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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The word serendipity is derived... -- Genesis 28:10-17 (18-22) -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
The word "serendipity" is derived from an ancient Persian legend about the three Princes of Serendip
While camping out on the... -- Genesis 28:10-17 (18-22) -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
While camping out on the trail, Jacob discovered that his resting place was a sacred place.
Not too long ago we... -- Genesis 28:1-17 (18-22) -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Not too long ago we all lived in a world in which faith, if not life, was regarded absurd.
Jacob was a scoundrel, a... -- Genesis 28:10-17 (18-22) -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Jacob was a scoundrel, a rascal. Yet he was a man capable of deep religious experience.
The words we use are... -- Genesis 28:10-22 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
The words we use are very important.
Why should I? br... -- Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
"Why should I?" "Because I said so!" "That isn't any reason!"
Last winter our newspapers told... -- Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Last winter our newspapers told us of a bizarre tale unfolding in Sioux City, Iowa.
Many of you remember the... -- Romans 4:16-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Many of you remember the popular novel, Barabbas, written at the end of World War II.
A third grade boy came... -- Romans 4:16-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
A third grade boy came home from school one day with something clenched in his hand.
Novelist Christopher Isherwood wrote his... -- Romans 4:16-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Novelist Christopher Isherwood wrote his semi--autobiographical Berlin Stories not long after
We all have times when... -- Romans 4:16-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
We all have times when our life's passage becomes difficult.
A dozen years ago or... -- Romans 4:16-25 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
A dozen years ago or so the press recounted a tale of terror and rescue on the Great Plains.
The text says, Suffering produces... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
The text says, "Suffering produces." (5:3) When pain happens in a person's life, it is not neutral.
A story is told of... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
A story is told of an older man who visited a home where there were five children.
While we were yet sinners... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Last year one of the... -- Romans 5:1-11 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Last year one of the television networks ran a film version of the (true) story of the United States
When Martin Niemoeller, courageous Lutheran... -- Romans 8:31-34 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
When Martin Niemoeller, courageous Lutheran clergyman who stood up against Adolf Hitler, was asked w
Who ... or what ... can separate... -- Romans 8:31-34 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Who ... or what ... can separate us from the love of God?
Our world is full of... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Our world is full of illusions. Most people think air fresheners "remove" things from the air.
Whoever cares for his own... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Whoever cares for his own safety is lost; but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake and for
Being ashamed of the gospel... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Being ashamed of the gospel is a very subtle thing.
The Church was in need... -- Mark 8:31-38 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
The Church was in need of missionaries for foreign service.
Robert the Bruce, King of... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, has had a powerful effect upon the people of his country.
Jesus talks to Pilate about... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Jesus talks to Pilate about the truth.
What is truth? We can... -- John 18:33-37 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
What is truth? We can really get mixed up here.

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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.

Special Occasion

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