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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A couple from a congregation... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
A couple from a congregation I served one day visited another family in the congregation.
Whatever else might characterize God... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
Whatever else might characterize God, Frank was convinced that an outrageous sense of humor was one
I once knew a man... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
I once knew a man who was a very bright and successful doctor.
It is natural for a... -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
It is natural for a person to boast, almost without knowing it, as he fulfills an inner desire to te
On a Saturday afternoon in... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
On a Saturday afternoon in November 1994, a Methodist minister officiated at a wedding in Bridgeport
The Jameson family was large... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
The Jameson family was large and close.
I once asked an adult... -- Matthew 5:1-12 -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 1996
I once asked an adult Vacation Bible School class what their favorite part of the worship service wa
Years ago a letter appeared... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
Years ago a letter appeared in Dear Abby written by a young lady who was having family problems.
A certain pastor had a... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
A certain pastor had a problem. There were two rival factions on his church council.
A computer programmer at Carnegie... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
A computer programmer at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has come up with an alternative fo
She had found a job... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
She had found a job, and she certainly needed one!
Blockbuster author and movie director... -- Matthew 4:12-23 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
Blockbuster author and movie director Michael Crichton, believe it or not, was in medical school wel
A college student was praying... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
A college student was praying in his room when one of his fellow students walked in.
One of the most misunderstood... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
One of the most misunderstood words in the English language is the word saint.
Alex Longo was a first... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
Alex Longo was a first-grader in New Jersey.
Come and see. It's an... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
"Come and see." It's an open house.
In his autobiographical book, Travels... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
In his autobiographical book, Travels, Michael Crichton describes a perspective or an attitude on th
The coming of Christ as... -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
The coming of Christ as God Incarnate is much like a conductor with a symphony.
One day a hostess at... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
One day a hostess at a restaurant asked what I considered then a strange question.
Maribeth was used to being... -- 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 1996
Maribeth was used to being correct.
I remember visiting Niagara Falls... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
I remember visiting Niagara Falls and being deeply impressed by the depth to which the water cascade
A woman from our presbytery... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
A woman from our presbytery attended a conference that dealt with mission in Africa, and many Africa
Many of us laugh at... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
Many of us laugh at that trite saying that pops up on graduation cards and trinkets year after year:
I have a pastor friend... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
I have a pastor friend who is single. He gets invited out to eat quite often.
When the famous novelist O... -- Matthew 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
When the famous novelist O.

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffed animal.

* * *

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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