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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A couple of years ago... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 1998
A couple of years ago there was a woman in Oklahoma who had to be rushed to the hospital.
A certain stranger went from... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 1998
A certain stranger went from his home one Sunday to attend worship with a certain congregation.
The community of West Palm... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 1998
The community of West Palm Beach, Florida, was a little shocked to discover the details of a gas sta
As blood from a shooting... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 1998
As blood from a shooting victim dried in their driveway, an Orlando family continued barbecuing a fe
Ancient Mediterranean society was based... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
Ancient Mediterranean society was based on the dual concepts of honor and shame.
Every so often all of... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
Every so often all of us open other people's mail by mistake.
About a year ago there... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
About a year ago there was an article in the paper on the Hubble telescope and a picture of space th
There was once a certain... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
There was once a certain monastery.
Scott Libby, former Conference Minister... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
Scott Libby, former Conference Minister of Nebraska, was asked to lead worship for a vacationing pas
In the movie Marvin's... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
In the movie Marvin's Room, two sisters are confronted with the task of taking care of an ail
They are free. They are... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 1998
They are free. They are informative. They are practical. They can also be a dangerous diversion.
Even though Paul assures us... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 1998
Even though Paul assures us that God has forgiven us our trespasses (v.
Weather radar enables forecasters to... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 1998
Weather radar enables forecasters to detect storms from several hundred miles away.
The admonition to worship with... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
The admonition to worship "with reverence and awe" in response to the majesty of God (v.
Now thank we all our... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
"Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices." How often have we lifted our voices in u
Through Jesus, God has become... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
Through Jesus, God has become approachable now.
It is fairly well known... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
It is fairly well known that the Nazis practiced eugenics.
Sneak up on the congregation... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
Sneak up on the congregation with this episode from Peanuts:
An uncle and aunt in... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
An uncle and aunt in the film Avalon have the habit of always being late for family gathering
An Orlando barmaid accepted an... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 1998
An Orlando barmaid accepted an invitation to church one Sunday.
Jesus Christ is the same... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 1998
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever," writes the author of Hebrews (v. 8).
One Sunday morning a young... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 1998
One Sunday morning a young lad entered the doorway of his suburban home.
We are to offer up... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 1998
We are to "offer up a sacrifice of praise." The Old Testament word for praise, hallel, litera
One day the pastor of... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 1998
One day the pastor of a large congregation went into his church's sanctuary.
Attending a wedding dinner can... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 1998
Attending a wedding dinner can be an uncomfortable feeling when a guest is trying to decide where to

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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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