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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The high school’s open house... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2009
The high school’s open house hustled us parents through an evening’s abbreviated schedule of what ou
In the Bible, night and... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2009
In the Bible, night and darkness are often symbols for ignorance and evil.
I never cease to be... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 2009
I never cease to be amazed at the number of people, even non-Christians, who can quote John 3:16, ye
It was probably lost on... -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
It was probably lost on most of the movie-going public, but there is an anointing in the animated fi
When Don was growing up... -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
When Don was growing up he had the reputation of always being in trouble.
We seem to be inundated... -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
We seem to be inundated with “Reality TV.” Much of the fare deals with beauty, physical stamina, tal
Because of a funeral, the... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
Because of a funeral, the pastor arrived Saturday night, a day late to the high school retreat, and
We like to be the... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
We like to be the home team. The home team knows the field.
When Europeans first came to... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
When Europeans first came to Australia, they found many new creatures that they had never seen befor
Some biblical scholars think Jesus... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
Some biblical scholars think Jesus’ mustard plant is what the botanists call “black mustard” — more
A beautiful maple tree is... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
A beautiful maple tree is in Patty’s backyard.
One would suspect that the... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 2009
One would suspect that the seedlings used in the reforestation of the Douglas Fir would be relativel
Why do Sunday school teachers... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Why do Sunday school teachers glory in this incident, blithely making spiritual points about armor t
Marsha’s college friends had set... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Marsha’s college friends had set her up for a date, and now they fluttered around her, helping her w
Picture with me David putting... -- 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Picture with me David putting on King Saul’s armor and then trying in vain to walk.
The Greek word for the... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
The Greek word for the deepest, most meaningful experience of time is xairos.
Linda and Peter have moved... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Linda and Peter have moved ten times in 36 years of marriage.
A college psychology professor indicated... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
A college psychology professor indicated that she would only accept her students’ midterm papers fro
Novelist Harry Brown shared an... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Novelist Harry Brown shared an Oscar as a screenwriter.
Storms on the water are... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
Storms on the water are frightening to watch, much less be in.
The Sea of Galilee was... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 2009
The Sea of Galilee was one of the fishing hot spots of the ancient world.
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln, contains a memorable scene.
The news that Tom and... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
The news that Tom and Lori were expecting another child came as a surprise to both of them.
In February 2009, about the... -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
In February 2009, about the time Barry Bonds was going to court to face perjury charges, Alex Rodriq
Many times we need to... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2009
Many times we need to be reminded of reasons.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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...

New & Featured This Week

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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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