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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

What children experience when they... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
What children experience when they are young lasts for a lifetime.
Loving our neighbor includes making... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
Loving our neighbor includes making sure we do not take advantage of his or her generosity.
Remember Fiddler on the Roof... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
Remember Fiddler on the Roof?
Are the terrorists who were... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2002
"Are the terrorists who were responsible for the deaths of thousands on September 11 last year my ne
There's a difference between genuine... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
There's a difference between genuine love and sentimental love.
Several years ago, it was... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
Several years ago, it was my privilege to spend two months in the Philippines, working with Sunday s
Living peaceably with all and... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
Living peaceably with all and in harmony with others, can be a tough assignment.
Her friends could not understand... -- Romans 12:9-21 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
Her friends could not understand. "How can you forgive him?" The divorce was final.
Did you hear the story... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
Did you hear the story of the man at the circus, near the camel pen?
Peter, Jesus said, had become... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
Peter, Jesus said, had become a stumbling block to Jesus.
It is a rough thing... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
It is a rough thing to have to endure suffering.
The Greeks have a story... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2002
The Greeks have a story about Paedaretos.
Reality TV has become popular... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
"Reality TV" has become popular in recent months with shows such as Survivor.
Do you know the hymn... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
Do you know the hymn, "Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun?" It was written in 1695, by Thomas Ken, who
Loving one another includes loving... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
Loving one another includes loving our enemies.
The kitchen was not new... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
The kitchen was not new to him. His wife called him a "gourmet" cook. Cakes were his specialty.
Nothing can ruin a marriage... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
Nothing can ruin a marriage faster than not fighting fair.
Lynn was the chairperson of... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
Lynn was the chairperson of the personnel department of a large manufacturing company.
A friend of the congregation... -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2002
A friend of the congregation had called Pastor Don late one Friday afternoon.
In Massachusetts during a youth... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
In Massachusetts during a youth hockey scrimmage, two fathers found themselves in a conflict.
Because of World War II... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2002
Because of World War II, there were innumerable government programs and procurements.
Do not worry about anything... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2002
"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you
Three centuries ago, in Scotland... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2002
Three centuries ago, in Scotland, Samuel Rutherford was a preacher of great renown.
Paul calls disciples to demonstrate... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2002
Paul calls disciples to demonstrate forbearance.
The Marquis de Lafayette came... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2002
The Marquis de Lafayette came to America from France to help the Continental Army in its fight for i

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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
Bonnie Bates

1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a and Psalm 42-43
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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