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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

One late afternoon in Florence... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
One late afternoon in Florence, we got caught in a terrific downpour and found ourselves seeking ref
When I lift my heart... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
When I lift my heart in prayer,Uttering forth my every care --
Death, thou wast once an... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing, Nothing but bones,
Have you ever traveled on... -- John 18:1-19:42 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Have you ever traveled on a highway and suddenly, out of nowhere, three crosses appear?
The post office was trying... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
The post office was trying to run advertisements to get people to stop sending away for guaranteed f
Before the invention of steam... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Before the invention of steam and diesel engines, transoceanic commerce was conveyed in huge sailing
Have you ever had someone... -- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Have you ever had someone criticize you for something you could not help?
Leo Tolstoi, the Russian novelist... -- Hebrews 4:4-16; 5:7-9 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Leo Tolstoi, the Russian novelist, is celebrated as one of the best authors of all time.
Wes was an 86-year... -- Hebrews 10:1-25 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Wes was an 86-year-old bachelor. He's quit school at an early age to go to work in the city.
Isn't it a joy to... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Isn't it a joy to discover what already is?
When the family gathered for... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
When the family gathered for their parents' golden wedding anniversary, preparations had been going
A cartoon shows three elderly... -- Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
A cartoon shows three elderly women talking.
Don't you talk to me... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Don't you talk to me about compassion, God, until you know what it is like down here.
Church conventions can be some... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Church conventions can be some of the most down-and-dirty occasions in the church.
The imago dei of the... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
The imago dei of the suffering servant who brings salvation to the people of God is depicted by Isai
Katherine looked around the room... -- Isaiah 52:13-53:12 -- Good Friday - C -- 1995
Katherine looked around the room, taking in the characteristics of her audience: women, for the most
One of the marvels of... -- Hebrews 10:15-39 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
One of the marvels of the modern computer age is the ease with which we can rework manuscripts to su
The literary world always manages... -- Hebrews 10:15-39 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
The literary world always manages to attract a good share of horror tales.
But, Pastor, you don't have... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
"But, Pastor, you don't have to do that!" was the comment that Pastor Jim heard when he arrived, for
Through the act of washing... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Through the act of washing the feet of his disciples, Christ gave an example of humility and service
Ken went daily now to... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
Ken went daily now to help Sam. Sam needed him; he was so weak.
This is really strange! mumbled... -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
"This is really strange!" mumbled one of the adolescent boys, as he stripped off his shoes and socks
The main road from Exeter... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
The main road from Exeter to Plymouth winds along the seacoast, with villages below and farmlands an
A pastor went to visit... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
A pastor went to visit with one of her members who had stopped attending worship.
It probably is helpful when... -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Maundy Thursday - C -- 1995
It probably is helpful when considering these crucial and beautiful words of institution of the Lord

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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
1 Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Life can be frightening sometimes. Thus it is both comforting but disconcerting to find a giant of faith like Elijah to fear the future. On that matter Martin Luther once claimed:
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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