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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

The director of Christian education... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
The director of Christian education in a 5,000-member church makes an appeal for Sunday school teach
A seminary student received his... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
A seminary student received his assignment for a faculty sermon, the date it was to be preached befo
When we are transformed, we... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
When we are transformed, we begin to see everything differently.
The pastor closed the door... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
The pastor closed the door quietly after he counseled the couple.
People take control all the... -- Matthew 16:13-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2002
People take control all the time. At the most basic level, babies do it.
A friend had tried all... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
A friend had tried all morning to phone her insurance company to report a claim.
A pastor's wife once asked... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
A pastor's wife once asked me, "Do you know the difference between kindness and loving-kindness?" We
Sometimes we hear, but we... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
Sometimes we "hear," but we don't "listen." We are rather like Jed Harris, the U.S.
All night she had taken... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
All night she had taken turns nursing the sick and praying for their wholeness, for Saint Theresa of
An old Andy Griffith episode... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
An old Andy Griffith episode has a young family renting a house from an elderly, rich landlord.
Jesus told the Canaanite woman... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
Jesus told the Canaanite woman she had great faith.
In the wake of the... -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2002
In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of reactions.
We wanted to engage in... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
We wanted to engage in a special mission overseas, and an invitation came from the International Pr
Sometimes the truth is communicated... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
Sometimes the truth is communicated less with syllables and more with energy, persuasion, and convic
An old Hasidic story tells... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
An old Hasidic story tells of an old man who was living in a temple, and the demons came to say to h
A small town got a... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
A small town got a new minister.
Michael is the main character... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
Michael is the main character of The Street Lawyer by John Grisham.
Sometimes the most exciting ministries... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
Sometimes the most exciting ministries are started with not much logic and little more than someone
Our community was in crisis... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
Our community was in crisis.
Having just written the most... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2002
Having just written the most glorious affirmation of faith, Paul stopped writing, in the midst of hi
The two men were sitting... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2002
The two men were sitting near a big oak tree.
Five loaves + two fish = plenty... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2002
Five loaves + two fish = plenty for everyone + 12 baskets of leftovers.
One Sunday morning an eccentric... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2002
One Sunday morning an eccentric looking man came to church.
One Saturday night, motivational speaker... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2002
One Saturday night, motivational speaker Reggie Dabbs led an powerful youth service.
Catherine was an active member... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2002
Catherine was an active member of her church.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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...

New & Featured This Week

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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.

Special Occasion

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