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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The wedding party was arriving... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The wedding party was arriving for the rehearsal. They entered the church in ones or twos.
John's vision of the faithful... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
John's vision of the faithful reminds one of an election night party.
The city of Saginaw, Michigan... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
The city of Saginaw, Michigan, has developed a logo which pictures five people figures in a row.
Yaffa Eliach grew up a... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Yaffa Eliach grew up a Jew in Lithuania.
There was a mother cat... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
There was a mother cat that was out for a stroll with her three small kittens.
Gary Forner, a veteran Fort... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
Gary Forner, a veteran Fort Canby State Park ranger and a sixteen-year member of the cliff rescue te
According to an article by... -- John 10:22-30 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 2001
According to an article by Andrew C.
A hospital chaplain often will... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
A hospital chaplain often will accompany a doctor into a patient's room to deliver bad news.
Jean was struggling with Alzheimer's... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
Jean was struggling with Alzheimer's disease when it was discovered that she had breast cancer.
A practice familiar to scuba... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
A practice familiar to scuba divers involves something called "buddy-breathing." Occasionally one di
How does the Spirit of... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
How does the Spirit of truth come to us today, if not in the Bible?
The saying, One bad apple... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The saying, "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch," isn't always true. Nik is an avid gardener.
Do we live by the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
Do we live by the law or by grace?
The 1991 movie Defending... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The 1991 movie Defending Your Life features Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks in a whimsical sto
A theme common in the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
A theme common in the Bible is that adhering to the Law will not save you; faith in Jesus is what wi
After a long road trip... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
After a long road trip, there is nothing so inviting as a motel sign: V-A-C-A-N-C-Y!
The phone rang. It was... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The phone rang. It was Karen, one of the most committed members in our congregation.
We have a teenage son... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
We have a teenage son. Recently I overheard my wife sharing a story with a friend about him.
In the Museum of Fine... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
In the Museum of Fine Arts in Buda-pest, Hungary, there hangs a most captivating painting, Sleepi
As a young boy, I... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
As a young boy, I had the privilege of having a hockey coach who came from the "old school," in othe
In Christ there are no... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In Christ there are no longer slave or free, for we are all one in Christ.
Philip Becker's parents had him... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
Philip Becker's parents had him institutionalized at birth.
In an article by Matthew... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In an article by Matthew Purdy that appeared in the New York Times, we hear a story about sum
In the United States, we... -- Acts 13:13-26 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In the United States, we love to hear a good motivational speech.
Twins David and Daniel were... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
Twins David and Daniel were adopted as infants by a couple who believed they were incapable of havin

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
George Reed
For August 10, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A treasure chest containing photos of some of your family members and friends, and a small, worn-out bag or purse. The treasure chest could be as simple as a small, metal lockbox, or you could have some fun with a larger box that actually looks like a treasure chest.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But before I tell you the story, I have something that I want to show you. (Show the treasure chest.)

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Personal rant here — since childhood I’ve been annoyed that the winners of the 100-meter dash at the Olympics are hailed as the world’s fastest humans. To me it’s been obvious that the greatest, and fastest, athletes are the women and men who endure the trials and tribulations throughout the 26.2-mile marathons, and who then somehow find it within themselves to sprint to the finish line.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return… (Luke 12:35-36)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus calls us to be ready for him, for we shall encounter him at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. In our worship today, let us prepare to meet with Jesus.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't bother to make ourselves ready for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes it doesn't occur to us that we might meet with you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we miss you because we haven't expected you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
-- Psalm 50:23

Clayton A. Lord Jr.
I want to talk about heroes today. We all have them. Our heroes are men and women that we look up to. Our heroes are those individuals that inspire us and help us to strive to be our very best.

There is a cute story about a Texan who was trying to impress on a Bostonian, the valor of the heroes of the Alamo. After finishing his story about Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and countless others, he says "I'll bet you never had anyone so brave around Boston."

"Did you ever hear of Paul Revere?" asked the Bostonian.

Thomas A. Renquist
Jesus tells us, "Don't be afraid," but it seems to me there is a lot to be afraid of. "Sell your possessions," he says, "give alms ... risk ... be dressed for action ... have your lamps lit ... be prepared ... be alert." Sounds very ominous, quite scary to me.

Christopher Reeves, the actor, knows what it is to be afraid. On Memorial Day weekend, 1995, in a tragic fall from his horse, he was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and fighting for his every breath.
John W. Wurster
"Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah" (1:10; cf. Genesis 19).

Sodom. Gomorrah. Remember? Places of wickedness, of violence, of perversity. Do you know any place like that? Places where sexuality is twisted and relationships are corrupted and social order is breaking down? Places where people seek to gratify personal desires at the expense of others, where individual pursuits take precedence over common well-being, where anything goes as long as it feels good?

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