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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Whenever Deloris hosted a party... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Whenever Deloris hosted a party at her home, her guests were always eager to attend.
Regina, who raised seven daughters... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Regina, who raised seven daughters and two sons, never allowed her girls to tamper with
My friends lived at the... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
My friends lived at the end of a dark, dead-end street a quarter mile from a prison. They
Most of us wonder what... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Most of us wonder what kind of life we'll have in heaven. Will we have an ethereal
One of the strongest statements... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
One of the strongest statements against war is that which Mark Twain wrote in the form
Consider what we know about... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Consider what we know about the size of this God-created universe ...
The opening words of the... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
The opening words of the book of Genesis, which are the opening words of the whole
One day, Jackie found a... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
One day, Jackie found a kitten in her trash can. The kitten could not have been more than
Dr. Elizabeth Roberts' important work... -- Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Dr. Elizabeth Roberts' important work on the working-class lives in industrial towns
The doctrine of the Trinity... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
The doctrine of the Trinity has led to excesses. Teachers have instructed children in
Those of us who take... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Those of us who take Bible commands seriously face a dilemma. This and other New
Each of the epistles of... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Each of the epistles of the New Testament concludes with a sentence of blessing or with
Church-growth consultant, Tom Bandy... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Church-growth consultant, Tom Bandy, writes about the ways some churches have of
Did you notice, when the... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Did you notice, when the gospel was read, that after Jesus was crucified, died, and was
Anne accompanied her father to... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Anne accompanied her father to the doctor's office. Harold hadn't been feeling well for
Former US pilot and magazine... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Former US pilot and magazine editor, Og Mandino, said the following: "Every
Margaret was adopted. As a... -- Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Margaret was adopted. As a child, she asked about her birth mother. As an adult, she
Isaiah wrote to a once... -- Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Isaiah wrote to a once proud and successful people. For over 100 years during the tenth
Cell phones have become the... -- Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Cell phones have become the palm-sized message board. Just recently, I needed to copy a
I would rather live in... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
"I would rather live in a world where life is surrounded by mystery," wrote Harry
Paul tells us today that... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
Paul tells us today that we're not to judge one another, and how could we possibly make a
In his book, The Year... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
In his book, The Year of Living Biblically, A. J. Jacobs wanted to live an entire
Paul notes that stewards are... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
Paul notes that stewards are to be trustworthy. It has become customary that a
Abraham Lincoln once polled his... -- 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -- 2008
Abraham Lincoln once polled his Cabinet on a very crucial national issue. They were
The church reformer, Martin Luther... -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- 2008
The church reformer, Martin Luther, said that as he sat and drank his little mug of

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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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160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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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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