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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In Northville, Michigan, and in... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
In Northville, Michigan, and in other cities across the country, a corporation called "Great Harvest
The five-year-old boy... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
The five-year-old boy, wearing a miniature hard hat and looking pensive, knelt over his project.
Nathan was afraid. The complication... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1998
Nathan was afraid.
Denise knew the dark side... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
Denise knew the dark side of life. She had given herself over to the powers of cocaine.
During childhood, the time following... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
During childhood, the time following Thanksgiving was a time of expectation, anxiousness, and impati
Tony Campolo once said that... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1998
Tony Campolo once said that on one of his mission trips to Haiti, he was walking the streets, prayin
God has called the believers... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
God has called the believers in Thessalonica, Paul notes, "through our proclamation of the good news
Sometimes it is difficult to... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
Sometimes it is difficult to stand up for truth when evil rules.
After winning independence for Texas... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
After winning independence for Texas by defeating General Santa Anna, Sam Houston was twice Presiden
As we approach the next... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
As we approach the next millennium, we hear more and more end time prophecies.
When I was going to... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
When I was going to seminary, I got a phone call one afternoon from the local cemetery.
Question: What does Jesus say... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
Question: What does Jesus say when we ask, "What's in it for me?" Answer: Nothing!
Questions about religion or personal... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
Questions about religion or personal matters can be very tricky and lead to misunderstandings.
Ordination is a historical honor... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1998
Ordination is a historical honor given to persons for particular ministries.
Jesus said that the poor... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
Jesus said that the poor are blessed, and Paul taught that the love of money is the root of all kind
Captain John Smith was one... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
Captain John Smith was one of the most fascinating adventurers who ever sailed the seas.
The ant works all summer... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
The ant works all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
We are to lead lives... -- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
We are to lead lives of integrity, doing the work that God has laid out for us to do.
Back in 1949 Popular... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
Back in 1949 Popular Mechanics magazine got a lot of laughter when it predicted that one day
Once, in the middle of... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
Once, in the middle of a great struggle for righteousness, a heroic leader wrote to a friend, "Heads
Each summer a young city... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
Each summer a young city boy would spend several weeks in the country visiting with his cousins and
The young pastor needed answers... -- Luke 21:5-19 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 1998
The young pastor needed answers.
If you have ever been... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
If you have ever been to a paint store, then you have seen those charts of all the colors.
Buddha died. Muhammed died. The... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
Buddha died. Muhammed died. The Japanese emperor Hirohito died of cancer at the age of 87.
An early explorer in the... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1998
An early explorer in the Amazon valley felt swallowed up in endless forest, far from the ocean that

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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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