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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

On a trip to Alaska... -- Luke 21:10-19 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
On a trip to Alaska, Andrew Rogness says, "We talked with many people, especially one I'll never for
When I was living in... -- Luke 21:10-19 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
When I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I had reason often to pass through a suburb of Tulsa called Bi
In the report of Jesus... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
In the report of Jesus' temptations, we note that both Jesus and Satan repeat scriptures from memory
The Nazareth Synagogue slumbers by... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
The Nazareth Synagogue slumbers by the Galilean Sea -- Sabbath day about to dawn on the gathering of
President Franklin Roosevelt worshiped often... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
President Franklin Roosevelt worshiped often at a Washington church.
Jesus' words were a sore... -- Luke 4:14-21 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
Jesus' words were a sore spot for the good people of his hometown.
This passage draws from stock... -- Luke 21:10-19 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
This passage draws from stock-in-trade apocalyptic language: wars, earthquakes, famines, and portent
In the Olivet Discourse also... -- Luke 21:10-19 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
In the Olivet Discourse also found in Matthew 24-25 and Mark 13 a report is given of what the last d
My father was a Texan... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
My father was a Texan, and he loved to tell tall tales.
How many of us have... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
How many of us have joined hands around a blazing campfire on a beautiful summer evening, singing in
There is a plague in... -- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
There is a plague in this country that is seen clearly in a man I spoke with recently.
When you walk into the... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
When you walk into the doctor's office, what do you see there on the wall?
Jim Crane, in his book... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
Jim Crane, in his book On Edge, has drawn one of his characters, hat in one hand, cigarette i
In the movie Dances... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
In the movie Dances With Wolves Lieutenant John Dunbar experienced firsthand what it meant to
Great success stories often involve... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - C -- 1998
Great success stories often involve a radical contrast between the "before and after" states.
The changing of the water... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
The changing of the water into the wine is a wonderful miracle.
One of the landmarks in... -- Matthew 16:13-19 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
One of the landmarks in London is a life-size statue of Lord Nelson, who was a hero of the British n
Frederick Speakman had the following... -- Matthew 16:13-19 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
Frederick Speakman had the following incident related to him by the chaplain of the University of Ed
There are many navigation dams... -- Matthew 16:13-19 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
There are many navigation dams on the Mississippi which the Army Corps of Engineers has built in an
Promise Keepers was a grassroots... -- Matthew 16:13-19 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
Promise Keepers was a grassroots effort started by Colorado University football coach Bill McCartney
Alcoholism tends to run in... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
Alcoholism tends to run in some families.
A couple appeared before the... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
A couple appeared before the judge. In a few minutes, he would legalize their divorce.
A congregation in a small... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
A congregation in a small town was proud of its youth group and the spiritual progress of many of th
In the mid-1980s, Billy... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
In the mid-1980s, Billy Graham addressed an energetic group of young people considering missions.
As any pastor knows, things... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
As any pastor knows, things can go wrong at weddings, especially when too much alcohol is involved.

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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
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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.

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