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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Ralph knew he had done... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1999
Ralph knew he had done wrong, but hoped time would erase or fade the activity.
In his attempt to deal... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1999
In his attempt to deal with the distinction between church and state, President Jimmy Carter, when h
This is the time of... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1999
This is the time of year when television will have Linus going out to tell the world that the Great
John Wesley used a phrase... -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1999
John Wesley used a phrase called "plundering the Egyptians." It came from the account of the Exodus
Buck Brannaman of Sheridan, Wyoming... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 1999
Buck Brannaman of Sheridan, Wyoming, an advocate of horse-
Each year our local funeral... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
Each year our local funeral home holds a Memorial Tree Planting Service for the families and friends
Minnie and Ruby had been... -- Philippians 4:1-9 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1999
Minnie and Ruby had been neighbors for 45 years. Their husbands were boyhood friends.
Pastor Dick had served the... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 1999
Pastor Dick had served the Church of the Good Shepherd since it started as a mission church 25 years
How can you stand there... -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 -- Reformation Sunday - A -- 1999
"How can you stand there and talk about God?" sneered Jim.
Jean was badly in need... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 1999
Jean was badly in need of a friend. Her father had died nearly ten years ago.
Our church family was in... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1999
Our church family was in the middle of an argument.
If you had met Ronnie... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 1999
If you had met Ronnie on the street, your first impression would have been that you needed to protec
Our confirmation class was asked... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1999
Our confirmation class was asked to do four things. 1.
It was a stirring moment... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
It was a stirring moment when Kerri Strug ran limping down the runway for her final gymnastics vault
Forgetting what is behind and... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1999
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the
Before too long we will... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
Before too long we will start thinking about New Year's resolutions. Many of us make them.
The people of Nueva Esperanza... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
The people of Nueva Esperanza -- "New Hope" -- are special.
When the tenants killed the... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
When the tenants killed the son, hoping to get his inheritance, they thought that they would become
Some psychologists theorize that violence... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
Some psychologists theorize that violence is a learned response to pain.
This is an interesting parable... -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1999
This is an interesting parable because it is an example of what you would expect any normal landowne
Why is Christmas more celebrated... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1999
Why is Christmas more celebrated than Good Friday, the pivotal day in Christian history, or even Eas
As children begin to grow... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- 1999
As children begin to grow they accept carte blanche what they are told by others.
One day, after many threatening... -- John 1:1-14 -- 1999
One day, after many threatening phone calls, Dr.
I visited a newborn baby... -- Luke 1:26-38 -- 1999
I visited a newborn baby in the hospital.
Folks in a small town... -- Luke 2:1-20 -- 1999
Folks in a small town will never forget the Christmas program the year Denny played the part 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
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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.

Special Occasion

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