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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

One of the most magnificent... -- John 2:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
One of the most magnificent paintings of a miracle performed by Christ hangs in the Louvre in Paris.
John said, One is coming... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
John said, "One is coming who is mightier than I ...
The indwelling of the Holy... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit within believers, with the bestowing of spiritual gifts, has promp
Every week at our church... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
Every week at our church we devote a portion of our service to the wee ones in our congregation.
There is an old I... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
There is an old Peanuts cartoon where the children are all lying on a grassy hillside looking
The church is utterly dependent... -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - C -- 1998
The church is utterly dependent on the gifts and the working of the Holy Spirit.
Manipulation is the art of... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
Manipulation is the art of reworking something. It is a skillful operation ...
Simon the magician wanted to... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
Simon the magician wanted to purchase spiritual power and wisdom for himself.
As Christians we are grateful... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
As Christians we are grateful that God reveals himself in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Everything was going too well... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
Everything was going too well in the huge steel plant.
Do we really want the... -- Acts 8:14-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
Do we really want the Holy Spirit to come?
Events in the gospels are... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
Events in the gospels are often backward from what the reader might expect.
On July 2, 1776, the... -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C -- 1998
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted Richard Henry Lee's Resolution for Independence
In its first issue of... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
In its first issue of 1991, U.S.
The Bible says that we... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
The Bible says that we may boldly approach the throne of God. What a privilege that is!
It seems that there was... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
It seems that there was a young minister who was leading his first worship service.
A popular book among many... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
A popular book among many clergy and lay leaders today is Kenneth C.
In this passage Paul speaks... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
In this passage Paul speaks of the mystery of Christ, which came to him by revelation (v. 3).
As we begin the new... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - C -- 1998
As we begin the new year of 1998 I share with the readers of Emphasis a New Year's reflection
Revelation has the reputation of... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1998
Revelation has the reputation of being a hard book to understand. Here's a specific example.
There will be a day... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1998
There will be a day when all things will be made right by God Himself.
Americans spend more on state... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1998
Americans spend more on state lotteries than they give to their churches.
Do you remember what happened... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1998
Do you remember what happened just prior to the Melbourne Olympics?
Almost every child of God... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1998
Almost every child of God has had the experience of seeing or being confronted by a person in need.
Rick was quite the party... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1998
Rick was quite the "party animal" in his college years.

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

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
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based 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.

Special Occasion

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