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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

She went to Bosnia early... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
She went to Bosnia early on, because she wanted to do something with her nursing degree that had mea
When you fill a container... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
When you fill a container with water you expect to empty its contents in time.
Vision is a dangerous thing... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Vision is a dangerous thing.
Booker T. Washington said: I... -- Acts 7:55-60 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Booker T.
Amen! It shall be... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Amen! It shall be so! Exclamation point! You bet! Yessirree!
The Bible ends with the... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
The Bible ends with the repetitive word "come." It is the distinct word of invitations.
In the movie, The Terminator... -- Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
In the movie, The Terminator, antagonist Arnold Schwarzenegger utters these now famous words, "I'll
As dawn crept across the... -- Revelation 21:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
As dawn crept across the rooftops, Beth watched new shadows lengthen, given birth by the rising sun.
In our country right now... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
In our country right now, just about everyone is opposed to the huge budget deficit that continues t
Philosopher Philip Hallie has told... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Philosopher Philip Hallie has told the story of the French village, Le Chambon, in his book, Lest In
Peter Marshall once preached a... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Peter Marshall once preached a sermon titled "The Saint of the Rank and File," (in Mr.
Elaine Storkey, an English sociologist... -- John 17:20-26 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - C -- 1995
Elaine Storkey, an English sociologist and philosopher, wrote a book about the feminist movement tit
Ascension DayWhen, long... -- Acts 1:1-11 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
Ascension DayWhen, long ago in distant place,Disciples last beheld His face,
In a dark corner of... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
In a dark corner of the Metropolitan Museum in New York is a painting, not well known, from the Baro
We have sung the old... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
We have sung the old hymn, "There is power, power, wondrous working power in the precious blood of t
Agnes Sanford's ministry was one... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
Agnes Sanford's ministry was one of love for all God's saints, and of the true wisdom that comes fro
What comes into your mind... -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
What comes into your mind when you hear the word power?
The popularity of the new... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
The popularity of the new generation of three-dimensional art has caused many interesting scenes whe
A young couple with a... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
A young couple with a little girl had just brought home a baby boy from the hospital.
In the final chapter of... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
In the final chapter of Luke when Jesus appears to his disciples, he exhorts them in 24:49, "Stay in
Sam had found an abundance... -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
Sam had found an abundance of blessing in his day.
Recently McDonald's was told that... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
Recently McDonald's was told that they could open restaurants in India.
Stories and photographs circulate frequently... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
Stories and photographs circulate frequently -- the face of Jesus recognized in a photo of clouds, o
There is a legend told... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
There is a legend told about Thomas, the "doubting" disciple, and how it was that he became the apos
In Saul Bellow's novel Herzog... -- Matthew 28:16-20 -- Ascension of the Lord - C -- 1995
In Saul Bellow's novel Herzog, the bewildered hero muses to himself about the current scene.

Political Pulpit

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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
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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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