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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Three times in this passage... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1991
Three times in this passage we find "where" followed by words indicating those early -- disappointed
It fascinates me that Jesus... -- Luke 24:35-48 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
It fascinates me that Jesus only appeared, in resurrection form, to his friends.
Do we know the Comforter... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
Do we know the Comforter which the Holy Spirit is? I think of my father who died in 1977.
Jesus knew he and his... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1991
Jesus knew he and his guys could not stand to smell smoke in their nostrils all the time.
It is a rare occasion... -- Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1991
It is a rare occasion when a televised football game proceeds without at least one glimpse of the si
At a farewell luncheon for... -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1991
At a farewell luncheon for a retiring clergyperson we had opportunity to reflect on his ministry of
Christ has promised to be... -- John 6:35, 41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1991
Christ has promised to be with us through all of the experiences of life, no matter how difficult th
Another miracle performed by Jesus... -- Mark 7:31-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1991
Another miracle performed by Jesus!
Frank Laubach, missionary to the... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1991
Frank Laubach, missionary to the illiterate people of the world, understood Jesus' words that if any
One spring, in a fraternity... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- 1991
One spring, in a fraternity house truth session, a group of brothers were discussing how much colleg
The truly great are truly... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1991
The truly great are truly humble.
In ancient times, salt was... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1991
In ancient times, salt was scarce and expensive.
Frank Lloyd Wright, the American... -- Hebrews 3:1-6 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1991
Frank Lloyd Wright, the American architect, once said, "I still believe that the ideal of an organic
From this passage's several foci... -- Mark 1:4-11 -- 1991
From this passage's several foci I'll fasten on the focus of repentance.
This passage overwhelms us with... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1991
This passage overwhelms us with a witness to obedience.
In the tiny hamlet of... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1991
In the tiny hamlet of Blantyre, Scotland, an uneducated laborer named David Hogg taught a boys Sunda
Sam wasn't making much headway... -- Mark 1:9-15 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1991
Sam wasn't making much headway with his diet.
I don't want to hear... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1991
"I don't want to hear it," we say to friends. There is much in everyday life which we block out.
In the face of hungry... -- John 6:4.15 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1991
In the face of hungry people Jesus used what he had.
In this passage are many... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1991
In this passage are many and varied words of leaving. Jesus is going away.
During World War II a... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1991
During World War II a small patrol in France was sent behind the German lines.
The events in these chapters... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - B -- 1991
The events in these chapters are called often the Passion Story.
In Jerusalem there are two... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B -- 1991
In Jerusalem there are two tombs of Jesus. One is the Garden Tomb.
he was known to them... -- Luke 24:35-48 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
... he was known to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:35b).
Children often test their parents... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1991
Children often test their parents when told to do something.

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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
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Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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