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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Reading this scripture, I wondered... -- 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Reading this scripture, I wondered what fathers are teaching their sons these days: prepare for a po
I am about to go... -- 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
"I am about to go the way of all the earth."-- King David (1 Kings 2:2)
If you have done much... -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
If you have done much traveling by car, you have come upon road signs that are clustered together on
A Sunday school teacher has... -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
A Sunday school teacher has kept a list of some mistaken ideas about religion her class has had over
Among the final things that... -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Among the final things that Moses said to his people was to urge them, strictly, to give heed to the
Admiral George W. Anderson, chief... -- Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Admiral George W.
A recent news story told... -- Ephesians 6:10-20 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
A recent news story told of the death of a youngster who had spent his life confined in a room-sized
God is looking for people... -- Proverbs 9:16 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
God is looking for people who are just smart enough to know that they're not as smart as he is.
Medical books speak of physical... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Medical books speak of physical therapy for broken bones.
Paul admonishes us to be... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Paul admonishes us to be wise and to make the most of the time, since the days are evil.
Sometimes it's the old... -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Sometimes it's the old hymn that says it best. I grew up listening to my grandf
You are what you eat... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
"You are what you eat," is a phrase that one hears from time to time.
Jesus uses strong language to... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Jesus uses strong language to tell about "living bread." We always need strong language to jolt us o
Have you ever tried to... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Have you ever tried to explain a joke?
Jesus asks his followers to... -- John 6:51-58 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B
Jesus asks his followers to incorporate him completely into their lives.
One little guy, really too... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
One little guy, really too young for our junior choir, proudly gave his parents a preview of what th
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross has become... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross has become famous through her dedicated work to help the terminally ill face d
In recent years, the church... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
In recent years, the church has been called to accountability.
A person's last words frequently... -- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
A person's last words frequently provide a fitting epilogue of that person's life.
A certain novelist was once... -- Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
A certain novelist was once called a "toy socialist," because he spoke eloquently about the movement
Choose this day whom you... -- Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
"Choose this day whom you will serve," said Joshua to the Israelites.
When Cathy, from the comic... -- Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-25 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
When Cathy, from the comic strip by Cathy Guieswite, went to "The Last Resort," a fitness and health
John Hanson and his family... -- Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-25 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
John Hanson and his family emigrated from Sweden in 1875 and lived, for about five years, in the cit
Some of the newer comedians... -- Ephesians 4:25--5:2 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
Some of the "newer comedians" are not popular with everybody.
I remember watching the movie... -- Ephesians 4:30-5:2 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B
I remember watching the movie classic, Gone With the Wind.

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...

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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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