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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When we enter into an... -- Genesis 17:1-10, 15-19 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
When we enter into an agreement, we usually put our signature on the "bottom line." A life insurance
A three--year--old girl... -- Genesis 17:1-10, 15-19 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
A three--year--old girl became separated from her mother at a department store and spotted what appe
We often forget that the... -- Genesis 17:1-10, 15-19 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
We often forget that the word "Issac" in Hebrew means "laughter." Abraham laughed when God promised
Upon reflecting on this passage... -- Genesis 17:1-10, 15-19 -- Second Sunday in Lent - B
Upon reflecting on this passage, I am struck by the fact that more people than we think take new nam
History tells us that Constantine... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
History tells us that Constantine endeavored to Christianize the Roman world.
The Presbyterian minister in town... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
The Presbyterian minister in town became very frustrated with the lifestyle of some of his parishion
I was once in the... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
I was once in the remote mountains of a small country when the church leaders decided to celebrate a
and made us priests to... -- Revelation 1:1-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
"... and made us priests to his God ...
These verses teach us many... -- Revelation 1:1-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
These verses teach us many things and paramount among their various truths is the possibility of rev
A man had too much... -- Revelation 1:1-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
A man had too much to drink at a party. On his way home, he lost his wallet.
To this day, sitting on... -- Mark 13:1-13 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
To this day, sitting on the Mount of Olives and looking at Jerusalem, still fills the eyes and heart
Joyce had received a variety... -- Mark 13:14-23 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Joyce had received a variety of unsolicited catalogs before, but none quite like the latest.
If anyone says, 'Here is... -- Mark 13:14-23 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
"If anyone says, 'Here is Christ' or 'There he is,' do not believe him."
Like most people of my... -- Mark 14-23 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Like most people of my generation, I was introduced to the writings of Shakespeare as a high school
Several years after the war... -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B
Several years after the war an older minister was addressing a group of theological students in semi
In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the Christus Biblical Gardens one finds an excessively inspiring and li
Waiting --the way one occupies... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Waiting --the way one occupies one's time until an expected event occurs.
Several years ago, as a... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Several years ago, as a pastor I was involved in an extensive financial program to build a new churc
Commenting on this pericope, Wilham... -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
Commenting on this pericope, Wilham Barclay of Glasgow, wrote: "It is never the amount of the gift t
A missionary, speaking at a... -- Mark 12:38-44 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B
A missionary, speaking at a church conference, used the Scripture text which told of the poor widow
A parishioner approached her minister... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
A parishioner approached her minister to make an appointment. Rev.
Growing up in south-central... -- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Growing up in south-central Illinois, Mickey discovered that most of his friends read the sports pag
Verse 3 tells us that... -- Daniel 12:1-3 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Verse 3 tells us that the wise shall shine with brightness, even to be "like stars for ever and ever
What do you see when... -- Daniel 12:1-3 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
What do you see when you stargaze?
Three days before Christmas a... -- Hebrews 10:11-18 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B
Three days before Christmas a certain mother was busy getting ready for the big day.

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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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