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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wow! I must be special... -- Luke 1:46b-55 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
"Wow! I must be special."
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish citizen... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish citizen and a Christian, was instrumental in saving the lives of thousan
She was raised in a... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
She was raised in a Christian home. I was her pastor.
Eliza's knees shook as she... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Eliza's knees shook as she walked to the podium. Why had she agreed to be the banquet speaker?
William Barclay, noted Scottish pastor... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
William Barclay, noted Scottish pastor and theologian who has written commentary on the entire New T
Two young children had experienced... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Two young children had experienced unspeakable abuse at the hands of alcoholic parents -- beatings,
What a fantastic insight! We... -- Galatians 4:4-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
What a fantastic insight! We are no longer slaves, but children of God!
Mommy, mommy! Meg ran into... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
"Mommy, mommy!" Meg ran into the room as little David screamed again.
By all appearances they should... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
By all appearances they should have given up in the twelfth year after they began.
It was when Peter became... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
It was when Peter became afraid that he began to sink.
Jesus speaks to our fear... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
Jesus speaks to our fear in these passages. Fear is often a terrible emotion.
The other day I was... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
The other day I was cleaning out my hall closet when I found a box.
Henri Nouwen tells the story... -- Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1999
Henri Nouwen tells the story of an old man who used to meditate early every morning under a big tree
Shirley and Carol were best... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
Shirley and Carol were best friends. They did almost everything together.
As of May 18, 1997... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
As of May 18, 1997, the State of Michigan was holding some $17 million in funds and property that be
If someone were kept in... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
If someone were kept in a pitch-dark room for long enough, he or she would eventually become blind t
A recent television special honored... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1999
A recent television special honored Dr. Billy Graham on the occasion of his eightieth birthday.
Every day I counsel veterans... -- Romans 9:11-15 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Every day I counsel veterans who come into a homeless veterans program.
When Joan found out that... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
When Joan found out that her best friend, Emily, had been killed in an automobile accident, Joan was
Where do you go when... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Where do you go when you are hungry? Don Gorske of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, goes to McDonald's.
A nurse arrived home at... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
A nurse arrived home at midnight after working a busy double shift in an inner-city emergency room.
The five loaves and two... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
The five loaves and two fish, clearly not enough to feed 5,000 people, became enough when the power
Mary was 82 when she... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Mary was 82 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
A number of years ago... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
A number of years ago a young man studying at Yale University was notified by attorneys that a rich
Oskar Schindler in the movie... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1999
Oskar Schindler in the movie Schindler's List decried the fact that even though he had saved

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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
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29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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26 – Worship Resources
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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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