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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

If there is a hallmark... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
If there is a hallmark to the Christian life, it is that followers of the crucified do not resort to
As a member of my... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2000
As a member of my denomination's Board of Ordained Ministry, I am concerned when someone hears the c
Each afternoon the youth lined... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2000
Each afternoon the youth lined up at the bus to go to the city to swim in the public pool.
After God made Adam and... -- 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 -- Epiphany 8 | Ordinary Time 8 - B -- 2000
After God made Adam and Eve, he said: "Finish the world for me." And the man and the woman said: "Bu
A hundred young men sat... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2000
A hundred young men sat on the hillside grass for the vesper hour at summer conference.
Most of us have had... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2000
Most of us have had the experience of standing in the large room at an airport, waiting for our lugg
At the age of 77... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
At the age of 77, Senator John Glenn applied to go into space again.
It was the fourth night... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
It was the fourth night of the tent meeting crusade.
There was an old custom... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
There was an old custom which was a part of the communion service in some churches.
This text speaks of the... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
This text speaks of the Church and its obligation to a life marked by love, forgiveness, and "Christ
Coach Mike Kryzewski has built... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2000
Coach Mike Kryzewski has built a wonderful basketball program at Duke University.
The ethical imperative of the... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2000
The ethical imperative of the Christian life is urged in this passage.
Since 1995 and the fiftieth... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Since 1995 and the fiftieth anniversary of World War II, we have been besieged by a variety of media
Few strategies for child-rearing... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Few strategies for child-rearing and support receive as much affirmation as mentoring models.
Paul's prayer for his beloved... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Paul's prayer for his beloved Philippian Church that has literally been faithful in good days and ba
There is a genuine sense... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
There is a genuine sense of celebration and appreciation for others in this passage. N. G.
January, 1868. The South was... -- James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2000
January, 1868.
J. Frank Dobie wrote many... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 2000
J. Frank Dobie wrote many books on life in rural Texas during the early 1900s.
Horace Greeley was the newspaper... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 2000
Horace Greeley was the newspaper editor famous for saying, "Go west, young man." He was also famous
Every year Jerry Lewis has... -- James 1:17-27 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2000
Every year Jerry Lewis has a telethon to raise money for the treatment of and to research a cure for
A young student asked an... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 2000
A young student asked an aging pastor for advice on how to live a pure and holy life.
Spartacus was a slave who... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 2000
Spartacus was a slave who led an uprising against Rome in about 70 B.C.
After the people of Elijah... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2000
After the people of Elijah the Tishbite had turned to the worship of Baal, he, still faithful to the
One of Luther's great contributions... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 2000
One of Luther's great contributions to the church's theology was the rediscovery of the idea of the
An atheist was spending a... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2000
An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing on Loch Ness when suddenly his boat was attacked by the

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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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