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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

O Henry's masterful tale, I... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2001
O Henry's masterful tale, The Gift of the Magi recounts a story of sacrifice.
In December 1999, my sister... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
In December 1999, my sister and I were talking about Mom's eightieth birthday.
Each spring the Master's Golf... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
Each spring the Master's Golf Tournament is held at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Emily was the camp cook... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
Emily was the camp cook. She had a great recipe for granola.
Mothers always save memorabilia. In... -- John 13:1-17; 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
Mothers always save memorabilia.
Officially, Maryanne was a hairdresser... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
Officially, Maryanne was a hairdresser who worked out of her own home.
In the historical novel, I... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
In the historical novel, Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful, Alan Paton told the true story of a
In 1936 A.D., after reigning... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
In 1936 A.D., after reigning only eleven months as the British monarch, Edward VIII abdicated the th
D-Day is burned in... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
D-Day is burned in the memory of most people, reenforced by movies such as Saving Private Ryan
There was a Presbyterian minister... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
There was a Presbyterian minister in Scotland who was concerned about the fact that so many stray mu
In Colmar, France, at the... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
In Colmar, France, at the Musee des Unterlinden, one of the most striking paintings in the world of
The 1998 summer blockbuster I... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
The 1998 summer blockbuster Armageddon tells the story of a grizzled veteran oil driller, pla
It was at a fortieth... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 2001
It was at a fortieth birthday party that the group started.
John Thompson was extravagant in... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
John Thompson was extravagant in his generosity.
Charlie Sullivan was not a... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Charlie Sullivan was not a wealthy man.
Everybody needs a mission statement... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
Everybody needs a mission statement.
The world mourned when Diana... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
The world mourned when Diana Princess of Wales was killed on August 30, 1997.
The desert fathers and mothers... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2001
The desert fathers and mothers of the early church had a vital understanding of the role of humility
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879), the... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879), the British hymn writer, was a woman well acquainted with trial
Mark Twain once said, If... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Mark Twain once said, "If you took all the people who fell asleep in church and laid them end to end
Kaye O'Bara, 72, of Miami... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Kaye O'Bara, 72, of Miami, has sacrificed the last half of her life for someone she considers more i
One might look to the... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
One might look to the character of Inspector Javert in Les Miserables to see an example of ho
When the church's worship committee... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
When the church's worship committee decided to add blue altar paraments for the Advent season, Joann
Once upon a time there... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2001
Once upon a time there was a man who really liked to golf.
This passage celebrates the Ephesian... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 2001
This passage celebrates the Ephesian Church.

Political Pulpit

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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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