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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A boy brought home a... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1991
A boy brought home a report card that was very satisfactory.
We should not wonder at... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
We should not wonder at the skepticism of Thomas, who said, "Unless I see in his hands the print of
The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team... -- John 6:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team once had two terrific hitters who played for them.
We all want to live... -- Mark 10:17-30 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1991
We all want to live the good life, but few of us are willing to make the necessary sacrifices.
Thomas Barclay served as a... -- Mark 10:17-30 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1991
Thomas Barclay served as a Presbyterian missionary to Taiwan.
Says Paul, Give no offense... -- 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
Says Paul, "Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God." In other words, don't beh
Now go and tell his... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1991
"Now go and tell his followers and Peter, 'Jesus is going into Galilee ahead of you' " (Mark 16:7, N
Susie enjoyed being in the... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
Susie enjoyed being in the kindergarten class very much.
Andrew was an important, but... -- John 6:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
Andrew was an important, but generally overlooked disciple.
Jim Tyree was my high... -- 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
Jim Tyree was my high school football coach.
Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring was... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1991
Aaron Copeland's "Appalachian Spring" was scored as a ballet, especially for the renowned Martha Gra
The 16th century German artist... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
The 16th century German artist, Albert Durer, is famous for his representations of biblical subjects
When inviting the unchurched to... -- Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
When inviting the unchurched to worship, we must alert them that they will not be visiting the Hall
What is the sound barrier... -- Mark 10:17-30 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1991
What is the sound barrier?
A traveling salesman got caught... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1991
A traveling salesman got caught in one of North Dakota's famous snowstorms.
There's a statement in this... -- Hebrews 3:1-6 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1991
There's a statement in this lesson that just screams out for contemporary application -- "as the bui
I'm sorry, pastor. She slipped... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1991
"I'm sorry, pastor.
Overheard at a Science and... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1991
Overheard at a "Science and Religion" convention:
Once, while traveling in an... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
Once, while traveling in an economically depressed area of a mountain state, my wife and I passed th
The Scriptures of Mark 1... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1991
The Scriptures of Mark 1 are frequently used to describe the three steps of ministry: baptism, or an
The pastor had his lesson... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1991
The pastor had his lesson plans firmly implanted in his mind as the young students arrived for catec
During the great depression, an... -- John 6:4-15 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1991
During the great depression, an elderly farm widow was greatly concerned about some of her neighbors
Abbe Arthur Mugnier, French Priest... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1991
Abbe Arthur Mugnier, French Priest, (1853-1944), a friend of Proust's, was much in demand in high so
There are some religious people... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1991
There are some religious people who accept the words of Jesus, "If I then, your Lord and teacher, ha
This passage of Scripture tells... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 1991
This passage of Scripture tells the passionate story of life ... it has it all.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffie.

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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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