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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the Garden of Eden... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve are forbidden from eating of the tree of life.
Pearls were the most precious... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Pearls were the most precious jewels in the ancient world.
Ten years ago I worked... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Ten years ago I worked at a telecatalogue center.
Liars shall not enter the... -- Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Liars shall not enter the new Jerusalem.
Quite a few years ago... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Quite a few years ago in major league baseball, the American League decided to change the rule to al
Charlie Brown of Peanuts... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Charlie Brown of Peanuts fame speaks to Lucy, after Linus got back his blanket which had blow
A weekday enrichment class had... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
A weekday enrichment class had just finished their lesson on the importance of prayer.
Stephen Covey's Seven Habits... -- John 14:23-29 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People has proven itself an outstanding syst
For many children in school... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
For many children in school, gym is their least favorite class.
The opposite of the text... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
The opposite of the text is portrayed and depicted by H. G. Wells' croquet player, Mr. Frobisher.
At a wedding reception the... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
At a wedding reception the father of the groom, who happened to be a successful neurosurgeon, raised
Paul's prayer to the Ephesians... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
Paul's prayer to the Ephesians focuses on two key elements: our vertical relationship with God, and
A college professor, preparing to... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
A college professor, preparing to teach an introduction to the Old Testament class, taped a large sh
Marching Ordersbr... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
Marching OrdersGo, teach and do
In France, September of 1783... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1998
In France, September of 1783, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier publicly demonstrated the first practic
He remembers awakening and wanting... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1998
He remembers awakening and wanting to live.
Former New York Ranger Barry... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
Former New York Ranger Barry Beck, in explaining how a brawl started, declared, "We have only one pe
With heart and voice and... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
With heart and voice and handPaul served the Lord of the Spirit
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin tells the story of a man who wanted his axe to be as bright
There are often two different... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
There are often two different agendas in our lives: God's and ours.
It was 1953 when the... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
It was 1953 when the first expedition reached the top of Mount Everest, which of course is the highe
A woman on the I... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
A woman on the Peter Gunn television show many years ago fell in love with Gunn.
A struggling congregation, unable to... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
A struggling congregation, unable to find a new pastor who would accept their Letter of Call, slowly
Jesus would not have been... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 1998
Jesus would not have been nominated for any "Seeker-
Christianity is a singing religion... -- Revelation 7:9-17 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - C -- 1998
Christianity is a singing religion.

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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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