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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

Not all storms are works... -- Mark 6:45-52<br> -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Not all storms are works of nature.
I am greatly indebted to... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
I am greatly indebted to a book by Ross Parmenter, The Awakened Eye, published in 1968 by Wesleyan
These women had done nothing... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
These women had done nothing wrong; why were they afraid?
I remember once, as a... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
I remember once, as a small child, being lost in a corn field.
Another minister heard about a... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Another minister heard about a young man who wanted to buy something nice for his girlfriend.
A little girl brought a... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A little girl brought a handful of change into the lunch room. "This is for my dessert," she said.
During the spring of 1993... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
During the spring of 1993, about 600 would-be lawyers sat for the California bar exam.
A family attended a week... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
A family attended a week-long retreat at a church camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Many years ago there was... -- John 20:19-23 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
Many years ago there was an Easter Day episode in the comic strip called Graves, Inc. Mr.
Once it was, I was... -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
Once it was, I was dead -- or at least so it seemed.
A Scotsman discovered that he... -- Mark 12:41-44 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
A Scotsman discovered that he had accidentally put a sovereign in the offering plate, intending to
Day before yesterday Diana had... -- James 2:1-5 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
Day before yesterday Diana had bid farewell to Harriet, her friend of 42 years.
Henri J.M. Nouwen becomes easily... -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Henri J.M. Nouwen becomes easily known as Henri by those who attend his conferences.
Quite often we are like... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
Quite often we are like the people in Jesus' hometown.
Louis was about 45 years... -- Mark 6:45-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Louis was about 45 years old when we knew him.
Have you ever seen a... -- 2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Have you ever seen a firefly during the day? Have you ever wondered why not?
In my eighth grade public... -- Mark 16:1-8 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
In my eighth grade public speaking class, our teacher was Mr. Evans.
When Leonardo da Vinci was... -- John 20:19-25 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
When Leonardo da Vinci was painting his masterpiece, "The Last Supper," we are told that he had a qu
One of the themes of... -- Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27 -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
One of the themes of Revelation is that of "newness" and Bishop Fulton J.
Mr. Gordon Johnston and his... -- Mark 13:1-8 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
Mr.
In Stories for the Telling... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
In Stories for the Telling, by William R. White, we find the following Jewish folktale.
To be salty is to... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
To be salty is to have flavor.
Many of us can identify... -- Mark 6:1-13 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
Many of us can identify with Jesus' experience of ministry in his hometown and his observation that
Faith and works go together... -- James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
Faith and works go together.
Envy and jealousy, none of... -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Envy and jealousy, none of us are immune not even apostles.

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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
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Proper 8 | OT 13 | Pentecost 3
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
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Proper 9 | OT 14 | Pentecost 4
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26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
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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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