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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When my wife's grandmother was... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-3 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
When my wife's grandmother was a young child, growing up in Poland, she was sent out alone into the
In 1909 a young man... -- 2 Samuel 5:1-3 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
In 1909 a young man graduated from high school.
IlluminationAs morning wakes... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
IlluminationAs morning wakes the slumbering shades of night,
St. Therese of Lisieux, also... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as "the little flower," became a Carmelite nun.
One of the most remarkable... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
One of the most remarkable persons I have ever met is my mother-in-
This is the house? Yes... -- Colossians 1:11-20 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
"This is the house?" "Yes, it is, sire." "Looks nice from the outside, pleasant landscaping, e
Our observance this Sunday is... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
Our observance this Sunday is in honor of the King of kings.
Nice shooting, Straight Arrow.br... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
"Nice shooting, Straight Arrow."
Sultan Hassan Bolkiah of Brunei... -- Luke 23:33-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C -- 1995
Sultan Hassan Bolkiah of Brunei, the world's richest man, left a $170,000 tip for the hotel staff at
Some first fruit-y bumper... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Some first fruit-y bumper stickers:
A young woman worked her... -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
A young woman worked her way through college by being a hotel maid.
Famous chefs do not achieve... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Famous chefs do not achieve success overnight.
It is the dream of... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
It is the dream of every immigrant that in the new land to which s/he is headed, life will be easier
In 1994 the baseball players... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
In 1994 the baseball players went on strike. But not many fans could sympathize with them.
Visitors to Cape Cod have... -- Deuteronomy 8:1-10 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Visitors to Cape Cod have the opportunity to visit Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims landed December
One of the memorable short... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
One of the memorable short phrases to emerge from the Walt Disney film, The Lion King, is "hakuna ma
If you've ever studied a... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
If you've ever studied a musical instrument, you'll know the truth of the saying "practice makes per
Have no anxiety at all... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Have no anxiety at all!
An abolitionist, visiting a Maryland... -- Philippians 4:4-9 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
An abolitionist, visiting a Maryland farm in 1859, observed several slaves working to clear a field
If you could define the... -- James 1:17-18, 21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
If you could define the word religion, how would you do it?
It is said that Robert... -- James 1:17-18, 21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
It is said that Robert E.
Playing basketball with members of... -- James 1:17-18, 21-27 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Playing basketball with members of his church's youth group, Pastor Lee made a move toward the baske
As a child, I can... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
As a child, I can remember going through the cafeteria line at elementary school.
The term bread of life... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
The term bread of life is not a unique term, but rather a term in antiquity that was like a golden f
Janet knew she was going... -- John 6:25-35 -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 1995
Janet knew she was going to have to face her husband's wrath over the cat.

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...

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
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.

Special Occasion

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