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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sally made some bad choices... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Sally made some bad choices. She was arrested for driving under the influence of
The trouble began when Bob... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The trouble began when Bob, a very charismatic and influential man, went to a
Kings and slaves were stock... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Kings and slaves were stock characters in Semitic stories. So it's not hard to understand
How often should I forgive... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
"How often should I forgive?" Few questions are so pertinent. At least Peter asked. Some
In Matthew, Jesus tells the... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
In Matthew, Jesus tells the fascinating story of a man hiring people for a day's wage, and
Some of us remember the... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Some of us remember the heyday of station wagons: those versatile, all-purpose vehicles
When I was in China... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
When I was in China a few years ago, I asked one of our tour guides what most Chinese
Many families are experiencing financial... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Many families are experiencing financial difficulties with the downturn of the economy
Americans are now approaching a... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Americans are now approaching a 0% saving rate, meaning that we are overspending and
Betty Lou taught piano to... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Betty Lou taught piano to elementary school students for twenty years. She said her
Most people I know struggle... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Most people I know struggle to find standards for their lifestyles. As we waited for a
Do you lead a life... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Do you lead a life worthy of the gospel? Children of parents who are pastors, or have
Even when we know that... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Even when we know that the blessings that come to us have been delivered to the wrong
Life seems so unfair!br... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Life seems so unfair!
First Church had been declining... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
First Church had been declining in membership and attendance for years. Twenty years
A recent website offering labor... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
A recent website offering labor advice cites this scenario: A nurse was hired to work at a
The testimony of experts states... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The testimony of experts states that methamphetamines are instantly addicting. Most
Moses had the most frustrating... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Moses had the most frustrating job ever. The Lord picked him to lead a large group of
The Amazon River is larger... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The Amazon River is larger by monumental proportions than the rock from which Moses,
How is it possible for... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
How is it possible for two people to share the same love -- let alone for an entire
Let the same mind be... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Paul tells us.
Sherry shared with her small... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Sherry shared with her small group how she became a Christian. At the time she had only
Bill was assigned to be... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Bill was assigned to be Debbie's mentor. For the next month, Debbie would shadow Bill
Graham Greene wrote his novella... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Graham Greene wrote his novella, The Third Man, and the screenplay of the
One of the exciting and... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
One of the exciting and exhilarating things about teaching the Bible is the challenge of

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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
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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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