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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In ancient times extended families... -- Acts 4:32-35 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In ancient times extended families shared what few earthly goods they owned in order to survive.
In 1862, Julia Ward Howe... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In 1862, Julia Ward Howe wrote the words of the beloved "Battle Hymn Of The Republic." She wrote the
Theresa Logan is a comedian... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Theresa Logan is a comedian who travels and performs all across the United States.
Jason was spending his first... -- 1 John 1:1--2:2 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Jason was spending his first night outside of the city.
We always draw a solid... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
We always draw a solid lesson from Thomas' doubt: Believe even if you haven't seen.
On this first Easter evening... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
On this first Easter evening the doors aren't just shut. They're locked.
Anxiety is prevalent in our... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Anxiety is prevalent in our world today, and the church is certainly not immune to worldly concerns.
Franciscan priest Richard Rohr describes... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Franciscan priest Richard Rohr describes what faith is not, and what it is:
Dave took his daughter to... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Dave took his daughter to the doctor's office. Daphne could not get over her bad cold.
Nothing refreshes like a good... -- Acts 3:12-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Nothing refreshes like a good drink of water. How often have you heard that?
Sometimes, we just want to... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Sometimes, we just want to know.
The pastor gathered the children... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
The pastor gathered the children in worship.
On Sunday afternoons the state... -- 1 John 3:1-7 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
On Sunday afternoons the state children's home dressed the children in their nicest clothes and para
You are witnesses of these... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
"You are witnesses of these things." What does this mean?
Roberta needed a change of... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Roberta needed a change of scenery. Her husband died following a brief illness.
One of the most dramatic... -- Luke 24:36b-48 -- Third Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
One of the most dramatic scenes the pastor ever witnessed was the day a mother was reunited with her
It sounds like one of... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
It sounds like one of those courtroom dramas: The lawyer stands up and, instead of directly answerin
In Port Angeles, Washington, my... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In Port Angeles, Washington, my wife and I waited to board a passenger ferry to Victoria, British Co
In ancient culture, the cornerstone... -- Acts 4:5-12 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In ancient culture, the cornerstone was the first stone to be laid down at the corner of a building.
There is an old Japanese... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
There is an old Japanese legend of a man who died and went to heaven.
A Midwestern church has successfully... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
A Midwestern church has successfully partnered with an African-American congregation in their city.
We passed him every single... -- 1 John 3:16-24 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
We passed him every single day.
Among sea lions, mother sea... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Among sea lions, mother sea lions leave their babies -- called "pups" -- to go hunting.
My wife and I love... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
My wife and I love to watch sheep dog trials.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday... -- John 10:11-18 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, and our focus is on shepherds and sheep, especially the one we know a

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Tom Willadsen
Nazish Naseem
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For October 26, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
I am a scoreboard watcher. I follow a lot more games than I actually watch, but since technology makes it easy to check scores on a moment’s whim, I watch a lot of scoreboards of teams and games that I am at least mildly interested in. And as I check those scores, I find myself having immediate reactions: “Great!” “Oh, that's too bad.” “Excellent!” “Nuts.” And in the midst of that sports-fan roller coaster, I must continually remind myself that not all scores are final.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Joel 2:22-32
Martin Luther sings the praises of God’s love revealed in this lesson. He wrote:

The love of God which lives in man loves sinners, evil persons, fools and weaklings in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 31, p.57)

John Wesley nicely summarizes the Spirit’s role in fighting the lure of our old sinful habits:

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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role-play story. You will need two children to play the roles of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I usually ask two children if they will help me as they are all coming forward for the message, but you may select them however you choose.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
(vv. 143-144)

When I was an associate pastor in Janesville, Wisconsin one of my responsibilities was to give a lecture on spirituality once a month at a drug treatment facility. The students who attended were persons who had been convicted of drunk driving and were required to attend the class as a condition of their sentence. Attendance was always good.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

We all dislike people who blow their own trumpets, although sometimes we may be in awe of them. Jesus too deplored such behaviour and was never in awe of those who practised it. In our worship today let us open ourselves to Jesus, allowing him to see what is in our hearts.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we allow other people's behaviour to intimidate us.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we refuse to reach our own fullest potential because we are afraid.

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Every morning when sleep leaves and waking comes there is cause for praising God. Caught up, as we are, in the currents and eddies of our lives, this is easy to forget. This wonderful psalm is a reminder. God's bounty and abundance spill into our lives like waters over a causeway. God's delight in creation explodes in a million different colors. In every moment there is reason to give God praise.
Robert R. Kopp
When I was a little boy growing up in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania's First Presbyterian Church, one of those Christian chalk artists with black light, neon colors, and black felt canvas who made pictures of Jesus look like those Elvis portraits for sale on the side of the road at the beach showed up as entertainment for a Sunday evening potluck dinner.
John E. Berger
Today's sermon begins with this little one-person drama.
Mark Ellingson
Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope? Sometime during the years of 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. that is the way the people of Judah felt. It seems that their land had been ravaged by a plague of locusts which had had catastrophic consequences.

Once a harvest has been destroyed, you cannot repair it. If a building has burned to the ground, you cannot repair it. In those instances you need to start from scratch with a fresh start.

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