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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Martha did what was expected... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Martha did what was expected of her, indeed, what most hostesses would have done if an
Betty is an amazing woman... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
Betty is an amazing woman. When people hear all that she does for her church, they have
When discussing the Mary-Martha... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
When discussing the Mary-Martha incident with groups, I like to take polls. "How many
A friend and his wife... -- Luke 10:38-42 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2007
A friend and his wife are both over fifty years of age. They've been married over thirty
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was... -- Hosea 1:2-10<br> -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished by being forced to roll a huge rock up a
I have the habit of... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
I have the habit of blaming God and others when my life becomes a complicated mess of
Hosea was not blessed with... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hosea was not blessed with the message of the love of Christ. He would have rejoiced to
Hosea has been a difficult... -- Hosea 1:2-10 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hosea has been a difficult book for many believers. Why would God ask a prophet to
Emptiness and fullness at first... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Emptiness and fullness at first seem complete opposites. But in the spiritual life we find
Skyscrapers are amazing sights to... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Skyscrapers are amazing sights to behold, soaring so high. But what one often doesn't
Hope Church is a small... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Hope Church is a small, non-denominational church in a small town. The church has
He taught guitar for forty... -- Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
He taught guitar for forty years, instructing many students. He wasn't the best teacher, but
Richard Nixon's special advisor, Chuck... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Richard Nixon's special advisor, Chuck Colson, was convicted for breaking into the
Television interviewer and journalist, Larry... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Television interviewer and journalist, Larry King, describes three farmers who gather
Can you imagine every day... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Can you imagine every day sleeping with your whole family in one room? And also
Prayer is at the heart... -- Luke 11:1-13 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C -- 2007
Prayer is at the heart of our faith. No wonder they called that prayer Jesus gave his first
Believers have tried on many... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Believers have tried on many images for God, from "rock" to "judge" to "builder" to
In the movie, As Good... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
In the movie, As Good As It Gets, Simon Bishop gets viciously beaten by a
The teenagers who live in... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
The teenagers who live in the rehabilitation center know they are there because they
He was an eminent surgeon... -- Hosea 11:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
He was an eminent surgeon. I called on his stately home one evening raising funds for the
Josiah Harlan was the first... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Josiah Harlan was the first American to enter Afghanistan. In the 1830s, Harlan traveled
Just before the outbreak of... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Just before the outbreak of World War I, a small ship named Endurance set sail
I grew up in a... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
I grew up in a rural community in western Iowa. Our church was a little Evangelical
One denomination has for its... -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
One denomination has for its mission motto: "A world without borders." Writing to an
Stuff is important. You gotta... -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - C -- 2007
Stuff is important. You gotta take care of your stuff. You gotta have a place for your

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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
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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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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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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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