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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Firm was... -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- 1997
The Firm was a book and movie about power and corruption.
It was near closing time... -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
It was near closing time, about 8:45 p.m.
Rachel is an energetic little... -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Rachel is an energetic little girl. At age three she discovered magic markers.
The prayers of the righteous... -- James 5:13-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1997
The prayers of the righteous have great power.
A man's gotta do what... -- Ephesians 2:4-10 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." That slogan has gone from a statement about manhood to a c
There are some events in... -- Hebrews 7:23-28 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1997
There are some events in life that are unrepeatable and linger fondly in the human memory for a life
The cartoonist Charles Schulz, creator... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1997
The cartoonist Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts, illustrates well what James means when he
I know better than that... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1997
I know better than that! How often we have heard that phrase from others, or worse, from ourselves.
Emil Brunner, a theologian of... -- Hebrews 5:1-10 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1997
Emil Brunner, a theologian of an earlier day, wrote a book titled, The Mediator.
Deoxyribonucleic acid -- a big name... -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1997
"Deoxyribonucleic acid" -- a big name for a little thing, that minute strand of molecules that we kn
A determined young man entered... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1997
A determined young man entered Cornell University in 1886, set upon a law or political career.
A poll was recently conducted... -- Revelation 1:4b-8 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - B -- 1997
A poll was recently conducted among young adults, i.e., people in their twenties and thirties.
Listen to these words from... -- Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1997
Listen to these words from a mother who has known more than her share of life's battles and sorrows
Several years ago Ernie Preate... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 1997
Several years ago Ernie Preate was the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
We have faith in God... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1997
We have faith in God; we even serve God. We follow God's Word. But we do not expect miracles.
It Happened One Night, Frank... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1997
It Happened One Night, Frank Capra's delightful film of sixty years ago, shocked audiences with Clau
In Lerner and Loewe's musical... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- 1997
In Lerner and Loewe's musical, Gigi, two people reflect on their romance of many days past.
Business news is full of... -- John 17:6-19 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
Business news is full of hostile takeovers -- mergers that are not really desired.
The timid speaker approached the... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1997
The timid speaker approached the platform to address the women's convention. He was terrified.
Does Jesus care? That question... -- Mark 4:35-41 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1997
Does Jesus care? That question has been explored in sermons, conversations, and in songs.
The Christian teaching that we... -- 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1997
The Christian teaching that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit is the most dynamic and elevating t
The late Bishop Richard C... -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1997
The late Bishop Richard C.
A family was vacationing in... -- Mark 4:26-34 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1997
A family was vacationing in the northern woods.
One evening in 1883, a... -- Mark 2:23--3:6 -- 1997
One evening in 1883, a London physician by the name of Wilfred T.
Jesus' words, ... and I, when... -- John 12:20-33 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
Jesus' words, "...

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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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