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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The story of the binding... -- Genesis 22:1-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
The story of the binding of Isaac or the Akeidah is the most read of all scriptures. Every
Fred was my neighbor all... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Fred was my neighbor all through childhood. The last time I saw him was at his wedding.
Does the Lord love everyone... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Does the Lord love everyone? The answer is a little like a client's response to his
It isn't enough just to... -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
It isn't enough just to sit in church and have a good feeling for those in need and those
I preached four nights in... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
I preached four nights in a church in Atlanta, a nice, big church with a good crowd, more
Hospitality is one of the... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Hospitality is one of the marks of a Christian person, one of the qualities of a follower of
A church consultant was hired... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
A church consultant was hired to help a struggling church. The church had been in
Sheryl spent a lot of... -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2008
Sheryl spent a lot of time at the home of her college roommate, Rowena. Sheryl's home
Isaiah 49:8-16a Margaret... -- Matthew 6:24-34, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Isaiah 49:8-16a -- 2008
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19... -- Matthew 7:21-29, Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31), Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2008
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
Genesis 12:1-9 Bruce... -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2008
Genesis 12:1-9
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7... -- Genesis 18:1-15, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35--10:8 (9-23) -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2008
Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7)
Union forces named it the... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Union forces named it the Battle of Antietam (Maryland). Confederates dubbed it the
Abraham gave his servant a... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Abraham gave his servant a tricky assignment. Would you like the job of finding a wife
Jacob was 78 years old... -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Jacob was 78 years old and hadn't had true romance yet. His father, Isaac, said in effect:
The English poet of the... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
The English poet of the Elizabethan era, John Donne, captures the complexity of our
It gives me hope when... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
It gives me hope when I hear the apostle Paul saying that he wants to do what's
We often forget the life... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
We often forget the life-and-death struggle our nation engaged in to reach Independence
Josh was a normal, inquisitive... -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Josh was a normal, inquisitive adolescent. He liked to explore, take risks, and push the
The Old Testament called God... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
The Old Testament called God a rock, knowing God wasn't granite; a
But to what will I... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces
Growing up in his father's... -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2008
Growing up in his father's carpenter shop, Jesus knew how important it was to have
How can there possibly exist... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
How can there possibly exist such things as a covenant, and "God's chosen people," when
That was a costly bowl... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
That was a costly bowl of stew that Esau purchased from his brother, Jacob, when he
It was a family reunion... -- Genesis 25:19-34 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2008
It was a family reunion of sorts, at the local nursing home where Barbara is a resident.

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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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