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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Give me just one good... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
"Give me just one good reason," demanded the atheist, "why you believe that Jesus rose again." "I ca
While attending Iowa Boys' State... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
While attending Iowa Boys' State, a high school junior heard a stirring speech on freedom, commitmen
Maxine was an executive with... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 1998
Maxine was an executive with heart.
King James instructed the translators... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
King James instructed the translators of the Authorized Version of the Bible to render ekklesia
Clouds are fascinating to watch... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Clouds are fascinating to watch as they scud their way across the sky.
A cowboy was crossing the... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
A cowboy was crossing the desert when his horse bit the dust.
In July, 1994, one of... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
In July, 1994, one of the truly great players of baseball was honored posthumously at Three Rivers S
There was an Amish man... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
There was an Amish man who lived in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.
William Barclay's commentary tells of... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
William Barclay's commentary tells of an ancient legend about Thomas.
One of the worst experiences... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
One of the worst experiences in life is the awareness that you have failed.
Do you dislike buying shoes... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Do you dislike buying shoes? How about dress shoes that are stiff, expensive and high maintenance?
One wonders at the audacious... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
One wonders at the audacious faith of the writer of Revelation.
Hanging on the door of... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Hanging on the door of my church office is a castoff cardboard lamb.
Susan Yerkes of the San... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Susan Yerkes of the San Antonio Light reported the story of a great horned owl atop an Eckerd
Many folks remember Ron Howard... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
Many folks remember Ron Howard as Opie, the towheaded son of Sheriff Andy Taylor on the classic tele
What does an oyster do... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
What does an oyster do? Nothing. It can manage some small movement to find food.
I read a little survey... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
I read a little survey the other day that said that forty percent of all the overweight men in the U
Some people are difficult to... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
Some people are difficult to figure out.
On the communion Sunday leading... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
On the communion Sunday leading to Easter, the pastor decided to take what a few members of the wors
Judicatory officials often spend large... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
Judicatory officials often spend large blocks of time in conflicted situations that break God's shal
It was an ordinary professional... -- Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
It was an ordinary professional basketball game.
Time and again Christ's teachings... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
Time and again Christ's teachings seemed to turn reality upside down. Happy are those who mourn.
This passage is the earliest... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
This passage is the earliest recorded witness to the institution of the Lord's Supper.
Bass Mitchell took the old... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
Bass Mitchell took the old mason jar out of the fridge.
I have a brother who... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
I have a brother who is a strong swimmer.

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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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