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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Some congregations wonder why they... -- Matthew 14:13-21 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1996
Some congregations wonder why they do not grow.
A famous minister accepted an... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1996
A famous minister accepted an invitation to preach at a small country church.
In my first pastorate, a... -- Romans 10:5-15 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1996
In my first pastorate, a bright, intelligent high school girl came to my study.
I wish the Coca-Cola... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- 1996
I wish the Coca-Cola people hadn't thought of it first.
There was a family that... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- 1996
There was a family that sat next to us at all the high school basketball games.
There have been many people... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- 1996
There have been many people who, during their lifetimes, were given wide acclaim for their accomplis
It is a tradition that... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- 1996
It is a tradition that we shake hands when we meet people. But why do we do that?
His father died. He was... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- 1996
His father died. He was really angry. To have to be there.
He had developed a strong... -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- 1996
He had developed a strong department in a very short time.
A man owned a house... -- Romans 8:11-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
A man owned a house which he rented for income. He needed the income in order to meet his expenses.
There is a good word... -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
There is a good word to be said in support of channel-surfing.
Things can really seem dull... -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Things can really seem dull and dead after a rainy weekend, so you can understand how it must have b
Her grandmother was visiting. The... -- John 11:1-45 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Her grandmother was visiting.
C. Kilmer Myers, in a... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - A -- 1996
C.
Yvonne had attended church for... -- Philippians 2:5-11 -- 1996
Yvonne had attended church for years.
Leonard had discovered over the... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Leonard had discovered over the last couple of years that fasting was just not a spiritual disciplin
How can you tell if... -- Romans 8:6-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
How can you tell if a person is a Christian?
Here is a clear distinction... -- Romans 8:1-10 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Here is a clear distinction between body and soul. Our bodies make constant demands upon us.
Donald G. Miller of Pittsburgh... -- Romans 8:11-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Donald G.
Margie had always held a... -- Romans 8:11-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Margie had always held a fascination for words.
A father was traveling by... -- Romans 8:11-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
A father was traveling by plane with his six-year-old son.
The blessings of light are... -- Ephesians 5:8-14 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
The blessings of light are innumerable.
Louisiana Judge Thomas Quirk has... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Louisiana Judge Thomas Quirk has a rather different way of handing out justice in his courtroom.
A woman called the power... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
A woman called the power company office and complained that her bill was too high.
Maybe you have experienced it... -- John 9:1-41 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 1996
Maybe you have experienced it before yourself -- the dilemma of the disciples.

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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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