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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In our lesson for today... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
In our lesson for today, God says three very encouraging things to Moses -- and to us.
One day Dan shared what... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
One day Dan shared what he felt God had put on his heart, to raise money for a rural,
In a box of children's... -- Exodus 33:12-23 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
In a box of children's book at a garage sale, I found a Golden Book that became one of
About twenty years ago, there'd... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
About twenty years ago, there'd been an attack in Jerusalem by Palestinians. The nightly
Paul often linked three great... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Paul often linked three great Christian qualities as he did here: "Your work of faith, labor
On a construction site, the... -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
On a construction site, the workers had just placed explosives for a large explosion where
Christianity stands or falls with... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness
Jesus says to us in... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Jesus says to us in our gospel lesson for today, "Give to God the things that are God's."
Diane has a heart for... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Diane has a heart for mission. She asked if she might have a "Mission of the Month" that
Joanne was a thoughtful, energetic... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Joanne was a thoughtful, energetic woman. She worked in the church as a Sunday school
Moses led the Hebrews in... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Moses led the Hebrews in their escape from Egypt. The Hebrews had always lived in
Moses came to the juncture... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Moses came to the juncture many Christian leaders reach. At what point do they turn over
As Moses looked into the... -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
As Moses looked into the holy land, not being able to enter it, he had many memories.
Who steals my purse steals... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Who steals my purse steals trash -- 'tis something -- nothing,
It's all too easy for... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
It's all too easy for us to think that it's too hard for us to be the witnesses to our
Sara took a course on... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Sara took a course on spiritual practices. While she was not majoring in religion she
At a Veteran's Day event... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
At a Veteran's Day event at an elementary school, a student asked the aged soldier why
On a tall stack of... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
On a tall stack of large boxes at the pharmacy each box carried a huge red sign: Bend
Recently I met with a... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Recently I met with a group of people from another church who wanted to query me
Abou Ben Adhem Abou... -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2008
Abou Ben Adhem Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Christian novelist, Walter Wangerin, tells... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Christian novelist, Walter Wangerin, tells of an incident from his own life: from his
To have a happy and... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
To have a happy and fulfilling life, we all need to live our lives in relationship with
West End Fellowship is celebrating... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
West End Fellowship is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. The vision was to
In legal terms, an internal... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
In legal terms, an internal law can mean several things. It can mean the rules, policies,
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides is about US Army Rangers and Philippine

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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
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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