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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A young college student, considered... -- John 20:1-9 (10-18) -- Easter Day - C
A young college student, considered to be an intellectual, announced to a group of friends one day t
We are the Easter people... -- John 20:1-9 (10-18) -- Easter Day - C
"We are the Easter people," say Avery and Marsh in their song.
Bacon wrote, in contemplation, if... -- Luke 24:1-10 -- Easter Day - C
Bacon wrote, "in contemplation, if a man begins with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he
The alarm clock goes off... -- Luke 24:1-10 -- Easter Day - C
The alarm clock goes off and Joe Smith pulls the pillow tightly around his ears.
This passage raises the matter... -- Luke 24:1-10 -- Easter Day - C
This passage raises the matter of credibility issues.
In ancient Persia, people told... -- Luke 24:1-10 -- Easter Day - C
In ancient Persia, people told a fable about the time God made the earth. It was a barren plain.
I remember walking into an... -- Acts 5:27-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
I remember walking into an American history class in college and the professor was standing on the d
After World War II, many... -- Acts 5:12, 17-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
After World War II, many of those accused of committing atrocities in the Holocaust, the mass murder
The early disciples were not... -- Acts 5:12, 17-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
The early disciples were not the only ones who were in prison and then left, declaring the words of
My first recollections of Martin... -- Acts 5:12, 17-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
My first recollections of Martin Luther King, Jr., go back to my elementary school years.
I'm fascinated by cultures in... -- Acts 5:12-16 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
I'm fascinated by cultures in which the spiritual leader is also a physical healer.
Easter brings us the good... -- Acts 5:12-16 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Easter brings us the good news of Christ's glorious resurrection. It also brings us a mandate:
At times we become as... -- Acts 5:12-16 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
At times we become as bewildered about belief in God as were the nonbelievers and almost believers w
A couple was discussing the... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
A couple was discussing the prospect of having children.
Helmet Thielicke, a German theologian... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
Helmet Thielicke, a German theologian and preacher, who knew what it was to suffer persecution for b
One of the most innovative... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
One of the most innovative theologians of this century, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote in various
In his book, New... -- Revelation 1:4b-8, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
In his book, New Testament Words in Today's Language, (Wayne A.
How proud we are that... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
How proud we are that we are so progressively moving on down the road.
In the movie, Rainman... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
In the movie, Rainman there is one particularly poignant moment.
On the eve of Yom... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
On the eve of Yom Kippur there is a Jewish service known as "Gates of Forgiveness." From this servic
The prophet Hosea reminds us... -- Hosea 6:1-6 -- Good Friday - C
The prophet Hosea reminds us that God "has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us
Nobody loves me, everybody hates... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
"Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, think I'll go eat worms." One of the great frustrations of chi
Back in the 1940s Eugene... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
Back in the 1940s Eugene Talmadge, the governor of Georgia, died while in office.
That Jesus intimately shares in... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
That Jesus intimately shares in our sufferings is sometimes hard to believe.
In the 1920s, the London... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
In the 1920s, the London County Council opened up the old slum district in East London.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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29 – Worship Resources
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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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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