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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

A young girl asked her... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
A young girl asked her father, "Why do we say grace before every meal?" To this her father replied,
Someone had said that faith... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
Someone had said that "faith is not jumping to conclusions; it is the conclusion to jump." Pascal ca
God can be trusted and... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
God can be trusted and we must take him at his word. Abraham is our model in this.
John, Miriam, and their two... -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
John, Miriam, and their two sons had been driving north most of the morning, hoping they got home be
It has been suggested that... -- Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
It has been suggested that it would be wise for every Christian from time to time to go to a store o
He was walking by the... -- Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
He was walking by the highway carrying a broomstick and a bag. He was picking up trash.
When their mom's will was... -- Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
When their mom's will was read, the inheritance was the same for all three children.
An identical twin who had... -- Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
An identical twin who had been an outstanding citizen in the community went to prison for a crime th
The subject being discussed in... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
The subject being discussed in Sunday School was "parenting." One woman remarked, "Even if you try t
Following a summer of Pastoral... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
Following a summer of Pastoral Clinical Education at Patton State Mental Hospital, I wrote a sermon
Matthew couldn't believe he was... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
Matthew couldn't believe he was here, eating with all these other people, not just others of his pro
It has been said that... -- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 1996
It has been said that the church is not a museum for the display of saints, but a hospital for the c
The church youth group visited... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1996
The church youth group visited a local nursing home to sing Christmas carols.
Contrast the essence of peace... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1996
Contrast the essence of peace in God and peace with one another with the following Gunsmoke episode.
Farewell is a word of... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1996
Farewell is a word of warning.
Randy headed for the church... -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 1996
Randy headed for the church, planning to spend the entire afternoon helping the worship committee cl
A certain man had sent... -- Revelation 12:7-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
A certain man had sent away for a specially trained golden retriever.
Saint Peter sat in his... -- Revelation 12:7-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
Saint Peter sat in his celestial office and wondered at the sad state of affairs on earth.
When the Nazis were defeated... -- Revelation 12:7-12 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
When the Nazis were defeated in Europe, Hitler took his own life.
Two famous women -- Mother Teresa... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
Two famous women -- Mother Teresa and Imelda Marcos.
A couple made an appointment... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
A couple made an appointment with their pastor to discuss a problem that they were having with their
In Arabia, shortly after colts... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
In Arabia, shortly after colts are born, they are entrusted to a trainer who uses only a bugle to le
More than we realize our... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
More than we realize our lives are surrounded by symbols of authority.
Angrily Sarah slammed down the... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
Angrily Sarah slammed down the telephone receiver while Kevin was in mid-sentence on the other end o
At the zoo in Hanover... -- Luke 10:17-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1996
At the zoo in Hanover, Germany, there was an African bull elephant.

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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
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
34 – Sermons
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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...

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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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