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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the checkout line, a... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
In the checkout line, a young girl reaches for a candy bar. Her mother grabs her, and
Lord, do not hold this... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Stephen dies with this prayer on his lips,
The defeated Napoleon, one of... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
The defeated Napoleon, one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever seen, lived out
In Ireland and the northeastern... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
In Ireland and the northeastern United States, it is common to see traditional fences made
Drew is not what one... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Drew is not what one would think of a college student. He does not attend wild, late-night
When the new church was... -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
When the new church was built upon the ruins of the old church, a cornerstone was set in
In the original Greek, the... -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
In the original Greek, the gospel of John doesn't use the nouns "faith" or "belief," only the
Do not let your hearts... -- John 14:1-14 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"Do not let your hearts be troubled." According to John's gospel, Jesus said this in the
What do you suppose Paul... -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
What do you suppose Paul would say if he showed up not on the Areopagus in ancient
Kathleen Norris, author of Dakota... -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Kathleen Norris, author of Dakota and Cloister Walk, said: "I no longer
Fifteen churches on the district... -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Fifteen churches on the district participated in a first-ever ministry fair. The event was
What is this? the teacher... -- Acts 17:22-31 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"What is this?" the teacher asked, holding up an old leather horse collar. Her city students
Thomas Aquinas said, The most... -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Thomas Aquinas said, "The most hopeful people in the world are the young and the
Even if you suffer for... -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"Even if you suffer for doing right you are blessed." Recently, I spent an hour with a
If you love me, you... -- John 14:15-21 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments," says Jesus. The Austrian
In the days after 9/11... -- John 14:15-21 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
In the days after 9/11, there were several incidents where planes flying in a suspicious
It had been a long... -- John 14:15-21 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
It had been a long couple of days for LuAnn. She had spent the better part of three days at
Many people might think that... -- John 14:15-21 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Many people might think that the role of the school's guidance counselor is simply to
New Illustrations for February 24, 2008 -- John 4:5-42, Romans 5:1-11, Exodus 17:1-7 -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Exodus 17:1-7
1 Samuel 16:1-13br... -- 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Illustrations for March 9... -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2008
Illustrations for March 9Ezekiel 37:1-14
Acts 2:14a, 22-32... -- John 20:19-31, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Acts 2:14a, 22-32 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Acts 2:14a, 36-41br... -- Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Acts 2:42-47 A... -- Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 2:42-47
Acts 7:55-60 The... -- John 14:1-14, 1 Peter 2:2-10, Acts 7:55-60 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 7:55-60

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
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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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