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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Pretend, for a few minutes... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
Pretend, for a few minutes, that you and your friends were present during those final hours of Jesus
GethsemaneIn the garden... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
GethsemaneIn the garden that night, Jesus prayed,"Not my will, but yours be done."
The crucifixion seemed to many... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
The crucifixion seemed to many to mark the utter defeat of Jesus.
A seminary student said to... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
A seminary student said to his professor, "If Jesus knew all that was to happen to him, knew how it
Examine the history of God... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - A -- 1996
Examine the history of God with man:
Families have traditions, values that... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - A -- 1996
Families have traditions, values that set them apart from other families.
Four score and seven years... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
"Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conce
The young businesswoman on the... -- John 3:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
The young businesswoman on the way to work who stops to change a tire for a pregnant woman with a tw
Four days before Christmas, in... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
Four days before Christmas, in 1170 A.D., Thomas Becket fell dying before the altar at Canterbury.
Samantha simply could not understand... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
Samantha simply could not understand what was wrong with her houseplants.
A covenant is a solemn... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
A covenant is a solemn promise.
On an episode of Family... -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
On an episode of Family Feud, the question was, "How often do you attend church?" The number one ans
April Fleming was a 16... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
April Fleming was a 16-year-old girl who was dying from a rare blood disease that was destroying her
Poet Robert Frost was posing... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - A -- 1996
Poet Robert Frost was posing for a portrait bust by sculptor Joe Brown.
No one, except a few... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
No one, except a few deacons, knew of my plans for serving the sacrament at the Lord's Supper one Su
John had been an elder... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
John had been an elder in his congregation for nearly a year.
I once stood beside the... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
I once stood beside the casket of Abraham Lincoln, inside his memorial monument in Springfield, Illi
A very special day in... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
A very special day in the life of the church is Holy or Maundy Thursday.
Most people are familiar with... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 1996
Most people are familiar with the expression "white elephant." It refers to something that is expens
The arrival of the Holy... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1996
The arrival of the Holy Spirit was phenomenal. Many strange and wonderful things occurred.
Beverly knew the word Pentecost... -- Acts 2:1-21 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1996
Beverly knew the word "Pentecost" was derived from the word for "fifty" because it came fifty days a
In the fall of 1994... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1996
In the fall of 1994, the small town of Conyers, Georgia, was in the news.
All those beer and soft... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1996
All those beer and soft drink commercials are not far wrong: we've built up a thirst.
Wag Dodge was the crew... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1996
Wag Dodge was the crew leader assigned to the Mann Gulch fire in 1949 -- the tragic fire that killed
The idea that the Spirit... -- John 7:37-39 -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 1996
The idea that the Spirit had not been given does not mean that the Spirit did not exist in the commu

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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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