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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

For many years, I taught... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
For many years, I taught a Bible class at a home for unwed girls in Los Angeles. The
How do we bring others... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
How do we bring others to hunger and thirst for righteousness in such a way that they
Our text expresses the central... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Our text expresses the central lesson of Paul's spiritual experience. This student of the
Marriage is a relationship based... -- Romans 3:19-28 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Marriage is a relationship based on commitment. In America, most people marry because
The value of opinion in... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
The value of "opinion" in our society has been so corrupted as to have taken on sinful
Sometimes we see a famous... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
Sometimes we see a famous saying over the doors of libraries and various college and
It was another grim Sunday... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
It was another grim Sunday school teachers' meeting. There were no young children
James Lee Woodward was convicted... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
James Lee Woodward was convicted of murdering his girlfriend in 1980 in Dallas,
Illustrations for August 10, 2008 -- Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 2008
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Brittney says she did not... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Brittney says she did not go to church with her family much while growing up.
Sandra and Elena came bounding... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2008
Sandra and Elena came bounding out of the school. "Mr.
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!)
It was another grim Sunday... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
It was another grim Sunday school teachers' meeting.
James Lee Woodward was convicted... -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 2008
James Lee Woodward was convicted of murdering his girlfriend in 1980 in Dallas, Texas.
Exodus 1:8--2:10br... -- Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8, Exodus 1:8--2:10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2008
Exodus 1:8--2:10
Exodus 3:1-15 The... -- Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21, Exodus 3:1-15 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2008
Exodus 3:1-15
Exodus 16:2-15 Some... -- Exodus 16:2-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Exodus 16:2-15
Exodus 17:1-7 Moses... -- Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-13, Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Exodus 17:1-7
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20... -- Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Philippians 3:4b-14, Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2008
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Exodus 33:12-23 If... -- Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2008
Exodus 33:12-23
Revelation's symbolic language gives early... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
Revelation's symbolic language gives early Christians the "inside information." They're undergoing p
Imagine Washington DC: government employees... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
Imagine Washington DC: government employees of every nationality; tourists from all over the world;
We know today that lambs... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
We know today that lambs are a sheepish lot, but paradoxically, Revelation 7 tells us that the Lamb
Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor of ancient Rome, once observed, "The soul is dyed the color
NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert died unexpectedly earlier this year.

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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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