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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A hospital chaplain often will... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
A hospital chaplain often will accompany a doctor into a patient's room to deliver bad news.
Jean was struggling with Alzheimer's... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
Jean was struggling with Alzheimer's disease when it was discovered that she had breast cancer.
A practice familiar to scuba... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
A practice familiar to scuba divers involves something called "buddy-breathing." Occasionally one di
How does the Spirit of... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
How does the Spirit of truth come to us today, if not in the Bible?
The saying, One bad apple... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The saying, "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch," isn't always true. Nik is an avid gardener.
Do we live by the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
Do we live by the law or by grace?
The 1991 movie Defending... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The 1991 movie Defending Your Life features Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks in a whimsical sto
A theme common in the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
A theme common in the Bible is that adhering to the Law will not save you; faith in Jesus is what wi
After a long road trip... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
After a long road trip, there is nothing so inviting as a motel sign: V-A-C-A-N-C-Y!
The phone rang. It was... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
The phone rang. It was Karen, one of the most committed members in our congregation.
We have a teenage son... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
We have a teenage son. Recently I overheard my wife sharing a story with a friend about him.
In the Museum of Fine... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2001
In the Museum of Fine Arts in Buda-pest, Hungary, there hangs a most captivating painting, Sleepi
As a young boy, I... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
As a young boy, I had the privilege of having a hockey coach who came from the "old school," in othe
In Christ there are no... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In Christ there are no longer slave or free, for we are all one in Christ.
Philip Becker's parents had him... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
Philip Becker's parents had him institutionalized at birth.
In an article by Matthew... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In an article by Matthew Purdy that appeared in the New York Times, we hear a story about sum
In the United States, we... -- Acts 13:13-26 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2001
In the United States, we love to hear a good motivational speech.
Twins David and Daniel were... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
Twins David and Daniel were adopted as infants by a couple who believed they were incapable of havin
Being a child of God... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
Being a child of God may very well involve suffering or persecution.
On Sunday, October 11, 1998... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
On Sunday, October 11, 1998, Pope John Paul II canonized Teresa Benedicta (1891-1942).
An article written by Micheal... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
An article written by Micheal Finkel for The New York Times Magazine of June 18, 2000, tells
The race is hard to... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
The race is hard to run by ourselves. The strongest runners are relay runners who sprint hard.
When Mary was seven years... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
When Mary was seven years of age, one of her favorite toys was a set of stacking dolls that her gran
People have been fascinated with... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
People have been fascinated with wax museums for years.
In December 1999 a horrific... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2001
In December 1999 a horrific wind, clocked at 125 miles per hour, swept across France and felled 270

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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
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
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32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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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.

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