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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The taking of hostages has... -- Jeremiah 31:10-13 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
The taking of hostages has become a fairly common terrorist activity, and the entire nation mourns w
The writer to the Hebrews... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
The writer to the Hebrews reflects on the wonder of the incarnation in this passage.
In a sample litany included... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
In a sample litany included in the book Battered Women by Joy Bussert, a battered woman says:
In Psalm 73:11, the scoffers... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
In Psalm 73:11, the scoffers say: "How can God know?
Shortly before the outset of... -- Hebrews 2:10-18 -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C
Shortly before the outset of World War II, while on his morning ride through Copenhagen, Denmark's k
Traditions and written records, too... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Traditions and written records, too, tell us that early navigators carried with them birds which the
Therefore wait for me, says... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
"Therefore wait for me," says the Lord.
The Mayor:Believe... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The Mayor:
Any parent knows the frustration... -- Zephaniah 3:1-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
Any parent knows the frustration of correcting wayward children.
There is a pastor in... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
There is a pastor in a very exciting congregation.
In the days when the... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
In the days when the American West was being settled, a territorial governor decided to pardon a you
The problem is never God's... -- Exodus 34:5-9 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
The problem is never God's unwillingness to forgive, but people's unwillingness to repent and be for
We hear much talk about... -- Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
We hear much talk about "blocks" and "blockages." Someone will comment, "I am blocking on that name.
An electrician was performing some... -- Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A
An electrician was performing some work in a church office while three preachers were discussing the
It takes real maturity to... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
It takes real maturity to declare that departure time has come.
Verse 8 resurrected the following... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Verse 8 resurrected the following childhood memory.
As John lay sprawled out... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
As John lay sprawled out on the sofa watching the football game on TV, those flashbacks of earlier y
On the eve of the... -- 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
On the eve of the election in November of 1916, Woodrow Wilson gathered with a few friends and relat
There was a minister who... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
There was a minister who became weary from hearing one of his laypersons quoting Scripture to prove
The religious activities and scrupulous... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
The religious activities and scrupulous ceremonial achievements of the Pharisees of Jesus' time were
The Second Generation is Howard... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
The Second Generation is Howard Fast's novel about Dan and Jean Layette, who stand tall in ma
Alice, who had a fourteen... -- Luke 18:9-14 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Alice, who had a fourteen-year perfect attendance record in the Martha Circle and never misse
Ø Why are you a... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Ø "Why are you a tither?" the pastor asked the treasurer of his church.
Why are you a tither... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
"Why are you a tither?" the pastor asked the treasurer of his church.
Every civilized culture in history... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
"Every civilized culture in history has discriminated against its abnormal members."

Political Pulpit

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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.

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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
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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