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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

There are some lessons in... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
There are some lessons in life that can only be learned the hard way!
It is a tragic fact... -- Isaiah 45:21-25 -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
It is a tragic fact that many religious people assume the ignorant and arrogant position that unless
The Toledo (Ohio) Zoo, much... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The Toledo (Ohio) Zoo, much of which was built through government work programs during the 1930s, ha
Those who bring truth from... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Those who bring truth from God are often rejected.
A group of Jewish business... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
A group of Jewish business leaders were told by a certain hotel in Miami, Florida, that they could n
Petunia finally understood. All animals... -- Luke 20:9-19 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Petunia finally understood.
Credibility is a major problem... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
Credibility is a major problem that the courts are struggling with today.
John Wesley is noted for... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
John Wesley is noted for his detailed journals in which he recorded the events of his life and minis
The late Bishop Fulton J... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C -- 1995
The late Bishop Fulton J.
The couple enjoyed dinner parties... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The couple enjoyed dinner parties and they hosted them often.
Jesus arrived in Bethany at... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Jesus arrived in Bethany at the home of Lazarus at the end of the week (John records: "Six days befo
O why are we so... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
"O why are we so haggard at the heart, so care-coiled, care-
We have all heard the... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
We have all heard the proverb: "People who live in glass houses should never throw stones." It is ea
Sharon was brought up as... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Sharon was brought up as a church-going person. Her family's Sunday routine rarely varied.
Years ago, while traveling in... -- John 8:1-11 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Years ago, while traveling in central Pennsylvania, in Dutch country, I came upon an old Amish sayin
Nathaniel Hawthorne long ago wrote... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Nathaniel Hawthorne long ago wrote the story of "Young Goodman Brown." The central character is a ne
The 1994 Winter Olympics will... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The 1994 Winter Olympics will live long in the memories of the residents of West Allis, a suburb of
Wayne Meeks, professor of religious... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Wayne Meeks, professor of religious studies at Yale University, furnished new insights into the soci
Christ Church was a small... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Christ Church was a small country church -- only 75 members. It was part of a farming community.
A newspaper story about animal... -- John 12:1-8 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
A newspaper story about animal rights volunteers at the County Humane Shelter brought an angry lette
Several things that used to... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Several things that used to be indispensable for some of us: Hitching posts, kerosene lamps, Sears c
Participants, worshippers, and observers at... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Participants, worshippers, and observers at the consecration of Penelope Jamieson as the first woman
The recent challenges to the... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The recent challenges to the American automotive industry by the Japanese have as much to do with le
Desert RainSpring explodes... -- Isaiah 43:16-21 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
Desert RainSpring explodes as raindrums down on desert sands. It hears
The news that came out... -- Philippians 3:4b-14 -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - C -- 1995
The news that came out of Buckingham Palace in 1936 shocked the world.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

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...

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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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