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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Is there any way to... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
Is there any way to prove that we are God's children?
What an incredible compliment God... -- Romans 8:14-17 -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
What an incredible compliment God paid in today's lection to those that follow him. We
The Hawaiian-language translation for... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
The Hawaiian-language translation for paracletos (often translated as "advocate"
Ahmad was excited. His third... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
Ahmad was excited. His third grade class was putting on a play based on many of the
Julie was traveling by train... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
Julie was traveling by train to visit her mother who was experiencing some health
Lord, show us the Father... -- John 14:8-17 (25-27) -- Day of Pentecost - C -- 2007
"Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Philip's request seems admirable,
I lived with my single... -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
"I lived with my single father until I was twelve," Amanda said. "Then I went to live with
In his wisdom, God planned... -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
In his wisdom, God planned for billions and billions of tiny sea plants and animals to die,
In the Old Testament, wisdom... -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
In the Old Testament, wisdom was an important word. The Hebrew root-word had a
After centuries and millennia of... -- Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
After centuries and millennia of reflecting upon the order of creation, one would think we
Access is a precious commodity... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
Access is a precious commodity in our world. In Washington DC, lobbyists pay big
When Kate was informed that... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
When Kate was informed that she had ovarian cancer, her world fell apart. She was only
Routine surgery revealed a serious... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
Routine surgery revealed a serious life-threatening problem for Bill. Bill would undergo
We boast in our hope... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
"We boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Not only that, but we also boast in our
Don't tell the children everything... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
"Don't tell the children everything," the chaplain said to the young widow, "but don't lie
Who is the world's greatest... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
Who is the world's greatest evangelist? In about 1960, many of the churches in Cedar
John wrote that the Spirit... -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
John wrote that the Spirit of God would send the spirit of truth. He will guide you, he will
In the short span of... -- John 6:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 2007
In the short span of just ten years, some eighty million people have read the more than
Several years ago on the... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Several years ago on the Canadian prairies, farmers experienced an unusual problem with
We don't have any money... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
"We don't have any money," Doreen cried to her older sister. Doreen's husband had left
If you were hungry and... -- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
If you were hungry and needed food, would you call the wealthiest or the poorest person
A changed life is strong... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
A changed life is strong evidence for the Christian faith. Jacob DeShazer was one of
Paul tried, in his own... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Paul tried, in his own strength, to be a channel for the grace of God but he found that he
When witnesses are called to... -- Galatians 1:11-24 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
When witnesses are called to testify in a trial they are told to tell "the truth, the whole
Do you remember the old... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Do you remember the old movie, Oh, God, starring George Burns? God, an

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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
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4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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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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