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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Hearing the cost of discipleship... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2006
Hearing the cost of discipleship, the rich young ruler walked away sadly. He kept his
A parent told the director... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2006
A parent told the director of Christian education at a local church that his family tries to
Before David went off to... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2006
Before David went off to college, his mother bought him a basic sewing kit. "You'll need
Today's lesson reminds us that... -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Today's lesson reminds us that during the season of the church mission (Pentecost) we
Ed and Lillie embarked on... -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Ed and Lillie embarked on a month-long vacation across the United States. They had
When silversmiths create their fine... -- Job 38:1-7 (34-41) -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
When silversmiths create their fine art, they engrave, in an inconspicuous place, a tiny
Kevin was involved with British... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Kevin was involved with British brass bands most of his life. An excellent euphonium
Wouldn't it be good to... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Wouldn't it be good to have a priest, an intermediary who pleads our needs to God who is
Amy took the long, hard... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Amy took the long, hard way to become a schoolteacher. She worked at a fast food
Alfred was in a nursing... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Alfred was in a nursing home when the pastor first met him. At first Alfred didn't say
Sally designed and made beautiful... -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Sally designed and made beautiful worship banners for the various church seasons. Sally
Preaching professor Thomas Long has... -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
Preaching professor Thomas Long has portrayed this episode of James and John asking
This passage may be used... -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2006
This passage may be used as an interpretative lens for reading, teaching, and preaching
Sheila took an evening photography... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Sheila took an evening photography class at the local college. She always loved
In March of 2006, the... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
In March of 2006, the palace of former Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, was reopened
Kendra still wonders why her... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Kendra still wonders why her single mother's factory got bought out, and they had to
I had heard of you... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
"I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you," says Job to the
Several years ago, Herman and... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Several years ago, Herman and Mary Jane were vacationing in South Carolina as they
In ancient times, there were... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
In ancient times, there were "scapegoat" rituals, liturgies intended to take tension out of a
Emory, an old homeless wino... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Emory, an old homeless wino, was picked up with a bunch of other men at a local bar
It's possible to be blind... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
It's possible to be blind physically and yet to have tremendous insight, isn't it? Helen
Karen sat quietly in the... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Karen sat quietly in the back row of a huge cathedral-type church. She liked the old
Judy's grandmother imparted many words... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
Judy's grandmother imparted many words of wisdom, but the one that Judy remembers
The sixty-year-old son... -- Mark 10:46-52 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2006
The sixty-year-old son of Norman Vincent Peale was speaking at a conference for pastors
The French writer, Antoine de... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
The French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, was a

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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.

* * *

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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