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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Two versions of the call... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
Two versions of the call to life and vocation:
It was the middle of... -- 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 1996
It was the middle of January, but Rick found himself thinking about Thanksgiving.
Gold is a precious metal... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
Gold is a precious metal. It's the natural thing to give a king. This gift was to his royalty.
French writer Albert Camus pictures... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
French writer Albert Camus pictures life for all too many of us in the words:
Chaplain Carl W. McGeehon tells... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
Chaplain Carl W.
It was Saturday morning and... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
It was Saturday morning and Nathan really wanted to go fishing with his friends.
My son came home one... -- Acts 10:34-43 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1996
My son came home one day from football practice and said to me, "Dad, the team we are playing on Fri
One of my favorite... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
One of my favorite television series was, and still is, Rod
Why? Peter asked himself. Why... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
"Why?" Peter asked himself. "Why would anyone DO such a thing?
Not long after arriving at... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
Not long after arriving at college, a young girl was invited to a non-denominational Bible study.
The Christian church began as... -- Ephesians 3:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
The Christian church began as an assembly of Jews who were drawn to Christ.
The Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
The Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offered a $500 reward for any stude
When driving a car, our... -- Matthew 2:1-12 -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 1996
When driving a car, our eyes are simply not enough. We must depend on our ears to guide us as well.
MarginsThe margins ...br... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1996
MarginsThe margins ...... the spaces left blank in books,
Recently I heard a doctor... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1996
Recently I heard a doctor speak at a Christian Businessmen's Luncheon.
Serendipity is a word that... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1996
Serendipity is a word that came into prominence a few years ago.
During the baseball strike, a... -- Luke 2:21 -- 1996
During the baseball strike, a newspaper cartoon had a caption: "Striking baseball player gets reacqu
A life of obedience is... -- Luke 2:21 -- 1996
A life of obedience is difficult for four-year-olds.
A man took a hunting... -- Luke 2:21 -- 1996
A man took a hunting vacation.
Whenever I drive into Pittsburgh... -- Philippians 2:9-13 -- 1996
Whenever I drive into Pittsburgh, I always notice two particular businesses that I pass along the wa
It happens almost every time... -- Philippians 2:9-13 -- 1996
It happens almost every time there is a "world champion." That is, every time America crowns its Sup
Now we come to January... -- Philippians 2:9-13 -- 1996
Now we come to January 1 -- a day of mourning for the death of an old friend, 1995.
Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard tells... -- Philippians 2:9-13 -- 1996
Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard tells the story of a prince who was passing through a village w
Matthew 25:31-46 RevisitedI... -- Matthew 25:31-46 -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 1996
Matthew 25:31-46 RevisitedI was hungry --
Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach... -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, kept strict and demanding rules at his

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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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