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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

It can be hard for... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2007
It can be hard for us, today, to wrap our minds around the theological idea known as "the
When Michelle began her first... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2007
When Michelle began her first year of college, she had a pretty good idea what truth was.
A pastor tells of a... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2007
A pastor tells of a woman who participated in dramatic readings from the Passion during
While crawling into bed one... -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 2007
While crawling into bed one night, I got bashed with a right hook. Stars twinkled. My
In modern America, new religions... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
In modern America, new religions pop up and old religions are modified about as fast as
Easter brings up life-and... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
Easter brings up life-and-death concerns. A Canadian scientist said, "I have only two
Benjamin Franklin was a man... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
Benjamin Franklin was a man of dedication, faithfulness, and valor. He was a powerful
Without the resurrection there would... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
Without the resurrection there would be no New Testament or early church. In Luke's
Anyone who's ever kept vigil... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
Anyone who's ever kept vigil with a loved one in a hospital intensive care unit can
On December 28, 1970, late... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
On December 28, 1970, late in the evening, in the presence of one witness, Ludmila
Cathy was a new Christian... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
Cathy was a new Christian and equally new to the church. She began attending Bible
It was a standing-room... -- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
It was a standing-room-only crowd where I preached a few years ago in Hollywood. A
On March 10, 1876, Alexander... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell called to his assistant, Thomas Watson,
As we go through life... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
As we go through life, it is amazing how many different ways people call out our names
Years ago, in Hanover, Germany... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
Years ago, in Hanover, Germany, a lady was known for her lack of faith, and for her
It happened at the Passion... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - C -- 2007
It happened at the Passion Play in Oberammagau. After that long winding journey from
When Paul started toward Damascus... -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
When Paul started toward Damascus, he was a Jew by birth and faith. By the time he
The Buddhist approached a hotdog... -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
The Buddhist approached a hotdog vendor and said, "Make me one with everything." The
The most dramatic conversion told... -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
The most dramatic conversion told about in the Bible is the conversion of Saul, from a
George Buttrick told the story... -- Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
George Buttrick told the story of an experience that happened when he was chaplain at
Fans of the Doonesbury comic... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Fans of the Doonesbury comic strip know that the Little Church of Walden is
Kevin was a conservative white... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
Kevin was a conservative white student from small town America. In college, his first
The adult Sunday school classes... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
The adult Sunday school classes spent a month discussing worship. There were many
His devotees make repeated pilgrimages... -- Revelation 5:11-14 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
His devotees make repeated pilgrimages. Graceland is more popular than the holy places
D'Arcy McNickle, in his novel... -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C -- 2007
D'Arcy McNickle, in his novel, The Surrounded, described a person for whom

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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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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