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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Some time ago, a husband... -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Some time ago, a husband and wife faced serious marriage problems. Neither would take
The divided church at Corinth... -- 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
The divided church at Corinth needed to be reminded that they were not to regard any
The biggest problem with American... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
"The biggest problem with American Christianity," said Ernest Campbell, former pastor
It was during the Great... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
It was during the Great Depression on the Canadian prairies, that sixteen-year-old Hans
Betty asked her Sunday school... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Betty asked her Sunday school class to pray for her grandson. Rick became a father one
I enjoy taking myself by... -- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
"I enjoy taking myself by surprise," said Peter Ustinov. I wonder how he kept secrets
We all endure emotional shocks... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
We all endure emotional shocks -- like when we forget to pay a bill and a past-due notice
Ransom is an action-packed... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Ransom is an action-packed drama thriller that came out in 1996, starring Mel
Life is full of ends... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
"Life is full of ends," wrote Phillips Brooks, "but every end is a new beginning, and we
Out of the ashes and... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Out of the ashes and debris of 9/11 has come a wonderful book. It is called The
Remember Charles Dickens' famous story... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Remember Charles Dickens' famous story, A Christmas Carol? Remember how
The 1970-71 NHL season belonged... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
The 1970-71 NHL season belonged to the Boston Bruins. They finished fourteen points
Kim advanced in her job... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Kim advanced in her job with a financial company. She worked long hours to achieve the
Hungry, penniless, and cold, she... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Hungry, penniless, and cold, she pushed everything she owned in a shopping cart. She
Theologian Paul Tillich dubbed such... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Theologian Paul Tillich dubbed such extravagance as Mary shows "Holy Waste."
One day a young man... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
One day a young man went to a photography studio carrying a framed picture of his
Jesus was criticized for allowing... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Jesus was criticized for allowing Mary to show such extravagant love.
Dr. Wayne Oates, pastoral counselor... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 2007
Dr. Wayne Oates, pastoral counselor, told the story about a psychiatric clinic in
I grew up on those... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
I grew up on those pious Hollywood biblical epics of the 1950s, which looked like holy
It was during the Stone... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
It was during the Stone Age that humans first began using flint to make tools. Flint was
What is striking every Holy... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
What is striking every Holy Week is Jesus' determination. He began his ministry
Did you watch the PBS... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
Did you watch the PBS specials on Genesis? Hosted by a former White House Press
Talk of having the same... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
Talk of having "the same mind" can excite science fiction fans to speculate about a
I learned a lesson about... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
I learned a lesson about humility early in my ministry as a church organist. I had been
This passage in Philippians 2:5-11... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2007
This passage in Philippians 2:5-11 is perhaps the most powerful passage about Jesus that

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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...
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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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