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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In February 2001, thirteen-month... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
In February 2001, thirteen-month-old Erika Nordby wandered from her home in
Ruth had an appointment with... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
Ruth had an appointment with her doctor. As she waited, she struck up a conversation
In my lifetime, I don't... -- Luke 7:11-17 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - C -- 2007
In my lifetime, I don't expect to see an event like this. It's not that I doubt that Jesus
A character in Dostoyevsky's novel... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
A character in Dostoyevsky's novel, The Brothers Karamazov, stated,
Jezebel -- she lied, she cheated... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Jezebel -- she lied, she cheated, she worshiped other gods, she threatened, she stole, and
Today's text deals with the... -- 1 Kings 21:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Today's text deals with the story of Naboth and his beloved vineyard and how King Ahab
It had been so many... -- 1 Kings 1:1-10 (11-14) 15-21a -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
It had been so many years since the incident, Silvia had lost count; it was something
The theologian, Ernst Kasemann, tells... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
The theologian, Ernst Kasemann, tells this story at the beginning of his book, Jesus
Mr. Finkelmann, principal of the... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Mr. Finkelmann, principal of the high school, decided to try something different. The
One Sunday, Allen asked if... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
One Sunday, Allen asked if he could share his story during the worship service. He told
I have been crucified with... -- Galatians 2:15-21 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
"I have been crucified with Christ." Life contains many enigmas. One of the greatest is
Everyone knows that Harriot has... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
Everyone knows that Harriot has the biggest heart in town. She delivers food to the
In an earlier century, the... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
In an earlier century, the great violinist, Bocher, substituted his talent for that of a poor,
The centerpiece of this text... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
The centerpiece of this text shines on a woman with a sordid reputation that came to
As often as we seek... -- Luke 7:36--8:3 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - C -- 2007
As often as we seek forgiveness, it is God's wish and pleasure to grant it. So it was with
In a speech to the... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
In a speech to the Religious Communication Association, Quentin Schultze quoted Søren
Nearly twenty years ago, Marisa... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Nearly twenty years ago, Marisa was diagnosed with a debilitating illness. Her days were
Elijah was what I'd call... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Elijah was what I'd call a "running contradiction." He'd just stood up to the king and
The Tuesday night prayer meeting... -- 1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
The Tuesday night prayer meeting was in full swing. They had begun by singing several
Two parents disagreed about how... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Two parents disagreed about how Linda should teach eighth grade Sunday school. One
I remember my uncle telling... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
I remember my uncle telling about going to an infant baptism in the Greek Orthodox
Carson McCullers, the writer, once... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Carson McCullers, the writer, once observed, "It is a strange thing about the human race
There is an old legend... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
There is an old legend, of mysterious origin. It says that when God decided to create the
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once... -- Galatians 3:23-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
The entertainer, Groucho Marx, once sent a telegram to the exclusive Friar's Club in
It's a strange story, this... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
It's a strange story, this healing of the demon-possessed man in the country of the

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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
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
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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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