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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The movie Catch... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
The movie Catch Me If You Can tells the story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a brash, intellig
Excessive confidence in humanity's... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 2003
Excessive confidence in humanity's creations has always posed a theological challenge.
The last words of... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2003
The last words of David reflect his confidence that his efforts in the realm of governing the
Martin Luther, sixteenth century... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2003
Martin Luther, sixteenth century reformer, makes this comment on the ruling authorities: "Next
It is with a... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2003
It is with a strong sense of "an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure," that
The most important decision... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2003
The most important decision David made in ruling over the people of Israel was to rule "in the
Japan is the land... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2003
Japan is "the land of the rising sun." Its flag is a bright red sun on a pure white background
Every year, right after... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
Every year, right after Thanksgiving, television stations across the country start running the
Every town has its... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
Every town has its claim to fame.
The trail had taken... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The trail had taken a sharp drop into a very thick, dark patch of woods.
In the 1959 film... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In the 1959 film epic Ben Hur, Director William Wyler told the story of Judah Ben Hur.
Slajov Zizek, 54, is... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Slajov Zizek, 54, is an anti-Christian Marxist philosopher from Slovenia, a former Yugoslav re
The substitute teacher was... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The substitute teacher was glaring at the class.
There's a story about... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
There's a story about Fiorello LaGuardia, who was mayor of New York City during the bleakest d
God saw potential in... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
God saw potential in Mary when few others would have.
Henri Nouwen, in his... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Henri Nouwen, in his book A Spirituality of Waiting: Being Alert to the Lord's Presence in
Any expectant mother will... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Any expectant mother will tell you that when she feels her unborn baby kick, it is a definite
Laser surgery is a... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
Laser surgery is a remarkable development in eye care.
This passage layers epithets... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
This passage layers epithets of praise.
Aldous Huxley, British novelist... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
Aldous Huxley, British novelist, essayist, and critic, in a little article titled, "New-Fashio
From the day Tyler... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
From the day Tyler was born, "Pap" has referred to him as "The World's Greatest Grandson." And
I was standing behind... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
"I was standing behind an altar in a small crypt chapel of the Church of the Annunication in N
Late in his career... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
Late in his career, the British actor, A. E.
In our health-conscious... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
In our health-conscious society, more and more people are concerned about purity, especially i
Military boot camp is... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 2003
Military boot camp is demanding.

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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