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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

An antiques dealer is making... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
An antiques dealer is making the rounds of the garage sales, looking for merchandise.
About thirty years ago, a... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
About thirty years ago, a farmer in Xian (SHEE-on), China, was plowing his field when
Jane was running late one... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Jane was running late one afternoon for an appointment and as she drove into the church
The mustard seed, though tiny... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
The mustard seed, though tiny, produces a plant that can accommodate many birds. The
We might expect religion to... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
We might expect religion to make our life with God easier. That wasn't the religion of
The famous black pitcher, Satchel... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
The famous black pitcher, Satchel Paige, became famous for saying, "Don't look back.
Have you ever tried to... -- Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Have you ever tried to sleep using a stone for a pillow? No wonder Jacob had some
Mel Gibson's film, The Passion... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ, attracted a great deal of
Last week we talked about... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Last week we talked about the amazing "Terra Cotta Army," the rows and rows of life-
Fred shared with his study... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Fred shared with his study group an email he had received from an acquaintance. The
The pastor sat in the... -- Romans 9:1-5 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
The pastor sat in the living room of the grieving parents. Just a few hours ago, their son,
On my first Sunday as... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
On my first Sunday as pastor in Myrtle Point, Oregon, Casey and Louise Jones drove
Several things besides the miracle... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Several things besides the miracle should grab our attention concerning Jesus feeding
One of the true stories... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
One of the true stories told concerning the sinking of the Titanic tells how a
In every generation, there are... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
In every generation, there are those who would kill the dreamers. John F. Kennedy
Our Genesis lesson today starts... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Our Genesis lesson today starts out with a startling statement. It says, "Jacob settled in
On a warm summer day... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
On a warm summer day, the church youth fellowship visited a regional amusement park.
In Andrew Lloyd Weber's Joseph... -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
In Andrew Lloyd Weber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the
Richard Haklyut (1552/3-1616) was a... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Richard Haklyut (1552/3-1616) was a force in English politics. He was a priest serving in
She was the wife of... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
She was the wife of a young pop singer whose song had jumped near the top of the
J. Hudson Taylor tells this... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
J. Hudson Taylor tells this story about his missionary work in China. "While we were at
Some years ago, the Israeli... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Some years ago, the Israeli National Parks Authority approved a developer's proposal to
An amazing thing happens in... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
An amazing thing happens in our gospel today. It's night, and the disciples are out on the
Alan and Jane had looked... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Alan and Jane had looked forward to their summer trip to the beach for several months. It
Cameron was learning to water... -- Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Cameron was learning to water ski. His father instructed him how to crouch low on his

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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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