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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Only Helpbr... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C
The Only HelpIt is not the many spoken words
This scripture directly challenges the... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
This scripture directly challenges the privatistic religion of our day.
Since we have a great... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
"Since we have a great high priest ... let us draw near ..." (Hebrews 10:21-22)
God's election and protection are... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C
God's election and protection are not always seen as a blessing.
We are an extended footnote... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
We are an extended footnote to the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery.
The story is told of... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The story is told of a mason who was working high up in the tower of a large country church.
Pat Conroy, in the story... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Pat Conroy, in the story of The Prince of Tides, describes Tom running down the beach.
It was common knowledge during... -- Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - C
It was common knowledge during the Depression of the 1930s that wanderers known variously as "bums"
This text about everyone's access... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Maundy Thursday - C
This text about everyone's access to the Holy of Holies in the Temple because of Jesus relates to ou
Often I hear some discussion... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Often I hear some discussion on the way we are to act when we receive the Eucharist.
There is a colorful Celtic... -- Hebrews 10:17-18 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There is a colorful Celtic allegory which tells of an angel who was sent to a certain saint to tell
There is a very amusing... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There is a very amusing episode of the television program Mash, in which Klinger, along with
An academic discussion of the... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
An academic discussion of the Lord's Supper seems pitiful, or even deplorable, given the pressing ne
The section quoted below is... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The section quoted below is by Owen Dodson from Three Choruses From A Verse Drama: Divine Comedy
The Lord's Supper and prayer... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
The Lord's Supper and prayer have at least one thing in common -- they are both forms of communion.
There was a professor at... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There was a professor at a seminary who was like a walking encyclopedia.
Saint Francis of Assisi asked... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Saint Francis of Assisi asked a stone mason, "What are you doing, my friend?" He replied, "Well, I'm
Be gentle when you touch... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Be gentle when you touch bread.Let it not lie uncared for -- unwanted.
M. Scott Peck, the... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
M. Scott Peck, the psychiatrist, makes a plea for new approaches to community in The Diffe
Even as children we learn... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Even as children we learn to pick the right time.
Miss Lelia always walked home... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - C
Miss Lelia always walked home from the office. All along the way people knew her and spoke to her.
Do you know what I... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - C
"Do you know what I have done for you?" Jesus asked.
In Will Campbell's book, Forty... -- John 13:1-15 -- Maundy Thursday - C
In Will Campbell's book, Forty Acres and a Goat, he tells of hearing a black preacher say:
On Palm Sunday the members... -- Deuteronomy 32:36-39 -- Passion Sunday - C
On Palm Sunday the members of an adult class were asked to think silently on some time in life when
Our Scripture triggers a well... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C
Our Scripture triggers a well-known bit of folk wisdom.

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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
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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
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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
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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.

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