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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Have you thought about the... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
Have you thought about the hours of darkness?
A certain king had a... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- The Nativity of our Lord - B
A certain king had a dream. In his dream, he saw a huge pair of scales held in the hand of Justice.
Eyewitness to History by... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Eyewitness to History by John Carey is a collection of personal reports of individuals who are a par
A New England father hoped... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
A New England father hoped that he would have a family of sons who would grow up to become preachers
Imagine being born and immediately... -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Imagine being born and immediately the Chief Justice of the United States of America shows up in the
The high school political science... -- Jeremiah 31:10-13 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
The high school political science class had been studying political crises in the Middle East.
Leo Perdue, Dean of Texas... -- Jeremiah 31:10-13 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Leo Perdue, Dean of Texas Christian University's Brite Divinity School and a renowned Jeremiah schol
Jeremiah mentions turning mourning into... -- Jeremiah 31:10-13 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Jeremiah mentions turning mourning into joy and sorrow into gladness.
Two members of a congregation... -- Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Two members of a congregation were residents of a local nursing home.
Her name is Martha Jean... -- Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Her name is Martha Jean.
If a child lives with... -- Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
If a child lives with criticism, she learns to condemn.
A colleague confided, It took... -- Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
A colleague confided, "It took three days of intent listening to understand exactly what my 82-year-
In the movie Joe... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
In the movie Joe and the Volcano, Patricia (Meg Ryan) tells her friend Joe (Tom Hanks) her fa
Isaiah's words of prophecy are... -- Isaiah 61:10-62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
Isaiah's words of prophecy are startling.
Gentleman Jim Corbett (1866-1933) was... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
"Gentleman Jim" Corbett (1866-1933) was one of the best boxers who ever stepped into a ring.
In an article titled I... -- Colossians 3:12-17 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B
In an article titled The Simple Life in the April 8, 1991 issue of Time magazine the writers
Joe Wick pastored the First... -- Luke 3:17-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Joe Wick pastored the First Christian Church in Lafayette, Indiana, for more than 25 years.
It is amazing how people... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
It is amazing how people who take the Bible seriously try to deny what this passage plainly states.
Having been an artist for... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
Having been an artist for the Creative Poster Company for several years now, Dan always enjoyed the
On a recent visit to... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - B
On a recent visit to the United States, the Queen of England was hugged by an African-American welfa
Bethlehem is a small place... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Bethlehem is a small place. Indeed the smallest clan in Abraham's family occupied that territory.
The day that Joellen joined... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
The day that Joellen joined our congregation she asked if she could sing in the choir.
The shuttle bus rounded a... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
The shuttle bus rounded a curve along the west rim of the Grand Canyon.
Around Christmas time, children are... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
Around Christmas time, children are often struck with the urge to do good; to number among the nice
She was a little old... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
She was a little old lady, well advanced in years.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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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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