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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross, renown for... -- Acts 3:13-15, 17-26 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross, renown for her writing on death and dying, lectured to a group of clergymen
What are your associations with... -- Acts 3:13-15, 17-26 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
What are your associations with the word "repent?" For me that word brings to mind a sign posted on
In Ladies Professional Golf JoAnne... -- Acts 3:13-15, 17-26 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
In Ladies Professional Golf JoAnne Carner is known as "Big Mamma." Once she said in an interview the
If we confess our sins... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
("If we confess our sins ...")
Near the end of the... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Near the end of the nineteenth century, a young lad from the country was visiting his relatives in L
If I could just get... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
If I could just get a handle on it ...
She had made a terrible... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
She had made a terrible mistake.
This letter of 1 John... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
This letter of 1 John has led quite a number of Christians to the conclusion that once a person is a
As the years passed, the... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
As the years passed, the eternization of Jesus became more important to each writer of the gospel.
Educators tell us that learning... -- 1 John 1:1-2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Educators tell us that learning increases when more than one of the senses is involved.
Are you sure you are... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Are you sure you are a Christian?
Burros are often referred to... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Burros are often referred to as "Beasts of Burden." Often our hearts are moved at the sight of one o
Who is it that overcomes... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Who is it that overcomes the world?
Regina's mother lived by herself... -- 1 John 5:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Regina's mother lived by herself for several years after the children married and left home.
Sometimes on a cloudy day... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Sometimes on a cloudy day we might say, "The sun isn't shining today." We say this because without t
When Halley's Comet returns to... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
When Halley's Comet returns to our skies later this year, one of the phenomena you will hear discuss
Dick Gregory, the comedian, reflecting... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
Dick Gregory, the comedian, reflecting on the 1968 demonstrations at the Democratic convention in Ch
A logical connection between as... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B
A logical connection between "as" and "even so" runs throughout scripture, and from scripture into o
Where does Peter get his... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
Where does Peter get his power to heal?
The twentieth anniversary of the... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
The twentieth anniversary of the death of President John F.
The people had seen a... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B
The people had seen a lame man healed. They were filled with awe and and wonder.
For an introduction to the... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B
(For an introduction to the sermon:) Have you ever been at a place with a beautiful panoramic view a
Some things are impossible to... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B
Some things are impossible to keep under wraps.
In 1977 I was attending... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B
In 1977 I was attending Seminary in Washington, D.C.
To anoint means to apply... -- Mark 14:1--15:47 -- Passion Sunday - B
To anoint means "to apply oil to as a sacred rite, especially for consecration; to choose by or as i

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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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