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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A woman and her five... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 -- 1993
A woman and her five-year-old son were visiting a large church in the Dallas area.
Bill was a spry man... -- Isaiah 40:1-11 -- 1993
Bill was a spry man who was about 70 years old.
The prophet Isaiah points the... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1993
The prophet Isaiah points the people of God not only to the fact of the darkness in the world but to
A Los Angeles nightclub was... -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- 1993
A Los Angeles nightclub was taken to court for violating the civil rights of some of its would-be cu
Los Angeles nightclub was taken... -- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 -- 1993
Los Angeles nightclub was taken to court for violating the civil rights of some of its would-be cus
The leper prefaced his request... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
The leper prefaced his request for healing from Jesus with the words, "If you will ..." It was almos
A transfiguration of Christ. I... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
A transfiguration of Christ.
Prof. H. D. A. Major... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
Prof. H. D. A.
It is easy to understand... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
It is easy to understand why the leper, healed by the touch of Christ, wanted to tell everyone about
There are colonies for lepers... -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
There are colonies for lepers throughout the world, especially in Africa.
Paradigms suggests an analyst of... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
Paradigms suggests an analyst of systems failures in industry and educational institutions are the r
Peter said to Jesus, 'Teacher... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
"Peter said to Jesus, 'Teacher, it is good that we are here.
By suggesting that three booths... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
By suggesting that three booths be made, Peter wanted to stop timefor a while and savor the "feeling
There are two stories of... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
There are two stories of "salvation" in a medieval town in Germany.
Often, Christians want what they... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Often, Christians want what they already have. Give me some experience of power.
From beginning to end the... -- 2 Peter 1:16-29 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
From beginning to end the Bible is proclaiming one undergirding truth -- God entered upon the scene
The mid-watch is difficult... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
The "mid-watch" is difficult under any circumstances whether you are standing it as a hospital nurse
One Monday evening, November 23... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
One Monday evening, November 23, 1654, a brilliant French philosopher and mathematician was reading
Mark Twain and his wife... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Mark Twain and his wife visited the Holy Land.
The King James Version, the... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
The King James Version, the RSV, Phillips, and the New English Bible all refer in verse 16 of being
Even when in prayer Jesus... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Even when in prayer Jesus was looking out for his friends.
As Perry Mason conducts his... -- 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
As Perry Mason conducts his criminal trials, inevitably the guilty party is asked, "Why did you do i
On the northwest shores of... -- John 6:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
On the northwest shores of the Sea of Galilee there is a grassy bit of land that juts out into the w
A recent World Bank list... -- Mark 10:17-30 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1991
A recent World Bank list of the world's richest countries named Kuwait as the highest per capita in
Asking Grandfather to pass the... -- 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
Asking Grandfather to pass the butter was an invitation to have your thumb imbedded knuckle-deep in

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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
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
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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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