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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

One of the worst things... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
One of the worst things that can happen on payday is for workers to go around and compare paychecks.
His parents sent him to... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
His parents sent him to church school occasionally.
George S. Patton was one... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
George S. Patton was one of the most controversial military leaders in United States history.
Jay was a respected, young... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1998
Jay was a respected, young thirty-year-old seminarian when it happened.
Jamie was a pastor's nightmare... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
Jamie was a pastor's nightmare. She often pointed out the faults of others.
The author of Hebrews valued... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
The author of Hebrews valued encouragement!
Clay Allison fought for the... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
Clay Allison fought for the South in the Civil War, was captured as a spy, and escaped, and may have
Our lesson encourages us to... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
Our lesson encourages us to not forsake the assembling together of believers.
In 1996 Shannon Lucid set... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
In 1996 Shannon Lucid set the record for the longest time an American has spent in orbit.
A girl of sixteen, the... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
A girl of sixteen, the oldest in a large, motherless family, lay dying.
A group of soldiers were... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
A group of soldiers were talking about the value of religion in a person's life.
She was one of those... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1998
She was one of those five-year-old girls that beamed life.
Byzantine Christians often commissioned artists... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1998
Byzantine Christians often commissioned artists to decorate the interior of the church domes with la
Repentance for forgiveness of sins... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
"Repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name." A pastor friend of mine had a
Karen Hoover, a Methodist pastor... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
Karen Hoover, a Methodist pastor in Seattle, tells of a woman who phoned to ask if she might just co
Two pathways to follow in... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
Two pathways to follow in life are contrasted in our passage.
Actor Peter Ustinov had some... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
Actor Peter Ustinov had some trouble with his son's school.
I was talking with a... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
I was talking with a young boy just the other day.
In the middle of the... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
In the middle of the night a certain woman woke up when she heard a desperate shouting, "Help!
A great teacher spoke of... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
A great teacher spoke of his experience as a young man.
As a newly-ordained pastor... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
As a newly-ordained pastor read a local newspaper, his eyes fell upon an obituary.
The movie FantasiaI... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 1998
The movie Fantasia is a Walt Disney masterpiece.
In practical terms, what does... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
In practical terms, what does "love one another" involve for Jesus' followers?
A Maundy Thursday Prayer... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
A Maundy Thursday PrayerWe come unto thee on this night of
Jesus gives us the command... -- John 13:31-35 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Jesus gives us the command to love one another. This must begin with those in our own homes.

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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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