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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

How does one tell a... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
How does one tell a true painting from a fake?
A regular feature of American... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
A regular feature of American life is the yearly evaluation of the ten best cities to live in.
The Beatitudes are straightforward: Blessed... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
The Beatitudes are straightforward: "Blessed are the meek." "Blessed are the peacemakers." However,
If the devil were to... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- All Saints Day - A -- 2008
If the devil were to write beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:
There was a high-end... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
There was a high-end, custom-built sailing yacht that set out on its maiden voyage.
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
After some coaxing, Isabel agreed to head the caring ministry team at church.
When an owner of a... -- Joshua 3:7-17 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
When an owner of a professional sports franchise is happy with his coaches and managers, he often gi
In the movie, Forrest Gump... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
In the movie, Forrest Gump, Forrest has many amazing abilities but has an IQ of about seventy
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Grandma and Grandpa worked hard.
The apostle Paul models an... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The apostle Paul models an excellent work ethic through making tents.
Almost three-quarters of Americans... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Almost three-quarters of Americans who haven't darkened the door of a church in the last six months
The time had come for... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
The time had come for Jeff to begin searching for another job.
Jocelyn was learning almost daily... -- Matthew 23:1-12 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2008
Jocelyn was learning almost daily in her school that smoking is bad for a person's health and that s
Because our modern world has... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Because our modern world has radio, television, and the internet, we're more aware of groups that wa
Going to college: mixing students... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Going to college: mixing students from dozens of different schools, cities, towns, states, families.
Joshua's stirring words, As for... -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Joshua's stirring words, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," also call us to obedi
The Left Behind series of... -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
The Left Behind series of novels has been a publishing phenomenon, each one of them a huge be
Bob was pleased to discover... -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Bob was pleased to discover that his family had purchased a new barbeque grill for his Father's Day
My uncle usually had at... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
My uncle usually had at least two jobs at once.
The motto for the Boy... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
The motto for the Boy Scouts of America is "Be Prepared." Although Sheila was never a Boy Scout, she
Matthew tells us that watchfulness... -- Matthew 25:1-13 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2008
Matthew tells us that watchfulness is something we must have. But what exactly is watchfulness?
Christians have tended to approach... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Christians have tended to approach "salvation" as either a big game or a long season, each yielding
When Megan was a young... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
When Megan was a young girl, she would watch her mother share Jesus with just about everyone she met
French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662... -- Judges 4:1-7 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
French mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), once said, "Reason commands us far more imperiously
I walk in the mornings... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
I walk in the mornings near the hospital. Sometimes I walk early and sometimes a little later.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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...

New & Featured This Week

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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.

Special Occasion

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