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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Years ago, while I... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Years ago, while I was a seminary student in Pittsburgh, I had the opportunity of a summer's e
Christianity is not a... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Christianity is not a faith of individuals.
Even when it's obvious... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Even when it's obvious the end is near, some of us will still not be ready.
My grandfather was a... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
My grandfather was a watcher. He watched nature for signs of what was to come.
Dr. Joseph B. Slowinski... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Dr. Joseph B. Slowinski was an expert on venomous snakes.
Watchfulness for the coming... -- Luke 21:25-36 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Watchfulness for the coming kingdom is a central theme for Advent.
What's that? Debbie asked... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
"What's that?" Debbie asked as she watched her grandma at the kitchen counter preparing supper
In the 2000 film... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
In the 2000 film, Chocolat (among those nominated for Best Picture), a mysterious stran
In the early 1970s... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
In the early 1970s, a psychology professor at Stanford University named David L.
I remember the first... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
I remember the first tuxedo I ever wore (junior prom in high school), the most important day w
Seated among the learned... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Seated among the learned rabbis in the temple, the young Jesus displays a remarkable awareness
Jesus' parents came to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Jesus' parents came to the rescue of the temple teachers just in time.
On his visit to... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
On his visit to the Temple, Jesus amazed the Jewish teachers with his intelligent answers, and
Losing a child is... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare.
There is power in... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
There is power in prayer. Hannah experienced it. So did Julee.
We live in a... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
We live in a world that exploits children -- from child labor to pornography to entertainment
Paul Sponheim, a contemporary... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Paul Sponheim, a contemporary theologian, in his chapter "The God of Prayer" in the book A
Hannah dedicates her son... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Hannah dedicates her son to the Lord and will raise him accordingly.
Bob stood over his... -- 1 Samuel 1:4-20 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Bob stood over his wife's exhausted body, proud as punch at seeing his newborn son rest upon h
When the writer to... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
When the writer to the Hebrews encourages getting together and exhorting one another, he is re
In June 1919, Germany... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
In June 1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles formally ending World War I.
Remember the Ten Boom... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Remember the Ten Boom family in the Netherlands who secretly hid Jews in their home during Wor
Prevenient grace is the... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Prevenient grace is the understanding that in our relationship with God, God comes to us befor
Nobody could believe it... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Nobody could believe it when Jesus predicted the solid structure of the Jerusalem Temple, down
In the year 1648... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
In the year 1648, Sabbetai Zevi shocked the Jewish world by speaking God's name YHWH, as writt

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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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