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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

If you've ever watched a... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
If you've ever watched a sailboat race, you know the thrill of watching the boats gathering and mane
Alice's husband said to her... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
Alice's husband said to her, "I don't understand what's happened to you!
The student said to his... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2002
The student said to his Master, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.
In 2001, the Coca-Cola... -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2002
In 2001, the Coca-Cola company, known for warm-feeling commercials such as "I'd Like to Teach the Wo
Patrick was a young pastor... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
Patrick was a young pastor out to change the world.
In order to be useful... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
In order to be useful, a symbol has to be understood by both the people using it and the people obse
A fellow wanted a job... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
A fellow wanted a job as a signalman on the railway.
A piano looks ominous to... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
A piano looks ominous to us when we first sit down at the keyboard. White keys, black keys.
There continues to be a... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
There continues to be a debate in the Christian community about what it means to be "poor in spirit.
No mercy! None expected, none... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2002
"No mercy!
It had been a long... -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
It had been a long and difficult case -- murder cases often were.
I was a little apprehensive... -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
I was a little apprehensive.
Peter writes, No prophecy of... -- 2 Peter 1:16-21 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
Peter writes, "No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation." Old Testament scho
Many who read the story... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
Many who read the story of Jesus' Transfiguration on the mountaintop wonder where this story really
The author James Michener, speaking... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
The author James Michener, speaking in Detroit, told a group of senior citizens about an aunt of his
A church member contacted her... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
A church member contacted her pastor for advice about dealing with her 12-year-old son who had just
Three years ago, Time... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2002
Three years ago, Time magazine asked novelist Reynolds Price, who had previously translated t
Normally our 13-year-old... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
Normally our 13-year-old daughter loved her English class.
When Virginia died there was... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
When Virginia died there was no shortage of people to come to her funeral.
All was going well on... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
All was going well on Julia's first day as a nurse in Dr. Chegley's office. That is, until Dr.
Did you ever see the... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
Did you ever see the movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers?
The old theological seminary was... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
The old theological seminary was on the north side of Pittsburgh. It no longer stands.
Who is the real authority... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
Who is the real authority in life? Matthew makes clear it is Jesus. Not everyone recognizes this.
Ron made an appointment with... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2002
Ron made an appointment with his pastor.
There are a couple of... -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2002
There are a couple of things that render the law incapable of providing us with salvation from our s

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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