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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When the people heard Peter... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When the people heard Peter inform them that they had been responsible for Jesus'
The key lesson we need... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
The key lesson we need to learn following Easter and the events leading up to Easter is
Lionheart, they called him. They... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"Lionheart," they called him. They named him that because of his courage in battle -- and
A team of people in... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A team of people in Africa is working together to translate the gospel of Luke and some
How many times does someone... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
How many times does someone share an idea in a Sunday school class or committee
When I was growing up... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When I was growing up, my grandmother had a favorite expression when referring to
John Wesley, having served Christ... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
John Wesley, having served Christ for a decade as an Anglican priest (ordained deacon in
Recently, one of my Bible... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Recently, one of my Bible study groups spent considerable time reading and discussing
At the time of this... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
At the time of this writing, some devastating forest fires are burning in California. About
Human beings have a natural... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Human beings have a natural hunger and need for companionship. Loneliness, feeling
When my son was six... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When my son was six or seven, he asked me to explain Jesus' death and resurrection. In
When we moved into the... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When we moved into the retirement center where we now live, we passed on the family
A farmer named Bert traveled... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A farmer named Bert traveled from his home in rural Maine to faraway Boston. There he
A faith community that could... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A faith community that could no longer afford its building decided to make the jump, sell
At a church meeting, someone... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
At a church meeting, someone asked why the church no longer held social events. The
Vitamins are essential for our... -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Vitamins are essential for our health. Vitamin A is important for good eyesight, for
Benjamin Weir was a missionary... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Benjamin Weir was a missionary in Lebanon for 31 years. On May 8, 1984, he was
Do you walk in Jesus... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Do you walk in Jesus' path? We encourage one another to love as Jesus loved and forgive
Sheep can be very stubborn... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Sheep can be very stubborn, disobedient, and self-willed. I remember one time when I
For God's sake! Won't someone... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"For God's sake! Won't someone help me?" the voice cries. "I'm dying!"
A New Zealander explains what... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
A New Zealander explains what happens to sheep without a shepherd: They will find
When Crystal began attending church... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When Crystal began attending church people thought she was a wonderful Christian.
Home burglaries happen every day... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Home burglaries happen every day. And although it is true that if a thief wants in your
The 22-year-old daughter... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
The 22-year-old daughter of Bob and Goldie Bristol was raped and killed. Such things
Nearly every time I play... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Nearly every time I play racquetball, one of my opponents catches me on the backside

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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...
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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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