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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Jesus' words about bringing division... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
Jesus' words about bringing division and peace brings to mind the words of a young
Nearly two years ago, Hurricane... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and the city of New
He owned several acres of... -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C -- 2007
He owned several acres of rich farmland. Numerous destitute people lived near him so he
In The Red and the... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In The Red and the Black, French novelist, Stendhal, presented the main
In the third grade, I... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In the third grade, I was chosen to narrate the annual Christmas play in my elementary
Jeremiah, what is the worst... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Jeremiah, what is the worst sin you will deal with? In a way, he answered that question in
Here we are given the... -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Here we are given the call of the great prophet, Jeremiah. That call was a strange one.
It is hard to explain... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
It is hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia, as it would be
Ralph had just purchased a... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Ralph had just purchased a piece of land on which sat an abandoned farmyard. It was his
Harriet had a persistent cough... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Harriet had a persistent cough that would not go away. For several months, she tried
I don't believe in the... -- Hebrews 12:18-29 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
"I don't believe in the old gods, I believe in science," said a beautiful, supposedly
In Guy Vanderhaeghe's novel, The... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In Guy Vanderhaeghe's novel, The Last Crossing, Charles Gaunt describes his
In talking with a young... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
In talking with a young man one day about why he didn't come to church, he told me his
Jesus was aware of the... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
Jesus was aware of the hypocrisy of those scolding him for performing healing on the
William Barclay has observed that... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
William Barclay has observed that this was the last time we hear of Jesus being in the
I was ecstatic. After months... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2007
I was ecstatic. After months of concentrated work, our young families were starting to
Scratch an addiction, and you... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Scratch an addiction, and you will reveal an idol, hiding underneath. The psychologist,
Asking Can a nation change... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Asking "Can a nation change its god?" in Jeremiah's day is akin to asking, "Can a leopard
Michelle was at a turning... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Michelle was at a turning point of sorts in her personal life. The past year had been
The Lord gave Jeremiah a... -- Jeremiah 2:4-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
The Lord gave Jeremiah a tough assignment. Most preachers hope to save people from
Temple Grandin has a Ph.D... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Temple Grandin has a Ph.D. in animal science. She also has autism. Her books report,
Reverend Larson, the new minister... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Reverend Larson, the new minister of Highlands Presbyterian Church, was making the
Don't fall in love with... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Don't fall in love with money, the writer of Hebrews cautions. Louis B. Mayer, who
The famous missionary, Hudson Taylor... -- Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
The famous missionary, Hudson Taylor, was director of the China Inland mission for a
Picture the scene: three athletic... -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C -- 2007
Picture the scene: three athletic young people, standing side by side -- medals around

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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
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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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