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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the film, Saving Private... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- 2002
In the film, Saving Private Ryan, the entire movie is framed by the context of a veteran who takes h
Paul's benediction attributes all glory... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 2002
Paul's "benediction" attributes all glory to the Lord who is able to do all things.
There is a wonderful balance... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- 2002
There is a wonderful balance between patiently waiting for and anticipating Christ's coming again.
Most anyone who has been... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- 2002
Most anyone who has been to summer camp or worked with youth groups knows about a simple exercise ca
Every so often, ministers will... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2002
Every so often, ministers will get an official looking manila envelope in the mail from an attorney'
There is an old saying... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2002
There is an old saying that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks." While that may be true for huma
Over the course of his... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 2002
Over the course of his 11-year career in the NBA, Manute Bol was something of an oddity.
The movie The Insider tells... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 2002
The movie The Insider tells the story of Dr.
In this passage, Paul instructs... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- 2002
In this passage, Paul instructs us to put all things to the test -- keep what is good and avoid ever
A driver's education instructor at... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- 2002
A driver's education instructor at a high school says that one of his favorite things to do with his
Dennis Becker takes his family... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- 2002
Dennis Becker takes his family camping each year.
One man tells of helping... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2002
One man tells of helping his mother pack her belongings for a move.
Nothing underscores the urgency of... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 2002
Nothing underscores the urgency of time like a woman in labor.
In his book, Dance Like... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2002
In his book, Dance Like a Poor Man, Samuel Hoffer tells the story of a 12-year-old Hutterite named P
Clara's favorite line was, The... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- 2002
Clara's favorite line was, "The Lord is good." Clara emigrated from Sweden as a small child.
Newspaper editor Ed Bunyan of... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 2002
Newspaper editor Ed Bunyan of the North Bay Nugget knew a secret.
Some days rush upon us... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- 2002
Some days rush upon us and nothing we can do will stop them: tax day, examination day, or root-canal
Sir William Johnson was the... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- 2002
Sir William Johnson was the British Empire's administrator of American Indian affairs before the Rev
British actor Wilfrid Lawson once... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2002
British actor Wilfrid Lawson once invited fellow-actor Richard Burton to come to the theater so the
No longer slaves, we are... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 2002
No longer slaves, we are now children, people of privilege. At God's banquet we have a reservation.
The concept of mystery eludes... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 2002
The concept of mystery eludes many. Some confuse it with magic or downright superstition.
The Christian disciple practices self... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2002
The Christian disciple practices self-control, which includes a sense of tact and the ability to spe
The Lord is patient with... -- 2 Peter 3:8-15a -- 2002
The Lord is patient with stiff-necked human beings.
God covets our prayers, and... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 -- 2002
God covets our prayers, and desires that we focus fully on him when we shape our petitions.
Imagine yourself adrift in a... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2001
Imagine yourself adrift in a boat on a vast ocean. You have been sleeping through the night.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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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