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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

The Israelites had just witnessed... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The Israelites had just witnessed the devastation of an enemy under whom they'd chafed
In the movie Ben-Hur... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
In the movie Ben-Hur, there is a chariot race. Charlton Heston, representing the
The Greek-speaking church fathers... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The Greek-speaking church fathers had a very useful word they used in situations of
Sally made some bad choices... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Sally made some bad choices. She was arrested for driving under the influence of
The trouble began when Bob... -- Romans 14:1-12 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
The trouble began when Bob, a very charismatic and influential man, went to a
Kings and slaves were stock... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
Kings and slaves were stock characters in Semitic stories. So it's not hard to understand
How often should I forgive... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
"How often should I forgive?" Few questions are so pertinent. At least Peter asked. Some
In Matthew, Jesus tells the... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2008
In Matthew, Jesus tells the fascinating story of a man hiring people for a day's wage, and
Some of us remember the... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Some of us remember the heyday of station wagons: those versatile, all-purpose vehicles
When I was in China... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
When I was in China a few years ago, I asked one of our tour guides what most Chinese
Many families are experiencing financial... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Many families are experiencing financial difficulties with the downturn of the economy
Americans are now approaching a... -- Exodus 16:2-15 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Americans are now approaching a 0% saving rate, meaning that we are overspending and
Betty Lou taught piano to... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Betty Lou taught piano to elementary school students for twenty years. She said her
Most people I know struggle... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Most people I know struggle to find standards for their lifestyles. As we waited for a
Do you lead a life... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Do you lead a life worthy of the gospel? Children of parents who are pastors, or have
Even when we know that... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Even when we know that the blessings that come to us have been delivered to the wrong
Life seems so unfair!br... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
Life seems so unfair!
First Church had been declining... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
First Church had been declining in membership and attendance for years. Twenty years
A recent website offering labor... -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2008
A recent website offering labor advice cites this scenario: A nurse was hired to work at a
The testimony of experts states... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The testimony of experts states that methamphetamines are instantly addicting. Most
Moses had the most frustrating... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Moses had the most frustrating job ever. The Lord picked him to lead a large group of
The Amazon River is larger... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
The Amazon River is larger by monumental proportions than the rock from which Moses,
How is it possible for... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
How is it possible for two people to share the same love -- let alone for an entire
Let the same mind be... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Paul tells us.
Sherry shared with her small... -- Philippians 2:1-13 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2008
Sherry shared with her small group how she became a Christian. At the time she had only

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 10 | OT 15 | Pentecost 5
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 11 | OT 16 | Pentecost 6
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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Proper 12 | OT 17 | Pentecost 7
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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