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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Abram was blessed. He was... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Abram was blessed. He was blessed to be a blessing. That's also why we are blessed.
In a collection of The... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
In a collection of The Best Short Poems of 1986-1987, (edited by Ramon Delgado, published by
Two young boys sat scrunched... -- Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Two young boys sat scrunched over in the shade of a large tree making a "covenant" between themselve
Hearing reality is always a... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Hearing reality is always a difficult thing.
Walter Brueggemann in a book... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Walter Brueggemann in a book called, Prophetic Imagination says the "task of prophecy is to e
The Scotsman James Haldane joined... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
The Scotsman James Haldane joined the navy at an early age.
Many attorneys hesitate to let... -- Jeremiah 26:8-15 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Many attorneys hesitate to let their clients testify in their own defense.
Our commonwealth in heaven is... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
"Our commonwealth in heaven" is provocative imagery.
Hear the words of Augustine... -- Philippians 3:17--4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Hear the words of Augustine: "All are aware that we live in the house that is called the Bishop's Ho
As one reads these words... -- Philippians 3:17-4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
As one reads these words from Saint Paul, one cannot help but wonder about his arrogance at saying h
It seems strange to us... -- Philippians 3:17-4:1 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
It seems strange to us now, but there have been societies where fat was considered beautiful.
In Judgment at Nuremberg, Abby... -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
In Judgment at Nuremberg, Abby Mann brings us into the following dialogue where Ernest Jannin
A great act of God... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
A great act of God, performed anywhere through the life of Christ on earth, would have enormous powe
Hans Kung, the Catholic theologian... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Hans Kung, the Catholic theologian, suggests that Jesus was a lay person.
Several years ago a teenage... -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Several years ago a teenage boy in a small South Dakota community saw a girl about to be hit by a sp
Human destiny hinges upon the... -- Luke 9:28-36 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
"Human destiny hinges upon the accuracy of thought transmission."*
Tell no man, Jesus said... -- Luke 9:28-36 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
"Tell no man," Jesus said often. He knew the secret that what we keep secret controls us.
Mike Littlejohn, in writing about... -- Luke 9:28-36 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Mike Littlejohn, in writing about how it feels to wait for a heart transplant in the Carolina Org
All of us have times... -- Luke 9:28-36 -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
All of us have times that are absolutely euphoric. Times like --
The name God gives to... -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Third Sunday in Lent - C
The name God gives to Moses at the sight of the burning bush, “I Am Who I Am” is a name of life.
In a volume edited by... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17a -- Ash Wednesday - C
In a volume edited by Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps, a story is told which illustrates verse 13.
The Lenten season is a... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C
The Lenten season is a time of self-examination and introspection.
You don't have to be... -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 -- Ash Wednesday - C
You don't have to be a farmer to know that you have to plow the ground before you can plant seed.
Time is such a relative... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2 (3-10) -- Ash Wednesday - C
Time is such a relative concept.
Lesslie Newbigin, a former bishop... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2 (3-10) -- Ash Wednesday - C
Lesslie Newbigin, a former bishop of the Church of South India in Madras, delivered a famous series

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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
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.

* * *

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
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
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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