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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Helen was a young mother... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
Helen was a young mother who was returning to work for the first time since her first
On the surface, Carlos seemed... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
On the surface, Carlos seemed like a nice young man. His job involved long hours at a
Return to your home and... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 2007
"Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you." Many folks become
The eighteenth-century Polish rabbi... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The eighteenth-century Polish rabbi, Baal Shem Tov, began what would be called the
Mr. Holland's Opus is a... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Mr. Holland's Opus is a touching movie about a music teacher who spent 35 years
The Old Testament lesson tells... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The Old Testament lesson tells of one of the most sensational transfers of power from the
Isaac Newton, looking back over... -- 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Isaac Newton, looking back over his achievements said, "If I have seen further than
William Willimon tells the story... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
William Willimon tells the story of a bishop from Angola (the former Portuguese colony
The Canadian Charter of Rights... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms defines four fundamental freedoms of
This Independence Day weekend we... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
This Independence Day weekend we celebrate our freedom. Fireworks will light up the
Do not use your freedom... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
"Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence." Many contemporary
Upon the Montana prairies few... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
Upon the Montana prairies few rises or gullies break the landscape. There, tractors have
I spend a great deal... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
I spend a great deal of time driving to hospitals due to the distance and the various
In third-world countries, the... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
In third-world countries, the use of a plow pulled by horses, oxen, or water buffalo is still
In this text, we find... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2007
In this text, we find two pointed illustrations of how demanding this discipleship business
Kermit Roosevelt, son of President... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Teddy Roosevelt, once said of his father, "The trouble
Financial advisors shudder when they... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Financial advisors shudder when they hear of people who take a shotgun method to
Little did actor Stephen Baldwin... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Little did actor Stephen Baldwin know that his life was about to change when he and his
The proud commander, Naaman, suffered... -- 2 Kings 5:1-14 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
The proud commander, Naaman, suffered an incurable malady. He had ordered burly
Zen Buddhism includes methods of... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Zen Buddhism includes methods of disturbing the mind and of abandoning one's usual
Annie had been diagnosed with... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Annie had been diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 36 and was the mother of three
John Wanamaker (1838-1922) had considerable... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
John Wanamaker (1838-1922) had considerable wealth and his generous giving included
After a long and stormy... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
After a long and stormy letter to a difficult church, Paul ended his epistle with a gentle
You know how it is... -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
You know how it is when you're packing for a long trip. You lay out all the things you
Before the visit of any... -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2007
Before the visit of any major public figure, extensive pre-event security is conducted. For

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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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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