
Everybody who follows major league... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1994
Everybody who follows major league baseball knows what kind of player Chris Sabo, third baseman for
Professor Stephen Solomon White was... -- 1 Samuel 15:34--16:13 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1994
Professor Stephen Solomon White was my major professor at Olivet Nazarene College, Kankakee, Illinoi
C.S. Lewis writes in the... -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
C.S.
Leontine T.C. Kelly, bishop of... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
Leontine T.C.
The boss had pulled out... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
The boss had pulled out all the stops for this particular retirement dinner.
A young man who had... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
A young man who had just graduated from college was hired by a high school to teach English.
Snakes had never been one... -- Numbers 21:4-9 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Snakes had never been one of her favorite creatures, so when the real estate agent showing the house
According to former Education Secretary... -- Exodus 20:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
According to former Education Secretary, William Bennett, the United States economy might be the sou
The trial of Peter and... -- Acts 4:8-12 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
The trial of Peter and John was an opportunity to make a speech under the direct inspiration of the
The presence of the Spirit... -- Acts 4:23-33 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
The presence of the Spirit in the early church was expressed in two ways: externally in the mission
Two ads were placed in... -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
Two ads were placed in a newspaper by the same ad agency for two different, if similar clients: J
Agatha was 60 and divorced... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
Agatha was 60 and divorced.
It was a common view... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - B -- 1994
It was a common view in the ancient world that suffering was punishment for one's sins.
During her life, Catherine Marshall... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 1994
During her life, Catherine Marshall wrote many books.
Comedian Pat Paulsen says, Bill... -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 1994
Comedian Pat Paulsen says, "Bill Clinton worries me because he's only a heart-beat away from the pre
There was a time when... -- Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
There was a time when life had seemed simple.
The 1989 movie, Field of... -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
The 1989 movie, Field of Dreams has become an American classic.
Light is the first-born... -- Genesis 1:1-5 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
"Light is the first-born of creation.
Walk before me and be... -- Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
"Walk before me and be blameless." Ol' Lady Bloom was not what one would call an educated or enlight
When Norman was seven years... -- Genesis 9:8-17 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
When Norman was seven years old, his father left to serve in the Army in World War II.
John Newton, the writer of... -- Joel 2:12-18 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
John Newton, the writer of the favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace," was the son of a devout mother and a

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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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