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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

This text reminds us that... -- Exodus 34:29-35 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
This text reminds us that to encounter the living God is a momentous experience. Exodus
W. S. Gilbert, one-half... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
W. S. Gilbert, one-half of the famous "Gilbert and Sullivan" opera-writing team, was
Francis took a block of... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Francis took a block of wood, sat down at the picnic table, took out some carving tools,
Pastor Dennis arrived at ground... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Pastor Dennis arrived at ground zero in the days following the September 11, 2001,
For better or for worse... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
For better or for worse. For how long should those promises be kept? Honeymoons
Al, Fred, Carl, and Dan... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
Al, Fred, Carl, and Dan were fraternity brothers. They were a "family" within the
I have always loved the... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
I have always loved the Fourth of July fireworks. I enjoy two views when watching them
A wealthy businessman had many... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
A wealthy businessman had many employees that kept up his large estate, garden, and
The great preacher, Phillips Brooks... -- Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a) -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2006
The great preacher, Phillips Brooks, titled his sermon on this text, "Vision and Task." We
Have you ever heard of... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
Have you ever heard of a "three-hankie" movie? It's an old term, favored by Hollywood's
Rend your hearts and not... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
"Rend your hearts and not your garments," is Joel's challenge to God's people. Stop
The church played an important... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
The church played an important role in Paula's formative years. She attended Sunday
Do you dread making wrong... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
Do you dread making wrong decisions? Do you worry that bad choices lead to poor
In the middle of the... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
In the middle of the twentieth century, mainland China became officially Communist,
I had been visiting Martha... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
I had been visiting Martha for a few months as she was making her final journey in life.
A hailstorm when crops are... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
A hailstorm when crops are growing can be very devastating in Iowa or anyplace where
Ash Wednesday is a good... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
Ash Wednesday is a good time to ponder this enormously important biblical word,
One day, Gandhi stepped aboard... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
One day, Gandhi stepped aboard a train as it started to move, and one of his shoes slipped
For years, the church received... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
For years, the church received a substantial anonymous donation. It arrived early in
No one would ever have... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
No one would ever have guessed that Stan was a generous man, especially when it came
While recently listening to a... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2006
While recently listening to a public radio broadcast, I heard some social science experts
Joyce wanted to give their... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
Joyce wanted to give their offering to missions. Mel wanted to designate their giving to
My mother loves to work... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
My mother loves to work on the family genealogy. Looking back over the past seven
R. Conwell made famous the... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
R. Conwell made famous the story about a wealthy Persian, Ali Hafed, who suddenly
What better way to begin... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 2006
What better way to begin our Lenten journey than with a reminder from the old book of

Political Pulpit

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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 stuffed animal.

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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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