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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A family gathered for Thanksgiving... -- Malachi 3:19-20 (4:1-2) -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A
A family gathered for Thanksgiving just three weeks after the mother in the home had died of cancer.
The story is told... -- 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 -- All Saints Day - A
The story is told of an earnest young man who wished, for his own edification, to know the tr
Good parents know that punishment... -- Wisdom 11:22-12:1 -- All Saints Day - A
Good parents know that punishment does not destroy the love relationship between them and their chil
If you have ever been... -- Wisdom 11:22-12:1 -- All Saints Day - A
If you have ever been on a mountain or looked up from a deep canyon, this verse may come alive for y
Was God's hand guided by... -- Wisdom 11:22-12:1 -- All Saints Day - A
Was God's hand guided by a master plan as it fashioned the universe -- or did it exercise a bit of "
When it is a matter... -- Wisdom 11:22-12:1 -- All Saints Day - A
"When it is a matter of not-doing, I reckon a man can trust himself for advice.
Freedom is integral to the... -- Isaiah 1:10-20 -- All Saints Day - A
Freedom is integral to the whole conception of humanity in God's intention.
To stop doing wrong is... -- Isaiah 1:10-20 -- All Saints Day - A
To stop doing wrong is to repent.To seek justice is to be involved.
In the forests of Northern... -- Isaiah 1:10-20 -- All Saints Day - A
In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal known best for its snow-white fur
Many people make religion out... -- Isaiah 1:10-20 -- All Saints Day - A
Many people make religion out to be a hard thing, its principles hard to understand, the motivation
The Amazing Randi (born Randall... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 -- All Saints Day - A
The Amazing Randi (born Randall James Hamilton and now legally named James Randi) has devoted his li
Paul gives thanks for the... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 -- All Saints Day - A
Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonian Christians because they are being sanctified by the Spirit an
A car became stuckb... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 -- All Saints Day - A
A car became stuck in the snow and ice along the side of the road.
Sometimes it is doing a... -- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 -- All Saints Day - A
Sometimes it is doing a massive thing to "stand firm and hold to the traditions." During a ti
A husband and wife died... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- All Saints Day - A
A husband and wife died at the same time and each parted for different destinations.
Jesus finished this dissertation on... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- All Saints Day - A
Jesus finished this dissertation on marriage with the Sadducees (who generally did not believ
The incident happened when she... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- All Saints Day - A
The incident happened when she was only five.
In Par Lagerkvist's novelb... -- Luke 20:27-38 -- All Saints Day - A
In Par Lagerkvist's novel Barabbas, Barabbas interviews Lazarus, whom Jesus raised fro
In Revolution in Psychiatry Ernest... -- Zechariah 7:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
In Revolution in Psychiatry Ernest Becker wrote: "If we lack a firm, lived behavioral pattern
Let's keep religion out of... -- Zechariah 7:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
"Let's keep religion out of politics and off the streets," the council member told his pastor.
But enough is enough. One... -- Zechariah 7:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
"But enough is enough. One turns at last even from glory itself with a sigh of relief.
Why should I go to... -- Zechariah 7:1-10 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
"Why should I go to church?"
This test is bringing us... -- Malachi 4:1-2a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
This test is bringing us close to Advent and then the glories of Christmas.
Surely the Day is Coming... -- Malachi 4:1-2a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Surely the Day is ComingWords of hope for those who suffer
Leslie Weatherhead, the former pastor... -- Malachi 4:1-2a -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
Leslie Weatherhead, the former pastor of City Temple in London, once said:

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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
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

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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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