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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

As many as 80,000 honeybees... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2001
As many as 80,000 honeybees can live in a single colony, which they need in order to survive indivi
In one of Aesop's fables... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2001
In one of Aesop's fables, the mighty lion, king of beasts, learns the value of the variety of gifts
Pastor Li was a mite... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2001
Pastor Li was a mite of a man, but he carried a mighty message.
The people in Hollywood know... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2001
The people in Hollywood know a good story when they hear one.
Last year at this time... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2001
Last year at this time, there was much hype about Y2K.
Juan and Maria are a... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2001
Juan and Maria are a Christian couple in Columbia who minister in an area (north of Cali) controlled
A cataract is cloudiness in... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2001
A cataract is cloudiness in the lens of the eye.
The resurrection is like a... -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - C -- 2001
The resurrection is like a traveler's check.
Daddy, what happens when we... -- 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - C -- 2001
"Daddy, what happens when we die?" Stephanie was a curious five-year-old girl and had hundreds of qu
The 4 x 100 relay... -- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C -- 2001
The 4 x 100 relay is an exciting Olympic competition.
Sometimes a new legend takes... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- 2001
Sometimes a new legend takes on a life of its own. Star Trek seems to be one of those.
When Zachary went out for... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2001
When Zachary went out for football he was unenthusiastic about the whole thing.
Harry and Eileen are in... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2001
Harry and Eileen are in their late fifties, and are grandparents. They are nice people.
Colonel Johann Rall was enjoying... -- Romans 1:1-7 -- 2001
Colonel Johann Rall was enjoying a card game and liquor at his headquarters in Trenton, New Jersey,
Lauren had a humble spirit... -- James 5:7-10 -- 2001
Lauren had a humble spirit and she was a team player.
Our Holy Land tour group... -- Romans 15:4-13 -- 2001
Our Holy Land tour group was diverse.
Patience is a virtue. At... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- 2001
Patience is a virtue. At least, that's what I was taught when I was child.
Paul talks about authentic love... -- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - C -- 2001
Paul talks about authentic love and its place in the Christian faith.
During World War II a... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 2001
During World War II a small village in France made an extraordinary statement about solidarity of t
Paul speaks of the dependence... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 2001
Paul speaks of the dependence of the multiplicity of spiritual gifts and their dependence on the one
On the television program, I... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 2001
On the television program, Antique Roadshow, January, 2000, a man from Birmingham, Alabama, w
In small towns people frequently... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 2001
In small towns people frequently identify people by their family connections.
On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2001
On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima, Japan, was the target for the first use of atomic weapons in history.
The commendation of Christ in... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - C -- 2001
The commendation of Christ in a person's suffering is certainly one of the most poignant testimonies
Some years ago I traveled... -- 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 -- Transfiguration Sunday - C -- 2001
Some years ago I traveled to Syria and visited a little village named Seidnaya in the Anti-Lebanese

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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
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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