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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

There was great celebration when... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
There was great celebration when Barry died. The service was simple, per Barry's
Everyone liked Abe and he... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Everyone liked Abe and he liked everyone he met. At the retirement home, the staff, as
Many communion services are glum... -- Isaiah 25:6-9 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Many communion services are glum affairs. Somberness prevails. Worship leaders act
A new heaven and a... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
"A new heaven and a new earth": It's hard enough for people to get used
A pastor thought it clever... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
A pastor thought it clever to add a new section to the church's monthly newsletter. He
Even today, when the French... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Even today, when the French think of Charles de Gaulle they know that no one has
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was an American pilot serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Vern was 48 when he... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Vern was 48 when he contracted a rare form of cancer. He was told that treatment rarely
Jody viewed her life as... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Jody viewed her life as both a gift and a miracle. Having suffered a near-fatal heart
Imagine a doctor who regularly... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2006
Imagine a doctor who regularly neglects one part of a standard three-part procedure. His
In WWII, Nora Lam's family... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
In WWII, Nora Lam's family fled from Japanese-occupied China. After 37 days and
The journey from Moab to... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The journey from Moab to Bethlehem was no small undertaking, especially for an elderly
Some unknown writer left these... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Some unknown writer left these beautiful words about friendship:
Most pastors cringe when a... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Most pastors cringe when a couple comes to get married and requests this scripture to be
William Willimon tells a story... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
William Willimon tells a story that took place at the Field Museum in Chicago, where his
The fair was coming to... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The fair was coming to town and with it came the midway -- rides, cotton candy, and
The pastor noticed a middle... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
The pastor noticed a middle-aged man kneeling near the altar following his first Sunday
He was an agnostic, and... -- Hebrews 9:11-14 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
He was an agnostic, and his wife an atheist. After receiving a direct-mail flier from our
When constructing a building, it... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
When constructing a building, it must be plumb and level. It must be perfectly vertical
Some Bible scholars believe Jesus... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Some Bible scholars believe Jesus was the first to combine Deuteronomy 6:4 with
There was a human-interest... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
There was a human-interest story in The New York Times several years ago that
Teilhard de Chardin wrote: Someday... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
Teilhard de Chardin wrote: "Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the
One preacher tells the story... -- Mark 12:28-34 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 2006
One preacher tells the story that comes from Mark Twain's writings. He was dealing with
Security is a good thing... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
Security is a good thing (no doubt about it!). A certain group of steelworkers discovered
Scientists have long been fascinated... -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2006
Scientists have long been fascinated by the factors which cause one person to be attracted

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

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...

New & Featured This Week

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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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