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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

In our age, much of... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- 1997
In our age, much of the language of scripture is devoid of meaning. Redemption is a case in point.
The death of Christ on... -- Hebrews 10:5-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
The death of Christ on a cross can become either a stumbling block or a bridge in one's faith.
Paul unashamedly voices his love... -- Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Paul unashamedly voices his love of other Christians.
Here's an interesting question to... -- Philippians 4:4-7 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1997
Here's an interesting question to ask a worship committee: "What one feeling or emotion would you wa
In recent years, clergy burnout... -- Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1997
In recent years, clergy burnout has been a key issue in effective pastoral leadership.
A pastor tells of attending... -- Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1997
A pastor tells of attending, some years ago, a seminar in Basel, Switzerland, conducted by the famou
I never thought about it... -- Isaiah 35:4-7a -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1997
I never thought about it before until I read about it, but being able to read Braille means that one
The tongue can stain the... -- James 3:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B -- 1997
The tongue can stain the whole body according to James 3:6. Our mouths can bless or curse.
I heard Norman Vincent Peale... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1997
I heard Norman Vincent Peale tell about a man who came to him for counseling. Dr.
W. E. Sangster has told... -- Isaiah 53:4-12 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B -- 1997
W. E.
The prophet instructed the people... -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1997
The prophet instructed the people that they were to "hate evil and love good." What kind of evil do
The biblical understanding is that... -- Genesis 2:18-24 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 1997
The biblical understanding is that men and women are two halves of one being. Adam was alone.
Timothy has an urgent message... -- 1 Timothy 2:1-7 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1997
Timothy has an urgent message for "everyone"; for "all" people in the first seven verses of chapter
George Gallup, the founder of... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 1997
George Gallup, the founder of the American Institute of Public Opinion, conducted one of his famous
A contemporary Latin American memorial... -- Daniel 12:1-3 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1997
A contemporary Latin American memorial service for Christian martyrs who have died for their faith s
A friend of mine has... -- Romans 8:12-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1997
A friend of mine has raised his stepson for five of his eight years of life.
It's so easy as pastors... -- 1 John 5:9-13 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 1997
It's so easy as pastors to try to change people for the Gospel.
There were a lot of... -- Romans 8:22-27 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1997
There were a lot of questions about the new service I introduced, "The Blessings of the Animals." Ma
How comfortable has the church... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 1997
How comfortable has the church become in her being called the "body of Christ"?
The main negotiating for an... -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 1997
The main negotiating for an end to the war in Bosnia occurred at the Wright Patterson Air Force Bas
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russia's great nineteenth... -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - B -- 1997
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russia's great nineteenth century novelist, as a young man was cast into prison
The apostle reminds us that... -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - B -- 1997
The apostle reminds us that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and at that time
When you think back to... -- 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1997
When you think back to the tragedy that occurred in Oklahoma City in 1995, what picture comes to you
Saint Paul uses the example... -- 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - B -- 1997
Saint Paul uses the example of common pottery in 2 Corinthians 4:7.
The Walt Disney film The... -- Hebrews 5:5-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - B -- 1997
The Walt Disney film The Lion King was the fourth biggest money-making movie of all time.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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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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