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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Those involved in civil disobedience... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Those involved in civil disobedience are willing to accept the consequences for their actions.
I have lost the source... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
I have lost the source of this story: A certain woman (though it could have been a man) had everythi
Ribbons had been about six... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Ribbons had been about six months old when Wendy rescued him from the animal shelter.
The pursuit of life is... -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
The pursuit of life is evident everywhere. Television ads tout the thrills of the Pepsi generation.
The Mental Health division of... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
The Mental Health division of the U.S.
When my son was six... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
When my son was six or seven, he asked me to explain Jesus' death and resurrection.
Beth was startled to learn... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Beth was startled to learn that Margaret was 29 before she experienced the death of anyone she knew
Human beings have a natural... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Human beings have a natural hunger and need for companionship.
Martin Luther said, We do... -- Luke 24:13-35 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Martin Luther said, "We do not believe in the resurrection because of the empty tomb but because of
A youth group was ready... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
A youth group was ready to go bowling together.
On payday an irate employee... -- 1 Peter 2:19-25 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
On payday an irate employee stalks up to the paymaster and shouts, "This pay envelope is a dollar sh
They say that the classic... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
They say that the classic commencement address was given by Bob Hope.
In recent decades, during the... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
In recent decades, during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, our television screens and
In one of playwright Oscar... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
In one of playwright Oscar Wilde's works, a character says, "We did not dare to breathe a prayer or
I believe that George Laird... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
I believe that George Laird Hunt, in the Presbyterian Outlook, told of this experience: "The lady of
A conversation between two men... -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
A conversation between two men:
A study was recently conducted... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
A study was recently conducted at the University of Illinois.
A small boy was leading... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
A small boy was leading his donkey past an army camp. Some of the soldiers were razzing him.
Child welfare workers face difficult... -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Child welfare workers face difficult and dangerous situations each day, situations that are dangerou
A strange ad appeared in... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - A -- 1996
A strange ad appeared in the London Times. "Wanted by an invalid lady, a housekeeper.
Racing toward the garden behind... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - A -- 1996
Racing toward the garden behind John, Peter felt disbelief rising within him on a tide of intense an
A popular phrase states that... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - A -- 1996
A popular phrase states that "seeing is believing." The apostle Thomas could tell his fellow discipl
There is a story told... -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - A -- 1996
There is a story told of an individual who appeared at the Pearly Gates and asked Saint Peter for en
Have you noticed that weddings... -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1996
Have you noticed that weddings are a big business?
A new plant supervisor on... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
A new plant supervisor on Grace Under Fire introduced himself to the day crew by reading a prepared

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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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