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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The writer of Hebrews calls... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - B -- 2003
The writer of Hebrews calls the faithful to hold fast to what is right without wavering.
Irving Lazar, a well-connected... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2003
Irving Lazar, a well-connected literary agent, worked with former President Richard Nixon in plannin
Paul knew his teaching would... -- 2 Corinthians 4:3-6<br> -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2003
Paul knew his teaching would be greeted by some with indifference.
Jesus' example of humility and... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2003
Jesus' example of humility and servitude is not easily patterned among us.
The ministry of the kingdom... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
The ministry of the kingdom is shared ministry and the responsibility for the ministry is shared res
Sitting in the waiting room... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Sitting in the waiting room at the obstetrician's office, Dave took a hard look at his life.
Jesus liked children. John Kemble... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Jesus liked children. John Kemble should have learned from him.
Salt is one of the... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Salt is one of the most important minerals for both human and animal life.
Did you learn some of... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Did you learn some of the lines written by Alfred Lord Tennyson?
In the midst of a... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
In the midst of a Nebraska drought, some thirsty soul sent the following prayer to the Lincoln Jo
Sitting in church in February... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Sitting in church in February 1998, Hunter Tylo, star of The Bold and the Beautiful, gave tha
There were but six adults... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
There were but six adults, three teenagers and 11-year-old Caleb at the healing service in the shelt
While we may despise Haman... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
While we may despise Haman for what he was plotting to do, let us not overlook what Americans did in
Haman would have liked Judge... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Haman would have liked Judge Isaac C. Parker.
One veritable litany that echoes... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
One veritable litany that echoes over and over in this section of the gospel is the "last shall be f
Haman joins others who have... -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2003
Haman joins others who have been hanged as punishment for crimes against humanity.
You've probably seen his picture... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
You've probably seen his picture in all the guidebooks.
Nowhere is Jesus' saying about... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
Nowhere is Jesus' saying about the last finishing first and the first finishing last bantered around
The easiest thing in the... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
The easiest thing in the world to do is to create discord.
Jesus didn't appear to be... -- Mark 9:30-37 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
Jesus didn't appear to be a giant among men, except to those who truly knew him.
Some traffic signs warn: Merging... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
Some traffic signs warn: "Merging Traffic." Engineers have observed the waste of time and fuel in ha
Vince Wogman of Chehalis, Washington... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
Vince Wogman of Chehalis, Washington, wrote Dear Abby on December 23, 1996, to tell how he handled a
Bill Russell, center for the... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
Bill Russell, center for the NBA Boston Celtics from 1956-1969, has been recognized by Sports Ill
The wedding went off without... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
The wedding went off without a hitch. The man and the woman became husband and wife.
A capable wife who can... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2003
A capable wife who can find?

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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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