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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

We all look for a... -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 1996
We all look for a forecast that we can trust.
Summer seemed to have come... -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
Summer seemed to have come without warning.
As a young lady was... -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
As a young lady was leaving worship she said to her pastor, "Is it all right if my boyfriend takes c
Jigsaw puzzles can be much... -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
Jigsaw puzzles can be much fun. They provide entertainment for hours on end.
The problem inherent in our... -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
The problem inherent in our legal system came into the spotlight again when a jury in Albuquerque, N
These days, politicians and other... -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
These days, politicians and other public servants have nowhere to hide.
What's so bad about calling... -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
What's so bad about calling people names? Suing somebody? Reading Playboy? Getting a divorce?
How often the so-called... -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
How often the so-called wisdom of men is overcome by the power of God.
In late 1994 a Jewish... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
In late 1994 a Jewish marriage in Jerusalem was ruled to be invalid.
During grief counseling and funerals... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
During grief counseling and funerals, the life of the faithful departed is lifted up and celebrated.
I dreamed that some friends... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
I dreamed that some friends and I were getting into Heaven together.
Galileo's astronomical investigations were often... -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
Galileo's astronomical investigations were often criticized by people in the church because they fel
I grew up on a... -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 1996
I grew up on a farm. I would have preferred to live in the city.
The spirit and wisdom... -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
The spirit and wisdom of the world and of the God of Scripture
Carolyn had just discovered a... -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
Carolyn had just discovered a whole new world. It was mind-
While home from college during... -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 1996
While home from college during spring break, a young woman made an appointment to see her pastor con
In this life there is... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1996
In this life there is much suffering.
Call it hope. Call it... -- Romans 8:12-25 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1996
Call it hope. Call it a dream.
Did you ever wonder about... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1996
Did you ever wonder about the song "Rock-A-Bye Baby"?
Spend much time in the... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1996
Spend much time in the country and you notice that usually there is noise: the wind in the trees, th
When young children weed a... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1996
When young children weed a flower bed, they may accidentally pull up the flower seedlings or even th
Recently the story was told... -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A -- 1996
Recently the story was told on 60 Minutes of a woman who began a Christian school many years ago in
After seeing a bumper sticker... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1996
After seeing a bumper sticker that read, "God Is Love," a man remarked, "I wish I could feel God's l
This story comes out of... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1996
This story comes out of World War II (I know not the source).
The first time I ever... -- Romans 8:26-39 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1996
The first time I ever experienced an automatic door opener was years ago in New York City.

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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New & Featured This Week

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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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