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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

An older book on gardening... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 2000
An older book on gardening, titled A Sense of Humus, reminds the reader of this Latin word for groun
In this passage, the author... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
In this passage, the author of Hebrews states that one who is chosen to be high priest "is able to d
we are by nature children... -- Ephesians 2:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2000
"... we are by nature children of wrath," Paul writes (v. 3).
Jesus not only taught love... -- Ephesians 3:14-21 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 2000
Jesus not only taught love; he is love.
Clergy see it all too... -- Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2000
Clergy see it all too often -- families on one side of a marriage refusing to accept the choice thei
Little guys tend to be... -- Ephesians 1:3-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 2000
Little guys tend to be chosen last in team sports.
At 21 years of age... -- 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 2000
At 21 years of age Bruce could see no need for God. He had it all figured out.
The benevolent wealthy man wanted... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2000
The benevolent wealthy man wanted to share all that he had with the less fortunate.
Many people find it just... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 2000
Many people find it just plain difficult to digest emotionally the abundance of bad news in the medi
Before Sally went to summer... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 2000
Before Sally went to summer camp her mother gave her a list.
One of the findings of... -- 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 2000
One of the findings of the Church Growth Movement is that members attract like members.
There was a man who... -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B -- 2000
There was a man who owned and drove a hearse. It was his family car.
In 1997, five Jewish students... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 2000
In 1997, five Jewish students sued Yale University.
A young teenager was rummaging... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- New Year's Day - B -- 2000
A young teenager was rummaging through some old family records in a closet.
In 1964, Pope Paul VI... -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2000
In 1964, Pope Paul VI gave Mother Teresa the limousine that he had used during a visit to India.
In 1997, a man who... -- 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 -- Epiphany 7 | Ordinary Time 7 - B -- 2000
In 1997, a man who said that he was an exiled prince from Borneo announced at a United Nations confe
For a high school science... -- Acts 19:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 2000
For a high school science project a few years ago, a student conducted a survey.
David Berkowitz was convicted of... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - B -- 2000
David Berkowitz was convicted of being the Son of Sam serial killer, the one who terrorized New York
Lewis Smedes is a professor... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2000
Lewis Smedes is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in California.
Christians would rather read the... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 2000
Christians would rather read the Book of Hebrews than tackle the apocalyptic Book of Revelation.
The New York Times... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 2000
The New York Times Magazine had the story of the Scheibner family who home school their child
Some folks think that Paul... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Some folks think that Paul wrote Hebrews, but it's just not his style.
A third grader, Megan, came... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
A third grader, Megan, came and sat down next to me on the first night of summer church camp.
Mr. Starr was the high... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Mr. Starr was the high school journalism teacher.
Timothy had returned to Corinth... -- 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 2000
Timothy had returned to Corinth from Thessalonica with a very encouraging report about his mission.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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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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