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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

What if Simon and Andrew... -- Mark 1:14-20 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
What if Simon and Andrew had kept on fishing? Would Jesus have come back?
Since Christians have been raised... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
Since Christians have been raised with Christ, the life of the resurrection is their actual conditio
This passage is a contrast... -- Isaiah 35:4-7 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B -- 1994
This passage is a contrast in opposites -- sight for those who have been blind, voice for the mute,
The decade of the 1980s... -- James 4:7-12 (13-5:6) -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
The decade of the 1980s brought an amazing range of consumer goods into being.
Edwin R. Roberts of Princeton... -- Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
Edwin R.
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen once... -- Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Bishop Fulton J.
A man said to his... -- John 6:24-35 -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
A man said to his barber, "I need a good haircut.
The 1992 movie, Leap of... -- Mark 1:29-39 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
The 1992 movie, Leap of Faith, tells the story of a traveling evangelist who used every trick, inclu
The television show, The Martian... -- 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
The television show, The Martian Chronicles is about humans who colonize Mars.
Fred Turner set out to... -- Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 -- 1994
Fred Turner set out to make a point. He wanted to prove that most people in America are good.
Keep your eye on the... -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Easter Day - B -- 1994
"Keep your eye on the ball." It is the advice given to batters, golfers and placekickers.
It is uncomfortable and unsettling... -- Mark 14:12-26 -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 1994
It is uncomfortable and unsettling when something bad happens and no responsible person comes forwar
Jesus' family and friends refuse... -- Mark 3:20-35 -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 1994
Jesus' family and friends refuse to see him in any way but the conventional relationships of blood t
A recent development in the... -- John 14:15-21 -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 1994
A recent development in the war against crime is life-sized cardboard cutouts of police officers.
Billy Ray Cyrus sings a... -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B -- 1994
Billy Ray Cyrus sings a country song that has become popular, especially among young people.
Once there was an unattractive... -- John 3:1-17 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B -- 1994
Once there was an unattractive, shy, unpopular little orphan girl who was considered to be a problem
There is a lot of... -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- All Saints Day - B -- 1994
There is a lot of misunderstanding about the "new city, the heavenly Jerusalem." David Sheppard, Bi
More than 200,000 pink postcards... -- Hebrews 9:24-28 -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - B -- 1994
More than 200,000 pink postcards were sent to average Americans in May of 1993, inviting them to cal
It did not happen often... -- Matthew 6:25-33 -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 1994
It did not happen often, but Pastor Allen was having difficulty coming up with a children's sermon i
In this case, the crucial... -- Mark 10:17-31 -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 1994
In this case, the crucial test for the young man was the ability to give up his wealth.
These first century words about... -- Hebrews 5:12-6:1, 9-12 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
These first century words about Christians locked into entry level discipleship are still pertinent.
When Jesus declared he was... -- John 6:41-51 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
When Jesus declared he was "the bread that came down from heaven," the religious leaders objected, s
Life is made up of... -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
Life is made up of choices.
Managing a ball team is... -- Ezekiel 2:2-5 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - B -- 1994
Managing a ball team is much like being a prophet.
As long as there are... -- Mark 6:7-13 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school.

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Ascension of the Lord
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
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

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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