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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

Guest column

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Many years ago, a marriage... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Many years ago, a marriage was arranged between a man known for his brilliance and his
Throughout Lent, a group of... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Throughout Lent, a group of believers met weekly to discern where God was leading
Joanne faced a difficult task... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2008
Joanne faced a difficult task. Several years earlier, Joanne had convinced her father and
Worship prepares us to recognize... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Worship prepares us to recognize and receive God's grace -- no matter the circumstances.
Here is the origin of... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Here is the origin of our Lord's table observances. Jesus later gave new significance to it,
The final plague for the... -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
The final plague for the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn, was coming. All of the
The food on which he... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
The food on which he feeds us is bread: the ordinary stuff of life. Here is how it comes to
An adult education group was... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
An adult education group was meeting with the pastor to prepare themselves for
Janet was headed to the... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Janet was headed to the local church as she did almost every Thursday to attend an
Dr. Susan Coady of Ohio... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Dr. Susan Coady of Ohio University defines a tradition as something a family does, has
E. L. Doctorow's novel, The... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
E. L. Doctorow's novel, The March, is about General Sherman's "March to the
Controversies abound over the way... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Controversies abound over the way to determine the identity of Jesus' true standard
Perhaps nothing in the gospel... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Perhaps nothing in the gospel story so completely shows the amazing love of Jesus as
Most people are familiar with... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
Most people are familiar with the expression, "white elephant." It refers to something that
Four score and seven years... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2008
"Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth upon this continent a new
It is said there was... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
It is said there was a monk, in the Middle Ages, who was noted as a preacher. The
Father Jim Carney was an... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Father Jim Carney was an American Jesuit priest who was assigned to a mission in
Mark recalls the many times... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Mark recalls the many times he drove past the local shelter. As he drove past, he thought
Anna told this story: When... -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Anna told this story: "When the depression descended in the 1930s, I had nine children as
The US Coast Guard Craft... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
The US Coast Guard Craft, Polar Star, is one of two icebreakers homeported in
She is a small-town... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
She is a small-town mother who recently lost her son. She visits the young man's grave
How can we sinners know... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
How can we sinners know our sins on earth forgiven?
Among the apostles, the one... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Among the apostles, the one absolutely stunning success was Judas, and the one
A particular church's practice was... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
A particular church's practice was to read the gospel account of Jesus' crucifixion from
Before the season of Lent... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 2008
Before the season of Lent began, the worship committee decided they would hold a

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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
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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