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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I remember well the labor... -- Matthew 6:24-34 -- 2008
I remember well the labor-intensive job we had when "making hay" on the farm when I
Acts 17:22-31 What... -- John 14:15-21, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Acts 17:22-31 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 17:22-31
Acts 1:1-11 We'd... -- Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2008
Acts 1:1-11
Acts 1:6-14 Ben... -- John 17:1-11, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, Acts 1:6-14 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Acts 1:6-14
Acts 2:1-21 These... -- John 20:19-23, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2008
Acts 2:1-21
The ark is wherever people... -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
The ark is wherever people come together because this is a stormy world where nothing
We all know the story... -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
We all know the story of Noah and the ark, and we give our children wooden toys of the
The movie, Evan Almighty, is... -- Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
The movie, Evan Almighty, is a story of a modern-day Noah. God instructs Evan
As Jews in France during... -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
As Jews in France during the Nazi occupation, Aaron Jean-Marie Lustiger's family had
It's the power of God... -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
"It's the power of God for salvation for everyone who has faith." It's the heart of Jesus'
An elderly widow, who in... -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
An elderly widow, who in her younger years was sought after as a pianist, was restricted
There's a story about a... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
There's a story about a man who volunteered to serve at a soup kitchen run by nuns in
Our gospel for today gives... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Our gospel for today gives us Jesus' final words from his Sermon on the Mount in
Three years ago, Dalmar moved... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Three years ago, Dalmar moved to the United States from his native Africa. He witnessed
Jacob recounts his grandfather's experience... -- Matthew 7:21-29 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Jacob recounts his grandfather's experience in pre-World War II Germany. His
Genesis 1:1--2:4abr... -- Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Genesis 1:1--2:4a -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2008
Genesis 1:1--2:4a
Bruce Catton, Civil War historian... -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Bruce Catton, Civil War historian, told of Civil War veterans of his youth and a war
The term Old Testament both... -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
The term "Old Testament" both misleads and confuses. Some think the Old Testament is
When no one else was... -- Genesis 12:1-9 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
When no one else was tuned in to God, Abraham was tuned in. When no one else was
Anne Lamott, in Traveling Mercies... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Anne Lamott, in Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, says the two best
In verses 20-21 of Romans... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
In verses 20-21 of Romans 4, Paul reminds us that Abraham dared to believe the promise
Kathy attended church along with... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Kathy attended church along with her family while growing up. As a child, she says, her
In Through The Looking Glass... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
In Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, when Alice exclaims to the
Often we make important decisions... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Often we make important decisions quickly, instinctively. Not that such decisions don't
About fifty years ago, in... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
About fifty years ago, in response to the Lord's call, my wife and I put all of our

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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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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