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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Perhaps the blind man's friends... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Perhaps the blind man's friends couldn't accept his miraculous healing because they were convinced t
What terrible sins have I... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
"What terrible sins have I committed?
When we take Jesus' promise... -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
When we take Jesus' promise to heart, we can face death confidently, even when it confronts us out o
The television show, Who Wants... -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
The television show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, uses "lifelines" to assist a contestant who is s
Like only a few others... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Like only a few others, Helen was seemingly always calm.
Terrorist attacks put open societies... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Terrorist attacks put open societies at risk.
A farmer owned an old... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
A farmer owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well.
There was a couple who... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
There was a couple who were active in the church, but were often troublesome.
Clergy from 18 Orthodox Christian... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Clergy from 18 Orthodox Christian and Protestant churches joined Pope John Paul II in a candlelight
The congregation had once been... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
The congregation had once been a vital ministry.
Every church has at least... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Every church has at least one member like Mary. Mary worships every week.
A student at a Catholic... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
A student at a Catholic college was hospitalized after a car wreck.
Jesus couldn't perform miracles in... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Jesus couldn't perform miracles in Nazareth without the corresponding faith of its residents.
In the wonderful musical, Camelot... -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
In the wonderful musical, Camelot, we meet King Arthur and his beautiful wife, Guinevere.
The teacher read to her... -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
The teacher read to her class from the Bible: "Jesus said to his friends, 'In my Father's house ther
A very old Texas story... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
A very old Texas story told by Boyce House:
Chris suffers with Crohn's Disease... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Chris suffers with Crohn's Disease.
Do you remember the kindergarten... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Do you remember the kindergarten class in Sunday school when you were a little boy or girl?
The Lord is my Healer... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
The Lord is my Healer,I shall not hurt.He makes a peaceful place for me to rest.
Following the Shepherd, which includes... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Following the Shepherd, which includes accepting his guidance, leads to abundant living.
Jackie, a high-school junior... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Jackie, a high-school junior, began to be friends with a young man who seemed to have no connection
Around A.D. 200, a man... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Around A.D.
Jesus must have gotten an... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Jesus must have gotten an earful from the companions with which he walked to Emmaus.
Walking with his friend, Al... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
Walking with his friend, Al, was something Jason did every day after work.
In one of his books... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
In one of his books, Donald E.

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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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