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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The narrative of the valley... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Day of Pentecost - B
The narrative of the valley of dry bones suggests a process of regeneration.
Pentecost came when with one... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Pentecost came when "with one accord (they) devoted themselves to prayer ..." The outpouring of the
It is claimed that Mendelssohn... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B
It is claimed that Mendelssohn once visited a cathedral in Europe that contained a priceless organ.
A Russian fisherman, walking along... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B
A Russian fisherman, walking along the beach of Vilkilski Strait in the Arctic, found a bottle in th
About twenty years ago I... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B
About twenty years ago I attended a three-day workshop in Pittsburgh, relative to encouraging young
Jesus says the Kingdom of... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Jesus says "the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net cast into the sea which gathers fish of every kind."
A thirty-year-old doctor... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - B
A thirty-year-old doctor in Quincy, Illinois -- Dr.
Electricity is a great mystery... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Electricity is a great mystery even to the most learned scientists; most of us have a hard time desc
William James is quoted as... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 -- Day of Pentecost - B
William James is quoted as having said that religion is either a dull habit or an acute fever.
There is a line in... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B
There is a line in Aesop's Fables that is translated by Thomas James as, "Every truth has two sides:
This Roman Lectionary Gospel is... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B
This Roman Lectionary Gospel is so rich I wish it was an alternate lesson for some of the rest of us
Could I love a god... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Could I love a god so smallthat human form contained it all?
Jesus dialogs with us through... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Jesus dialogs with us through the Holy Spirit.
Theology, the attempt to talk... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B
Theology, the attempt to talk about God, could be described as the attempt to talk about the "un-tal
The Festival of Tabernacles was... -- John 7:37-39a -- Day of Pentecost - B
The Festival of Tabernacles was the third of the trio of great Jewish festivals, coming after Passov
The proof of our love... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
The proof of our love is in how we live.
To think in terms of... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
To think in terms of price and profit is a natural attitude in secular life.
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was noted... -- 1 John 4:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was noted for his many talents and virtues; among them: his great abil
Some folks thought that John... -- 1 John 4:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Some folks thought that John was a little strange, even a fanatic, but his letter has permanent mean
Woody Allen wrote, directed, and... -- 1 John 4:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Woody Allen wrote, directed, and acted in the movie, "Manhattan." In it he is told by a friend, "Sto
Any one of us is... -- 1 John 4:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Any one of us is replaceable on our jobs.
Have you ever tried to... -- John 15:9-17 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Have you ever tried to tell someone what it is like to love another person, when they themselves hav
Beethoven was told by some... -- John 15:9-17 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Beethoven was told by some of his mentors that he should stick to being a concert pianist, that he w
A little boy was being... -- John 15:9-17 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
A little boy was being interviewed prior to beginning school.
Judas brings to mind one... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
Judas brings to mind one of the mysteries of life -- the capacity for good and evil within each of u

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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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