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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the movie Searching... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1999
In the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer, the seven-year-old chess genius Josh Waitzkin is co
One of the things I... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1999
One of the things I try to do as a parish pastor is to follow the example of Jesus.
Linda Bremner, 49, mother of... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1999
Linda Bremner, 49, mother of Andy who died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of twelve in 1984, d
In his book Reclaiming... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1999
In his book Reclaiming Evangelism, author Jan G.
The Spirit of the Lord... -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1999
The Spirit of the Lord that came down at Pentecost is the same Spirit, Paul tells us, that gives us
At a youth retreat, a... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1999
At a youth retreat, a conservation worker came and talked with our group about oxygen in water.
Don and Margaret had just... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1999
Don and Margaret had just lost their van. It had been repossessed.
When the Colorado River broke... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1999
When the Colorado River broke away from its southerly course to the Gulf of California and instead b
I just looked over at... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1999
I just looked over at my bookshelf.
It took three years for... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
It took three years for the transition to be complete.
The holy kiss has for... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
The holy kiss has for the most part disappeared from church tradition in the West.
A traditional Navajo belief is... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
A traditional Navajo belief is that physical and mental illnesses rise from one being torn from the
There is a story about... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
There is a story about a man who was starving for something to eat and was surrounded by small stall
When you mention the Intimidator... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
When you mention the Intimidator to NASCAR racing fans, they immediately know you are talking about
One warm summer day, two... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
One warm summer day, two pastors were walking in the park.
David Copperfield puts on an... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
David Copperfield puts on an astounding magic show. Some of it is similar to other shows.
When I was a student... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1999
When I was a student pastor in seminary, I knew of two sisters living in the same room in a local nu
We don't often stop to... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1999
We don't often stop to think about the skills and the talents that we have to offer God.
When Mr. Universe, Arnold Schwarzenegger... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1999
When Mr.
Jim was in second grade... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1999
Jim was in second grade and he loved arithmetic.
Jonathan Edwards, who in August... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1999
Jonathan Edwards, who in August, 1995, at the World Track and Field Championships at Goteborg, Swede
As I get older I... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1999
As I get older I find I don't always remember all the details exactly the way that I should.
Peter had been at a... -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Peter had been at a loss. His wife's paycheck didn't stretch to make their payments.
Today in Sudan, Africa's largest... -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Today in Sudan, Africa's largest country, Christians face severe persecution.
Intense anxiety can cripple us... -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 1999
Intense anxiety can cripple us.

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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
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
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27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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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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