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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In today's lectionary text, we... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
In today's lectionary text, we skip from Jesus' birth to his twelfth year. Last Sunday, we
The Japanese are fond of... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
The Japanese are fond of cultivating Bonsai trees: dwarf trees that stand no more than a
The boy Samuel served a... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
The boy Samuel served a faithful apprenticeship at the shrine at Shiloh, without seeking
Every mother or grandmother who... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Every mother or grandmother who sews probably can tell a story of sewing a garment for
The Sanskrit word for peace... -- 2006
The Sanskrit word for "peace" is pac and means to bind or to fasten. It is the
Mark Twain once quipped, Clothes... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Mark Twain once quipped, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no
Kim and Cindy had once... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Kim and Cindy had once been best friends. They met at work and soon became close
They'd wasted a million dollars... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
They'd wasted a million dollars. What did their future hold? Their remaining cash went to
In the early 1970s, a... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
In the early 1970s, a psychology professor at Stanford University named David L.
Jesus' family has been to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Jesus' family has been to Jerusalem for Passover and they've stayed seven or eight days --
One preacher took this text... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
One preacher took this text and preached a sermon on: "'Tis a Pity the Kittens Have to
Losing a child is every... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare. Most parents have experienced this at
Seated among the learned rabbis... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
Seated among the learned rabbis in the temple, the young Jesus displays a remarkable
On his visit to the... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2006
On his visit to the temple, Jesus amazed the Jewish teachers with his intelligent answers
Many strange things have been... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Many strange things have been done in the name of science -- even in outer space. The
Many young campers have been... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Many young campers have been awakened by a rousing rendition of the chorus to "Arky
For too long, Christina remained... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
For too long, Christina remained silent. It might have been from her childhood that she
Once there was a cave... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Once there was a cave that lived in darkness underground, as you would expect a cave to
Tom was vaguely disturbed. He... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Tom was vaguely disturbed. He felt it all day, starting at the office. He thought for sure
Many people today are prisoners... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Many people today are prisoners. No, they are not living at a correctional facility, or in
As I write this, some... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
As I write this, some secret plans to blow up airplanes are making headlines. In contrast,
A story is told of... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
A story is told of the late King Hussein of Jordan. In the latter years of the king's reign,
Small or insignificant towns sometimes... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
Small or insignificant towns sometimes produce legendary figures. Take the city of
What we learn during our... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
What we learn during our formative years can become a life lesson. Renee's father
The wise men presented gold... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2006
The wise men presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. Gold was a reminder of

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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...

New & Featured This Week

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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