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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The story of visiting an old woman... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Peter Gomes tells the story of visiting an old woman in a nursing home who had to downsize her posse
My wife's family has some German in their background... -- Exodus 12:1-14 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
My wife's family has some German in their background, so after I married her I was introduced to the
Have you ever had an outfit or a pair of jeans... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Have you ever had an outfit or a pair of jeans that fit so well that they just felt natural to wear
It's all about getting your priorities straight... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
It's all about getting your priorities straight.
Early politicians required feedback from the public... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered importan
Writing about relationships in the church... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Leonard Sweet, writing about relationships in the church, contends that to say "relationship" is to
A megachurch is defined as a church with 2,000 or more... -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
A megachurch is defined as a church with 2,000 or more in average weekly attendance.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 (2011) -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Exodus 14:19-31
Imagine you're in middle school... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Imagine you're in middle school, sitting in detention when another student whispers to you, "I have
Things just worked out for Gloria... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Things just worked out for Gloria. She was a bright student. She got along with her parents.
During the Revolutionary War... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington knew how important it was to be a God-fearin
Many churches recite a creed as part of their liturgy... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Many churches recite a creed as part of their liturgy, either the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Cree
The lack of civility in our churches and in our nation... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
The lack of civility in our churches and in our nation as a whole is a mark of our time.
There is a company in Florence, South Carolina... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
There is a company in Florence, South Carolina, that has been making bricks for 125 years.
When we look at someone else's wrongs or shortcomings... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
When we look at someone else's wrongs or shortcomings, it's easy to miss our own since we frequently
Jennifer's mom gave her $5... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
Jennifer's mom gave her $5 to buy some fries at the fair. "Keep the change," her mom said.
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 (2011) -- Exodus 16:12-15, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
Exodus 16:12-15
In 1988 Arthur Rooney Sr. died... -- Exodus 16:12-15 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
In 1988 Arthur Rooney Sr. died.
I had my own preconceptions about what I would find... -- Exodus 16:12-15 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
I have to admit, when I first started looking into this, I had my own preconceptions about what I wo
In the 1700s many women had blemishes and pale skin... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
In the 1700s many women had blemishes and pale skin that they wanted to enliven.
Most of us have heard the old saying... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Brian Hohmeier -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
Most of us have heard the old saying "You can't have your cake and eat it too." This would drive me
Jordan is a professional football player... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
Jordan is a professional football player.
You've probably heard about deathbed conversions... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Craig Kelly -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
You've probably heard about "deathbed conversions" where someone comes to faith in Christ just befor
If you have seen the movie Amadeus... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Richard A. Hasler -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
If you have seen the movie Amadeus about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, you probably re
Sermon Illustrations for Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 (2011) -- Exodus 17:1-7, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
Exodus 17:1-7

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Proper 7 | OT 12 | Pentecost 2
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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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