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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The following story tells of... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The following story tells of the willingness of a family to work together. The father was a
Genesis 29:15-28 At... -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Romans 8:26-39, Genesis 29:15-28 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2008
Genesis 29:15-28
Genesis 32:22-31 We... -- Matthew 14:13-21, Romans 9:1-5, Genesis 32:22-31 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 2008
Genesis 32:22-31
Somebody ran some famous documents... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Somebody ran some famous documents through a computer to count the number of
Which of the Ten Commandments... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Which of the Ten Commandments do you think is the most important? You shall not
I am constantly worried about... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
"I am constantly worried about my son's ethical education." A. J. Jacobs writes in his
As much as they may... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
As much as they may be ignored by many people, the Ten Commandments represent for
Studies have discovered the kinds... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Studies have discovered the kinds of mistakes inexperienced nurses make as opposed to
I've known few ministers and... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
I've known few ministers and even fewer churches that join Paul in the emphasis he
Johnson Oatman Jr. likely had... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Johnson Oatman Jr. likely had the book of Philippians open before him as he wrote the
Philip Yancey tells the story... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Philip Yancey tells the story of early missionary to Burma, Adoniram Judson:
As you and I try... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
As you and I try to follow Jesus, as we try to live as our Lord's people, sometimes, or
Jody laughed out loud at... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Jody laughed out loud at the mention of Sunday school. "I haven't been to Sunday school
A different angle on the... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
A different angle on the parable of the rebellious tenants: In London, England, Harry
The human heart has been... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
The human heart has been defined as "an idol factory." If idle hands are bound to get one
Two truths about this incident... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Two truths about this incident demand our attention. We marvel that Israel's patience
When Moses left the people... -- Exodus 32:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
When Moses left the people of Israel to receive the Ten Commandments from God, the
Sinclair Lewis' novel, Elmer Gantry... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Sinclair Lewis' novel, Elmer Gantry, is the story of an evangelical revival
The apostle Paul says an... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
The apostle Paul says an amazing thing to us in our epistle lesson today. He says, "Do not
It was a particularly frustrating... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
It was a particularly frustrating church meeting. Nancy and Mary Jane had been friends
Jayne was a simple country... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Jayne was a simple country girl, with a heart as big as the Saskatchewan skyscape. Her
Even after more than twenty... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
Even after more than twenty years "One of Our Fifty Is Missing" remains a popular
Friend, how did you get... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
"Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?" This question troubles many
The parable in Matthew 22:1-14... -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2008
The parable in Matthew 22:1-14 tells how the Jews who were the first to be invited
If we are not going... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
If we are not going to deny our children the darker side of life, we owe it to them to show

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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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