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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

This year I have been... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
This year I have been picked to head up a team at Annual Conference (United Methodist's annual legis
On one occasion when Martin... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
On one occasion when Martin Luther was quite depressed -- gloomy and morose -- his wife Katie used a
Lord, ... show which one of... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
"Lord, ...
An island native could not... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
An island native could not understand the practice of the captains of large, oceangoing vessels who
In this passage John reflects... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
In this passage John reflects on the greatness of God and how that can be passed on to us.
A beautiful young woman was... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
A beautiful young woman was engaged to be married to a fine young man.
Graduates of a certain high... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
Graduates of a certain high school assembled for their first class "reunion." Ten years had passed a
The hypocrisy of particular Christians... -- 1 John 4:13-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
The hypocrisy of particular Christians has been well-documented in the history of the church: the ex
A 66-year-old widow... -- 1 John 4:13-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
A 66-year-old widow from Waynesboro, Georgia, celebrated Christmas last year not only as the birth o
During the First World War... -- 1 John 4:13-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
During the First World War, a fierce battle raged in a patch of forest in northern France.
There is no big secret... -- 1 John 4:13-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B
There is no big secret about how love goes from person to person.
One of my colleagues had... -- 1 John 3:18-24 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
One of my colleagues had some personal problems and needed to take a leave of absence from the minis
In this era when everyone... -- 1 John 3:18-24 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
In this era when everyone likes things summarized, from the news to novels, Saint John gives us a nu
Real greatness is often missed... -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
Real greatness is often missed in those who live significant lives, until they die.
When you know what the... -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
When you know what the source of your life really is, all the taunts from an uncomprehending world m
We would simplify our lives... -- John 15:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
We would simplify our lives if we could only be what God has called us to.
John and Mary both liked... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
John and Mary both liked cooking. Since both worked outside the home, this was a happy situation.
We look in vain for... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
We look in vain for comfort where there is none.
It makes a difference when... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
It makes a difference when we know someone intimately.
We have lived so long... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
We have lived so long with an understanding of the openness and inclusiveness of the Gospel that it
Prejudice really means to weigh... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Prejudice really means "to weigh out ahead of time" or to prejudge someone.
In West Side Story, Maria... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
In West Side Story, Maria is advised to "stick to her own kind." There seems to be a part of
Then they asked him to... -- Acts 10:44-48 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:48b)
True Christian love is shown... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
True Christian love is shown in giving of self to others.
The name Lee Iacocca has... -- Acts 11:19-30 -- Ascension of the Lord - B
The name Lee Iacocca has become a household name in this country.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
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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 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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New & Featured This Week

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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.

Special Occasion

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