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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

An old fable told about... -- Genesis 11:1-9 -- Day of Pentecost - C
An old fable told about two ducks and a frog. They often played together in a small pond.
Herb Miller tells the story... -- Genesis 11:1-9 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Herb Miller tells the story of a church executive who made a reservation for him and his family to s
Edward White tells of growing... -- Acts 2:1-11 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Edward White tells of growing up in Boston as an ardent Boston Red Sox fan, and an even more ardent
God's deeds of power come... -- Acts 2:1-11 -- Day of Pentecost - C
God's deeds of power come to us through the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The pastor stepped out of... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - C
The pastor stepped out of the pulpit after preaching on this text. He then
Since junior high, Colleen has... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Since junior high, Colleen has wanted to be a physical therapist.
Folks are not always as... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Folks are not always as they seem.
Have our members ever been... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Have our members ever been confronted by other Christians who doubt that the Spirit is active in the
What a year! We had... -- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
"What a year! We had our baby, Johnny.
After years of keeping it... -- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
After years of keeping it a secret from herself, Jurene allowed herself to remember the incest.
God is foolish, God gave... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
God is foolish, God gave fish noses but they breathe through gills; God is wise, fish smell with the
Viewed from an historical point... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Viewed from an historical point of view, the life of Jesus is the silly story of a foolhardy, imprac
The figure of the clown... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
The figure of the clown has gained increased significance in worship services during the last decade
If God could not look... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
"If God could not look on in anguish while Abraham sacrificed his son, would he then have suffered h
Lewis Smedes tells the story... -- Luke 15:11-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Lewis Smedes tells the story of going one hot summer afternoon to visit at the Los Angeles County ja
Max Weber was one of... -- Luke 15:11-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Max Weber was one of the first sociologists to make a serious study of the relationship between soci
An Air Force major was... -- Genesis 11:1-9 -- Day of Pentecost - C
An Air Force major was promoted to colonel and was moved into a brand new office.
Pope John Paul II created... -- Joshua 5:9-12 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
Pope John Paul II created a stir with the encyclical, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (Social Concer
I think I was closest... -- Isaiah 12:1-6 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
I think I was closest to my father on the day he was angriest with me.
As we progress into the... -- Isaiah 12:1-6 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
As we progress into the Lenten season, we are confronted with the type of behavior which makes God a
The church organist and minister... -- Isaiah 12:1-6 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
The church organist and minister were having a cup of coffee in the church staff lounge.
In the early 1980s a... -- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
In the early 1980s a certain U.S.
In the movie, Hoosiers... -- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
In the movie, Hoosiers, the main character, a head basketball coach, attempts to give a man a
Jeremy was highly regarded by... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Jeremy was highly regarded by the firm with which he had been employed for 20 years, moving up the r
Some years ago I received... -- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
Some years ago I received a mid-afternoon phone call. A frantic voice shattered my study.

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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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