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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Just like today, in... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2003
Just like today, in biblical times, decrees of various types were written down for the record.
Movie makers are growing... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2003
Movie makers are growing in their boldness to depict God in frail human terms, often featuring
When my wife and... -- Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2003
When my wife and I reminisce with our grown children, they often tell us about the things they
There are many reasons... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you. But don't worry.
The boy Samuel served... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
The boy Samuel served a faithful apprenticeship at the shrine at Shiloh, without seeking perso
Part of the thrill... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Part of the thrill of competing in team sports is the honor of wearing the uniform.
Every mother or grandmother... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2003
Every mother or grandmother who sews probably can tell a story of sewing a garment for a child
The greatest immigration of Irish... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
The greatest immigration of Irish folks to America was due to the death of the potato in Ireland.
The raising of Lazarus is... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
The raising of Lazarus is a text interested in the issue of Jesus' authenticity.
Mary and Martha loved their... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
Mary and Martha loved their brother, Lazarus, and mourned him deeply but some so-called relatives ca
My grandfather was a stoical... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
My grandfather was a stoical man; he showed very little emotion.
On a late summer afternoon... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 2003
On a late summer afternoon, Pastor Rick found himself sitting around the kitchen table with Helen an
Houses vary in size... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Houses vary in size.
There is a carnival... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
There is a carnival atmosphere to the celebration of the new creation.
It was all her... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
It was all her fault.
In his book, I... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In his book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum tells
Paul admonishes his readers... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Paul admonishes his readers always to be gentle with others.
In his play I... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
In his play Dancing at Lughnasa, Brian Friel tells the story of five unmarried sisters
Catherine Marshall, in I... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Catherine Marshall, in Stories for the Heart, tells the parable of the king who offered
God loves me just... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
"God loves me just the way I am," Allen said with a tinge of doubt.
The message to each... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The message to each group mentioned in the text is particular to the temptations with which th
The judge in Washington... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
The judge in Washington, D.C., noticed the change in the 15-year-old before him.
Growing up in a... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2003
Growing up in a home where both of my parents were ordained clergy in the Salvation Army, I wa
The year is 1941... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
The year is 1941, and Hitler's armies are on the march.
The prime minister of... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B -- 2003
The prime minister of Australia, Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, was running for re-election when,

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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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