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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

James knew his death was... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
James knew his death was not going to be an easy one.
In his celebrated autobiography, Frederick... -- 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
In his celebrated autobiography, Frederick Douglass tells the story of his life as a slave.
Brenda is one of those... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
"Brenda" is one of those people with infectious enthusiasm for life.
So many times a pastor... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
So many times a pastor listens to the complaints of a person against the rest of the family: I, of c
In spite of its avowed... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
In spite of its avowed profaneness the television show Saturday Night Live does score some good poin
In the southern part of... -- Job 19:23-27a -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
In the southern part of the United States, there is an annoying weed that grows in the forests that
A man, who was not... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
A man, who was not very religious, was often irritated by his pious neighbor, a woman who insisted o
The team stood there, stunned... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
The team stood there, stunned, after the coach told them the news.
Sometimes when a person has... -- Deuteronomy 10:12-22 -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 1995
Sometimes when a person has come to me for counseling because of incredible stress bearing down on t
Those who do evil always... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Those who do evil always attempt to cover it up.
Schoolchildren are often asked to... -- Isaiah 26:1-4, 8-9, 12-13, 19-21 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Schoolchildren are often asked to envision the future.
The regional meeting ended on... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
The regional meeting ended on a positive note that reflected the whole event.
In an English village during... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
In an English village during the Middle Ages, a tyrannical nobleman was determined to undermine the
One formula for presenting a... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
One formula for presenting a good thesis was most favored for decades.
The first time Marge heard... -- Ephesians 1:11-23 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
The first time Marge heard the words of the Imposition of Ashes during the Ash Wednesday Service she
When someone on the street... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
When someone on the street looks at you, do they really know who you are?
The leaders of a church... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
The leaders of a church decided to remove the steeple from the church.
Michelle and Aaron were the... -- 1 John 3:1-3 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Michelle and Aaron were the only sister and brother who volunteered together at their local convales
Top ten phrases and questions... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Top ten phrases and questions you won't hear in the holy city! 10.
Almost predictably, Sally had spent... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
Almost predictably, Sally had spent more of her work time talking with co-workers about morale issue
A Cuban stowaway, interviewed as... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
A Cuban stowaway, interviewed as to why he went to great dangers risking life and limb to reach Amer
The Miami airport terminal was... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
The Miami airport terminal was crowded and tense.
In Leaving Home, Garrison Keillor... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
In Leaving Home, Garrison Keillor tells of one of those summer weeks when not much happened in Lake
A Boy Scout promises in... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
A Boy Scout promises in his Scout Law to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind,
When the pastor answered the... -- Luke 6:20-31 -- All Saints Day - C -- 1995
When the pastor answered the phone, the woman's voice on the other end said, "Pastor, I'm calling be

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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
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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