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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

More than one tale can tell -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53, Psalm 93 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Ascension Day is perhaps one of the least celebrated of the major Christian feasts.
Something for Everyone -- 2 Kings 5:1-15ab, Luke 11:1-13, Colossians 2:6-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
One of the wonderful things about such selections as those chosen for this Sunday is the way in whic
The crops of Canaan -- Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, Psalm 32 -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - C
One night, prowling the corners of a Christian bookstore, I stumbled past the Max Lucado, Dan Jenkin
It could happen to you -- Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28, Psalm 133 -- William H. Shepherd -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A
There is a chain of tradition.
The jar left behind -- Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42, Psalm 95 -- William H. Shepherd -- Third Sunday in Lent - A
I was reading the work of a well-known biblical critic who said, "Adequate water sources were crucia
The road no one wants to travel -- Isaiah 7:10-16, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-25, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
Last winter, I had to attend a meeting in Ontario, Canada.
Certainty -- Second Sunday in Lent - C
Everyone I meet wants certainty.
Mixed reactions -- Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17, Psalm 71:1-6 -- David Kalas -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
The promos for a new movie feature all sorts of glowing quotes from an assortment of reviews.
The Change Epiphany Brings -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, John 1:35-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B
In all three scriptures for today we discover that when GodÕs Spirit reveals itself, change takes p
What goes up -- Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23, Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47 -- David Kalas -- Ascension of the Lord - B
"What goes up must come down." So goes the old saying, in an axiomatic testament to the gravitationa
Right Response -- Acts 15:1-2, 22, 27, Revelation 21:10, 22-27, John 14:23-29 -- Ascension of the Lord - C
Just what does God expect of us?
Initiative -- 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43, Mark 5:21-43 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Consequences -- Psalm 94:12-22, Ezekiel 33:1-11, Luke 14:25-33 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Somewhere someone tells the story of a Sunday School teacher of years gone by who wanted to teach he
Let the real king rule! -- Jeremiah 23:2-6, Colossians 1:13-20, Luke 23:35-43 -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C
What a collage of images of God this day presents.
Over the trash can -- Joel 2:1-2, 12-19, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:2, Joel 2:1-2, 12-19 -- Ash Wednesday - C
Ashes may not be as familiar or as regular a part of daily life as when most people had wood or coal
Witnessing -- Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8 -- Second Sunday of Easter - C
One thing is common in all our lessons for this Sunday, witnessing.
All Saints -- Psalm 65:1-8, Psalm 65:1-8 -- All Saints Day - A
One of the worrisome things that is a part of our heritage is the matter of saints.
Coming together -- Jeremiah 31:31-34, Luke 22:7-20 -- Maundy Thursday - C
There is a church which actually sets a table for the Lord's supper.
Drowsy disciples -- Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37 -- David Kalas -- First Sunday of Advent - B
I watched with amusement, recently, as a gentleman across the table from me at a church committee me
Looking for a leader -- Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 -- Wayne Brouwer -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - B
Leadership is a hot topic in business and society.
Fear, faith and the future -- Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
"Fear" and "faith" are the words that ring through the lessons before us for this Sunday.
Here comes the judge -- Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - C
The reality therapy of this Pentecost season gets another sobering installment with the arrival of t
The Danger of Walking in the Light -- 2 Kings 2:1-12a, Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
In both the Old and New Testaments light is always associated directly with God.
Tri-focusing -- John 3:1-17, Romans 8:12-17, Isaiah 6:1-8 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - B
On a scale of one to ten, rate the influence of the "one in three" and "the three in one" of the Tri
On the Way -- Malachi 3:14, Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
On the Wayby Ross Marrs

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

NULL -- Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
With a lot of earthly wisdom and femme fatale, Esther achieved justice for the Jewish people, perhap
NULL -- James 5:13-20 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Prayer comes up often in scripture. Can you point to prayers that God has answered for you?
NULL -- James 5:13-20 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Measles, chickenpox, swine flu, mad cow disease -- medical words today's "youth" recognize.
NULL -- James 5:13-20 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
There is a ministry in many congregations today that uses prayer shawls to comfort those who are sic
NULL -- James 5:13-20 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
The Los Angeles Police Department experimented with a new technology that has become so effective in
NULL -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
Jesus wants to maintain our saltiness; he gives us more salt!
NULL -- Mark 9:38-50 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 2012
John shows how far the disciples were from understanding Jesus' teachings.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 (2012) -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem, Bob Ove, Cynthia E. Cowen, Ron Love, Richard A. Hasler, Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
NULL -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
In the TV series 24, which aired several years ago, Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland)
NULL -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
One of my sons is getting his degree, and he sometimes complains about the tests he will have to tak
NULL -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
Exploration of family background revealed that William Moore was born and raised in the territory of
NULL -- Job 1:1; 2:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
There is a gentleman who quietly lives in Summerville, South Carolina, and goes unrecognized by his
NULL -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
Louis Cassels, in his Christian Primer, explains why God revealed himself in the way he did b
NULL -- Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
Famed preacher of the early church John Chrysostom [known as the one with a golden mouth] offers an
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
True or False: Eating pink pork will make you sick?
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
In Kasto, Minnesota, there is a business called Drive-a-Tank.
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
This is an uncomfortable text, no matter how one tries to read it.
NULL -- Mark 10:2-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - B -- 2012
I once wrote an essay "Can none Ph.D.s be saved?" I have friends who are Ph.D.s and I know they are
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 (2012) -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- Mark Ellingsen, Richard A. Hasler, Cynthia E. Cowen, Bob Ove, Ron Love, Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
NULL -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Mark Ellingsen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Like Job, Americans do not like to admit that they are sinners, but rather like to think of themselv
NULL -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
At one time C.S.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Mark J. Molldrem -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
The history of swords is fascinating, spanning thousands of years and a multitude of cultures.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Ron Love -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
Great Britain's richest woman was American-born Eva Rausing.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Bob Ove -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
If Jesus was tempted in every way such as we are, then he can understand our temptations.
NULL -- Hebrews 4:12-16 -- Cynthia E. Cowen -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
As a church youth director, Ardi received lots of flyers in her mailbox.

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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...

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John Jamison
Object: A pig stuffie.

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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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