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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It is a lamentable fact... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
It is a lamentable fact of modern life: the auto accident.
Suzi was going through one... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Suzi was going through one of those dry periods in her life.
Little Samuel had a difficult... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Little Samuel had a difficult task ahead of him.
Relationships are important to us... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Relationships are important to us. In the past, relationships defined a person.
My wife and her friend... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
My wife and her friend, Tina, attended university in Spain for their senior year.
By raising Christ from the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
By raising Christ from the dead and by seating him at God's own right hand, God has indeed "raised u
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told me a story about a large statue of Christ in front of the Castle
Sandy and Joan had known... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Sandy and Joan had known each other since high school and enjoyed each other's company.
Barry relates his experience at... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2009
Barry relates his experience at a Christian college. Barry played on the volleyball team.
What's so great about the... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
What's so great about the number twelve that the apostles cast lots to find a replacement for Judas?
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In Ethiopia, the Baraka River flows north toward the Red Sea but dribbles out in the sand before arr
After Jesus ascended into heaven... -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the remaining eleven disciples got down to business.
In order for lawyers to... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
In order for lawyers to win a case in court, they need to have something they themselves cannot gene
Marcus greets everyone who enters... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Marcus greets everyone who enters the building with a salutation and a bright smile.
The old proverb, which was... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
The old proverb, which was popularized in 1605 in Don Quixote, states, "The proof of the pudd
Teaching children to swim can... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Teaching children to swim can be challenging.
Peter Arnett was awarded the... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Peter Arnett was awarded the 1966 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting.
Janet's six-year-old son... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2009
Janet's six-year-old son, Jason, had declared his independence and stated that from now on he was ol
Like a wildfire. That's how... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
"Like a wildfire." That's how Eugene Peterson describes the Pentecost tongues of fire, in his Bible
Several years ago Albert was... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Several years ago Albert was on a flight from Egypt to South Africa.
In July 2008, youth from... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
In July 2008, youth from all over the world converged on Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day, an
What is it about humans... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
What is it about humans that makes us so dependent on the idea of hope? Hope is unrealistic.
One Sunday morning in late... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
One Sunday morning in late spring the day was so beautiful that instead of driving to worship I walk
Have you ever wanted something... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you could "taste" it?
In old Hawaii, there was... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 2009
In old Hawaii, there was once a settlement called Kalaupapa for people with leprosy.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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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.

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