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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When you drive through the... -- Mark 7:31-37 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
When you drive through the small towns in East Germany between Bach's Leipzig and Luther's Wittenber
Sickness, during the first months... -- Mark 7:31-37 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Sickness, during the first months of her life, left Helen Keller both blind and deaf.
There is always hope in... -- Mark 7:31-37 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
There is always hope in Jesus Christ.
The rookie shortstop who starred... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
The rookie shortstop who starred for the Minnesota Twins in last year's World Series, learned throug
We must realize that a... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
We must realize that a war is going on!
The military equipment mentioned in... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
The military equipment mentioned in this reading sounds strange to us.
With my grandfather's death came... -- James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
With my grandfather's death came the breakup of the old family home place.
Benjamin Disraeli was one of... -- James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Benjamin Disraeli was one of England's greatest prime ministers during the last century.
James admonishes us to be... -- James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
James admonishes us to be "doers of the word." John Wesley had this for his rule of life:
Hugh Martin, in his book... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Hugh Martin, in his book The Parables of the Gospels, teaches us about purity, when he relate
It is far too easy... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
It is far too easy to become caught up in complex theological argument and miss the forest for the t
These passages help to illustrate... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
These passages help to illustrate the fact that we cannot simply quote a Bible passage to solve our
The great screen-actress, Mary... -- Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
The great screen-actress, Mary Pickford, was once asked how she was able to maintain her poise and g
Wisdom is a word seldom... -- Proverbs 2:1-8 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
Wisdom is a word seldom used today. Most people do not know what it means.
In a particular public... -- Proverbs 2:1-8 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B
In a particular public service announcement that discourages cigarette smoking, the father li
I have a minister friend... -- Proverbs 2:1-8 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
I have a minister friend who is also the religious editor of the Arkansas Gazette.
One of the great love... -- Ephesians 5:21-33 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
One of the great love stories of this century is that of Martin and Osa Johnson, who traversed the j
Over the years I have... -- Ephesians 5:21-33 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Over the years I have savored Paul's advice to husbands and wives; his words brought me pleasure, no
G. K. Chesterton lampoons: That... -- Ephesians 5:21-33 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
G. K.
I heard of a curious... -- John 6:60-69 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
I heard of a curious will in which the mother left to her son primarily good advice and counsel.
I stand by the beds... -- John 6:60-69 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
I stand by the beds of my two sleeping children. Melanie is seven years old and John is nine.
Have you ever heard a... -- John 6:55-69 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Have you ever heard a black person or a Polish person or a Swedish person tell a joke on themselves?
The disciples did not respond... -- John 6:55-69 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
The disciples did not respond well to hard words from Jesus, and neither do we.
The time came for even... -- 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
The time came for even the great King David to "go the way of all the earth" and die.
I spent several years in... -- 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
I spent several years in graduate school studying with a man who became another father to me.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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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