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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

As I was packing to... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
As I was packing to move I thought about all the things I own and why I have them.
There was an article in... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
There was an article in the paper a few months ago about a man who has a terminal illness.
There was a ninety-year... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
There was a ninety-year-old woman who wanted to do something about the problem of teen pregnancy.
One man has said that... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
One man has said that he begins every day with the belief that he is on trial for his life, and that
In the movie Nell... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
In the movie Nell, a psychologist and a physician desperately attempt to reach out and help N
It would make any classic... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
It would make any classic car lover double over in disappointment.
We live now by faith... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
We live now by faith. But our faith is a simple precursor to sight.
Some people driving through Montana... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Some people driving through Montana are surprised to find out that state troopers are pulling cars o
When the new pastor arrived... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
When the new pastor arrived at his first parish, he formed an immediate relationship with the "chief
In The Phantom of... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
In The Phantom of the Opera, Christine is finally in the presence of the angel of music.
The opportune time presented itself... -- Luke 4:1-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
The "opportune time" presented itself. His wife was gone across the country to her parents' place.
In The Days of... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
In The Days of Our Years, Pierre Van Paassen tells of a parish priest who was outraged at som
Every once in a while... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Every once in a while, Oral Roberts would come up with a short statement that was absolutely profoun
In Sweden there was a... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
In Sweden there was a millionaire real estate dealer who died in 1996.
Someone remarked to a nurse... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Someone remarked to a nurse in a smallpox hospital.
In the June 9, 1990... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
In the June 9, 1990, issue of Sports Illustrated, there was a marvelous article about the gre
In 1993, Paul Rivers was... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
In 1993, Paul Rivers was convicted of second degree robbery for snatching a bag filled with $337 fro
Passages such as this, in... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Passages such as this, in which Paul focuses upon what we believe in our hearts and say with our mo
If at this moment the... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
If at this moment the population of earth was shrunk to the size of a village with a population of 1
Zephyr Wright was for many... -- Romans 10:8b-13 -- First Sunday in Lent - C -- 1998
Zephyr Wright was for many years the housekeeper-cook at the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas.
Why is Christianity symbolized by... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
Why is Christianity symbolized by the cross, rather than the empty tomb?
Christians have always been a... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
Christians have always been a singing people.
Norman Vincent Peale told of... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
Norman Vincent Peale told of a newspaper reporter who was sent to cover the Easter sunrise service h
You and I lived to... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
You and I lived to see a miracle when the Soviet Union collapsed and the Berlin Wall was sledgehamme
I was stunned when I... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
I was stunned when I read an article about a trend in Europe.

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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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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