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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The custom of offering prayers... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
The custom of offering prayers for civil rulers is one of the most ancient traditions of Christian c
We kid ourselves. We think... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
We kid ourselves. We think we're doing God a favor.
After delineating the walk of... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
After delineating the walk of death in 2:1-3, Paul, in 2:4-10 pictures the walk of life.
The building of the church... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
The building of the church of Jesus Christ shall always be founded upon the truths of this Scripture
In this parable Jesus makes... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
In this parable Jesus makes a comment that, "the people of this world are much more shrewd in handli
The dishonest steward was a... -- Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
The dishonest steward was a rascal with few redeeming qualities.
How thankful we should be... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
How thankful we should be that Jesus accepted Matthew and his motley crew, ate and drank with them,
We don't talk much about... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
We don't talk much about sin and sinners anymore (perhaps we should).
The name Matthew means Gift... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
The name Matthew means Gift of Yahweh. What a beautiful name to carry -- gift of Go
A magazine article from Japan... -- Matthew 9:9-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
A magazine article from Japan shows the emphasis the Japanese place upon a long and arduous training
Abraham Lincoln once said, I... -- Joel 2:23-30 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Abraham Lincoln once said, "I recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and prove
Joel prophesies the restoration of... -- Joel 2:23-30 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Joel prophesies the restoration of the nation after the exile and beyond that, the Great Day when Go
My wife and I were... -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
My wife and I were leisurely strolling somewhere between the reptile house and the exotic bird displ
I am struck by the... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
I am struck by the paradox expressed in our text and repeatedly expressed throughout the Gospel.
Sir, we wish to see... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
"Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Those who really see Jesus see him on the cross.
There are many kinds of... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
There are many kinds of crosses in our world. All crosses hurt, many kill.
Some years ago I planted... -- John 12:20-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Some years ago I planted a row of tulip bulbs, expecting them to produce beautiful blooms in the ear
I haven't heard a production... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
I haven't heard a production of Marc Conneley's play, The Green Pastures, for a number
Reverend Hilbert J. Berger tells... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Reverend Hilbert J.
Many of us admire the... -- Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Many of us admire the brave nation of Israel for its remarkable resourcefulness and technological ac
A Prayer For Dieters... -- Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
A Prayer For DietersLord, give me strength that I may not fall
Ministry is a whole lot... -- Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Ministry is a whole lot more than marriage feasts, covered-dish dinners, and church school picnics.
Amos speaks of the corruption... -- Amos 8:4-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Amos speaks of the corruption in the business world of his day, and the ways in which the poor and t
Many different cultures bid the... -- Amos 8:4-7 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Many different cultures bid the buyer to be aware of merchandisers eager to cheat them of their well
In this reading Moses proves... -- Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
In this reading Moses proves to be the good theologian when he appeals to God not about his people's

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
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Pentecost
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffie.

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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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