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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A man was walking down... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
A man was walking down the road when he came upon a half-completed cathedral.
If we take Paul literally... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
If we take Paul literally and never close our eyes to sleep, soon we would not notice anything at al
As Pam was going through... -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
As Pam was going through her mother's desk she happened upon a notebook full of names.
Because the pie was limited... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Because the pie was "limited" and already distributed, an increase in the share of one person automa
Matt and Keri shared with... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
Matt and Keri shared with the congregation their experience with tithing, giving 10% of their income
In an article for Timesonline... -- Matthew 25:14-30 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2008
In an article for Timesonline, September 30, 2007, Sir Peter Lampl documents how British chil
Your children are so talented... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
"Your children are so talented -- and yet they're so nice!" people often exclaimed to Janet.
During the exile, God's people... -- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
During the exile, God's people are scattered like abandoned sheep.
A widow trudges through a... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
A widow trudges through a cemetery, counting off the rows of headstones, until she reaches the one w
Throughout high school, Stephanie was... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Throughout high school, Stephanie was not open to talk about spiritual matters.
Vera is one of the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Vera is one of the most hope-filled people one will ever meet.
Henry van Dyke was an... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Henry van Dyke was an author, educator, and clergyman.
Just as you did it... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
"Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Is
Sandy and Kevin began a... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - A -- 2008
Sandy and Kevin began a prison ministry at the county jail.
Gratitude, said the Roman philosopher... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
"Gratitude," said the Roman philosopher, Cicero, "is not only the greatest of virtues, but it is the
Every Thanksgiving, Dawn and Kevin... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Every Thanksgiving, Dawn and Kevin will invite people from their church or community to share Thanks
Melvin was a bachelor who... -- Deuteronomy 8:7-18 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Melvin was a bachelor who lived near a small prairie town.
Leonard and Dean hadn't seen... -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Leonard and Dean hadn't seen one another much after graduating from college forty years before.
There was once a congregation... -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
There was once a congregation of farmers suffering from a drought.
It is a strange paradox... -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
It is a strange paradox that we admire generosity a great deal, while hesitating to be generous, our
Some years ago, police officers... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Some years ago, police officers in Oklahoma City discovered several drivers who were carrying around
Hurrying to catch a plane... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Hurrying to catch a plane, Don had a few minutes to spare so he stopped to buy a newspaper and a box
Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief who... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief who lived 1768-1813 once said, "When you arise in the morning, give thanks
My wife and I were... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
My wife and I were once invited to a party in the home of a successful businessman.
Ezra Goodman, in his book... -- Luke 17:11-19 -- Thanksgiving Day - A -- 2008
Ezra Goodman, in his book, The Fifty-Year Decline and Fall of Hollywood, speaks frankly about

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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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
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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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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