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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

These are powerful words that... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1999
These are powerful words that remind us that God is able to work through our weakness.
I love humankind! It's people... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
"I love humankind!
Christ offers us a unity... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Christ offers us a unity of spirit that is crucial to our well-being.
Whenever you are close to... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Whenever you are close to the ocean, it isn't very hard to find a listing of high tide and low tide.
The following story was told... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
The following story was told as part of a Palliative Care Volunteer Training Course.
Six job-seekers in Lyon... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Six job-seekers in Lyon, France, where unemployment reached 12.7 percent (a post-World War II high),
Carol, a nurse in a... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
Carol, a nurse in a large hospital, was on her lunch break.
For centuries prior to the... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
For centuries prior to the publication of the Encyclope'die in 1751, people believed in the
I was invited to be... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
I was invited to be a part of a pastor's discovery weekend.
Drugs, gang shootings, and teenage... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
Drugs, gang shootings, and teenage sex are as common as the absence of food on the table for most me
In the ancient world, it... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1999
In the ancient world, it was an amazing sight to see the great monuments erected.
Leo Braudy, English professor at... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
Leo Braudy, English professor at the University of Southern California, comments: "I think we as an
A clergy colleague begins each... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
A clergy colleague begins each worship service with the words "Grace and peace to you from God our c
God is faithful, Paul reminds... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
God is faithful, Paul reminds us at the end of this passage.
In verse 29 John declares... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
In verse 29 John declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
A voice from heaven gives... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
A voice from heaven gives a message: this is the Son of God who is a servant king.
A flyer was placed in... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
A flyer was placed in our mail box. It read: "Your business opportunity ...
The SS EthieI... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
The SS Ethie went aground off Newfoundland in surf that would have drowned any human swimmer,
A friend of mine tells... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
A friend of mine tells the story about a schoolmate who wanted to become a doctor when he grew up.
They called her name. A... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1999
They called her name.
At Axum, Ethiopia, the ancient... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1999
At Axum, Ethiopia, the ancient home of the Queen of Sheba, on the Feast of the Virgin (November 29 b
My friend grew up in... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1999
My friend grew up in a Christian home.
Many churches have the baptismal... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
Many churches have the baptismal font at the front of the church to remind people of what happens du
The body lay ten feet... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
The body lay ten feet into the alley. Still shaking, Marge stood under the street light.
In my first year of... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1999
In my first year of seminary I had the opportunity to be guide and "go-fer" for a distinguished past

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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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