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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I unlocked the church door... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1999
I unlocked the church door to let in a young woman wearing shorts, t-shirt, and baseball cap.
These words from the Revelation... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1999
These words from the Revelation are a promise that all things will be made new.
Changing names is often done... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 1999
Changing names is often done in the entertainment field.
Eileen was twelve years old... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 1999
Eileen was twelve years old and she wanted a camera of her own.
In May 1995, a Greek... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- 1999
In May 1995, a Greek television station broke the news that in the 1950s, while still recovering fro
The gospel passage tells that... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
The gospel passage tells that God helps us to be born anew, giving us a new direction in our lives.
At a Bereavement Support meeting... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
At a Bereavement Support meeting a new widow said, "I thought I understood what the death of a spous
Tanya Luhrmann, associate professor of... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Tanya Luhrmann, associate professor of anthropology at the University of California - San Diego, and
I once counseled an individual... -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
I once counseled an individual who had a very technical mind.
Helen had suffered enough and... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1999
Helen had suffered enough and told her children she was ready to be with Jesus.
In the early 1990s, the... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the early 1990s, the Washington Post published an article pointing out how students from o
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was a dynamic speaker. His long-
Marsh has Down's Syndrome. At... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Marsh has Down's Syndrome. At ten, one might mistake his actions for those of a five-year-old.
Jeff, I just might have... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
"Jeff, I just might have something special for you when I come home from work today.
Dave had drifted through a... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Dave had drifted through a number of jobs following college.
Paul vividly reminds us in... -- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Paul vividly reminds us in these passages that we cannot earn our own salvation.
General George C. Marshall, U.S... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
General George C. Marshall, U.S.
There is something about me... -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
There is something about me that likes the pat on the back.
In the book of Romans... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells us the basic Christian truths as he saw them.
One person can make all... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
One person can make all the difference in the world -- for good or for evil.
FREE GIFT! splashed in big... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
FREE GIFT! splashed in big red letters across the envelope or the computer screen.
Paul is speaking of the... -- Romans 5:12-19 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
Paul is speaking of the gracious life of grace made possible through Christ.
There is a new candy... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
There is a new candy company named Lighthouse Confections that makes very intricate designs on lolli
I once heard a pastor... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1999
I once heard a pastor say, "If you're looking for illustrations on the meaning of Lent, then you mig
God loves you, Todd. God... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 1999
"God loves you, Todd.

Political Pulpit

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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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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