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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

I suppose everyone goes through... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1998
I suppose everyone goes through phases in life as they grow and mature. I know of three in my life.
As Christians, we want to... -- Galatians 3:23-29 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1998
As Christians, we want to take seriously Christ's desire for unity among fellow believers.
In 1996, a mental health... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1998
In 1996, a mental health hospital in New York was not making much progress with a certain woman pati
In a GunsmokeI... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1998
In a Gunsmoke episode, Matt Dillon said to Doc after an operation on a woman which both her h
The power of evil cannot... -- Luke 8:26-39 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C -- 1998
The power of evil cannot be taken for granted.
In this remarkable passage Paul... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 1998
In this remarkable passage Paul reports how he and other persons of faith "boast in our sufferings"
The legendary comedian Bob Hope... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 1998
The legendary comedian Bob Hope was once asked why he entertained service personnel throughout the w
Star Trek: The Next... -- Romans 5:1-5 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C -- 1998
Star Trek: The Next Generation has an episode that revolves around Captain Picard's artificia
Paul is issuing a clear... -- Romans 13:11-14 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
Paul is issuing a clear call for Christians to be awake and alert, and as Christians today, we need
Here Jesus speaks to his... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
Here Jesus speaks to his disciples about his return at the end of the age.
Sandra and Tom had just... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
Sandra and Tom had just celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Predictions for the 1996 Olympics... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
Predictions for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, placed Britain's reigning champion, Linford C
The lad loved the trips... -- Matthew 24:36-44 -- First Sunday of Advent - C -- 1998
The lad loved the trips to Grand-mother's house.
In July of 1997, the... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
In July of 1997, the television program 20/20 showed a dramatic rescue of a young person who
Who's in charge at your... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
Who's in charge at your house?
The Gospels are often spiced... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
The Gospels are often spiced with bits of irony to enhance their message.
During the torture of his... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
During the torture of his crucifixion Jesus prayed for forgiveness for his enemies.
The International WildlifeI... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
The International Wildlife magazine for March/April 1997 had a spread on yaks.
Jesus taught some hard lessons... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1998
Jesus taught some hard lessons on forgiveness.
So often in this world... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
So often in this world we figure that the only response to violence is more violence.
John Bunyan describes Christ's peace... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
John Bunyan describes Christ's peace in Pilgrim's Progress, following the Christian's having
A promising student, nearing the... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
A promising student, nearing the end of his formal education, suddenly found his life full of worry,
It was their dream home... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
It was their dream home in the suburbs.
The original copy of the... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
The original copy of the U.S.
William L. Stidger tells the... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1998
William L.

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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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