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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The arresting line in this... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- All Saints Day - B
The arresting line in this pericope is: "He is able ...
Napoleon's Faithbr... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- All Saints Day - B
Napoleon's Faith
These are they who have... -- Revelation 7:2-4, 9-17 -- All Saints Day - B
"...
Since he had reluctantly re... -- Revelation 7:2-4, 9-17 -- All Saints Day - B
Since he had reluctantly re-entered the "singles" world, he often found himself feeling lonely, left
Dr. Robert Schuller tells of... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Dr. Robert Schuller tells of a lady in his church whom he calls Mom Schug.
The apostle calls for songs... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
The apostle calls for songs from God's people to express their hope and encouragement for one anothe
During one of the welcome... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
During one of the "welcome home" ceremonies for Desert Storm troops, actor Glenn Ford told a true st
Verse 13 refers to Jesus... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Verse 13 refers to Jesus having trust in God.
The spring of 1991 brought... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
The spring of 1991 brought a series of disasters to the human community.
I once knew a man... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
I once knew a man who spent a long and uneventful life being afraid of death.
A coach once asked for... -- Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
A coach once asked for an explanation of the difference between power and authority.
Naomi was a most religious... -- Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Naomi was a most religious person.
You are familiar with the... -- Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
You are familiar with the expression, "Kids say the darndest things," or maybe the one that begins,
Slave versus Son: the way... -- Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Slave versus Son: the way we raise our families, how we relate to contemporaries, the integrity of o
A little boy who had... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
A little boy who had lost his tooth asked his mother, "Why do I get money if I put my tooth under my
Jane Brooks, writing in the... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Jane Brooks, writing in the "My Turn" column of Newsweek (April 29, 1991), calls herself one
Letting go. These are difficult... -- Luke 2:41-52 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
"Letting go." These are difficult words for anybody. They are particularly difficult for parents.
A story is told of... -- John 1:1-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
A story is told of a French lighthouse keeper who worked near Calais.
The gospels according to Matthew... -- John 1:1-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
The gospels according to Matthew, Mark and Luke have painstakingly provided us with as accurate an a
Stephen W. Hawking, professor of... -- John 1:1-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Stephen W.
God can make all things... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B
God can make all things new.
In the David Lean movie... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B
In the David Lean movie, Lawrence of Arabia, there is a startling scene about the importance
A few theological seminary students... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B
A few theological seminary students were playing basketball in a local gym.
A little boy named Johnny... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B
A little boy named Johnny was always fighting with the little girl who lived next door.
In Bernie Siegel's second book... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - B
In Bernie Siegel's second book, Peace, Love, and Healing, is this interesting section on inne

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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.

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