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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I find it hard not... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
I find it hard not to think of Anne Frank whenever I read of the progression: suffering, endurance,
During the plagues in Europe... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
During the plagues in Europe, Christians had an above average survival rate.
Steve Mariotti is the founder... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
Steve Mariotti is the founder and president of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
In his book It's... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2001
In his book It's Not About the Bike, Lance Armstrong relates his rocky journey from world cha
I have a good friend... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2001
I have a good friend who once served as a college chaplain.
The Holy Eucharist is expressed... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2001
The Holy Eucharist is expressed in many different rituals within the world-wide Christian community.
When my brothers and I... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2001
When my brothers and I were teenagers, our Monday-to-Friday afternoon ritual rarely varied.
The Wadi Quelt is a... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2001
The Wadi Quelt is a dry ravine running from Jerusalem toward Jericho. For hundreds of years, St.
If you find the poem... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
If you find the poem suggested in the commentary too violent, here is an alternative:
I am a white seminary... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
I am a white seminary student in the deep South but have a long northern Presbyterian tradition.
In this past year's Olympic... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
In this past year's Olympic games we were reminded of the extraordinary endurance of certain athlete
Despite all the soldiers who... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
Despite all the soldiers who have shed their blood on battlefields -- from the Mongol warriors to th
In 1633, John Donne penned... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
In 1633, John Donne penned his famous sonnet on Death.
A Sunday school teacher was... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
A Sunday school teacher was doing a lesson about the crucifixion.
In the movie Anna... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 2001
In the movie Anna and the King, one of the king of Siam's favorite wives leaves him to join a
The kids in Amy's seventh... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2001
The kids in Amy's seventh-grade class made fun of her. They called her names because she was fat.
Jesus turns the world upside... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2001
Jesus turns the world upside down in the proclamation of the Beatitudes.
In what is often characterized... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 2001
In what is often characterized as a "dog eat dog" world, Hagar the Horrible (of comic-page fame) ins
Con artists target our seniors... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
Con artists target our seniors in many get-rich quick and other schemes.
Paul attempts here to provide... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
Paul attempts here to provide some instruction concerning the Second Coming.
Brian Mardsen, director of the... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
Brian Mardsen, director of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams at the Smithsonian Astrophy
For one week in January... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
For one week in January 1925, the nation held its breath waiting to hear if a supply of life-saving
When kids are growing up... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
When kids are growing up, they often test their peers to see how they will react to outrageous quest
Pastor, Elaine began, my mother... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
"Pastor," Elaine began, "my mother wants to know who she will be married to when she dies and goes t
In the John Grisham novel... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2001
In the John Grisham novel, The Firm, the lead character faces a very difficult quandary.

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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
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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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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.

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