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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The bride was from Pakistan... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- 1999
The bride was from Pakistan, and the groom from India.
Many of us have a... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1999
Many of us have a deep desire to visit the Holy Land, to "walk where Jesus walked." The pages of th
The very first performance of... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- 1999
The very first performance of Handel's Messiah took place in Dublin in April, 1742.
To you is born this... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1999
"To you is born this day ..." said the angel to the shepherds.
Unlike those societies that honor... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- 1999
Unlike those societies that honor the elderly, ours tends to foster negative attitudes about aging.
It may seem strange on... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1999
It may seem strange on the day after Christmas to read from the Fourth Gospel, for in John the birt
Annie Dillard speaks against those... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- 1999
Annie Dillard speaks against those who regard God as some quiet guardian angel.
Over in Ireland during the... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1999
Over in Ireland during the Christmas season of 1997, a politician suggested that there should be a l
Too often Christians are silent... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- 1999
Too often Christians are silent.
One week a Sunday school... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- 1999
One week a Sunday school teacher had just finished telling her class the Christmas story, how Mary a
The first building that Mother... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1999
The first building that Mother Teresa began to operate out of in India was formerly a kind of hotel
The writer of the letter... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1999
The writer of the letter to Titus admonishes his readers to live upright, godly lives.
The writer of Hebrews reminds... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1999
The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers of the authority with which God has invested his Son, Jesu
The apostle Paul had his... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 1999
The apostle Paul had his priorities straight. He gave the glory to God.
The Internet is famous (or... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1999
The Internet is famous (or notorious?) for its many warnings about germs or viruses to look out for.
Joel Robert Poinsett gave his... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1999
Joel Robert Poinsett gave his name to the red "flower" we see everywhere at Christmastime.
Something's gone wrong at the... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 1999
Something's gone wrong at the highest levels and there's a cover-up going on.
We can both love and... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1999
We can both love and hate the idea of food samples that we are invited to taste when we shop for gro
At this time of year... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 1999
At this time of year it helps to cut through the glitter of a secular Christmas celebration and to c
My wife had a baby... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1999
"My wife had a baby! Let's celebrate!" So said Tom as he handed out the cigars.
Jonathan was one of five... -- Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) -- 1999
Jonathan was one of five children.
For years Pastor Don had... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1999
For years Pastor Don had struggled with alcohol.
The very first performance of... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- 1999
The very first performance of Handel's Messiah took place in Dublin in April, 1742.
Grace and peace to you... -- 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- 1999
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." We too casually pass off thi
Jim's trademark was a simple... -- Romans 16:25-27 -- 1999
Jim's trademark was a simple one.

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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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