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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Gordon W. Allport, in his... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 1998
Gordon W.
Allen and Linda had only... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Allen and Linda had only attended the small neighborhood church for a couple years.
In August of 1995, Florida... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
In August of 1995, Florida hosted its first Promise Keepers event in Tampa.
The idea of one human... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The idea of one human being owning another is repulsive to us.
Paul compares the Christian life... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Paul compares the Christian life with a long distance race.
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) was an... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) was an Italian nationalist patriot and hero.
I read about a man... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
I read about a man who had a vast collection of X-rated videos.
The Sultan of Brunei is... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The Sultan of Brunei is the world's richest man.
The small, yet growing, congregation... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The small, yet growing, congregation decided to build a Christian Education wing to get space for th
A young man appreciated the... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
A young man appreciated the love of his grandmother as long as he could remember.
Thomas Long, professor of homiletics... -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Thomas Long, professor of homiletics at Princeton, tells of a church that opened its building to the
One of the biggest hit... -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
One of the biggest hit programs PBS has ever produced in the last few years is Creation.
Science fiction writer Robert Heinlein... -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Science fiction writer Robert Heinlein has a book called Double Star.
Nothing is more satisfying than... -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a person come to faith in Jesus Christ for the first time.
In 1996 James Hood made... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
In 1996 James Hood made a trip to Alabama, where he met with former governor George Wallace.
A familiar story of E... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
A familiar story of E. Stanley Jones reveals the heart of a father.
At a summer Bible Camp... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
At a summer Bible Camp for junior high school students, the entire class was told that they would be
What pastor has not heard... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
What pastor has not heard some person, who has faced difficulties and troubles, say in effect, "The
The daughter brought her bad... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The daughter brought her bad attitude to breakfast.
Our actions paint the true... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Our actions paint the true picture of who we are. I know of a church that had a softball team.
When you are invited to... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
When you are invited to a wedding, it is expected that you will show up in the appropriate attire.
1) A young student, studying... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
(1) A young student, studying in America, zeroed in on American thinking about heaven when he said,
A Christian family was once... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
A Christian family was once traveling by airplane.
Why? is a favorite question... -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
"Why?" is a favorite question we often ask when unjust suffering shatters innocent lives.
Aesop tells the story about... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Aesop tells the story about a baby crab and his mother.

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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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