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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Commentary

Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

On his first missionary tour... -- Acts 13:26-33a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2001
On his first missionary tour, Paul, with his companion Barnabas, was simply doing what the 1971 chil
At the Pontiac Silverdome, April... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
At the Pontiac Silverdome, April 15, 2000, former president Gerald Ford challenged a gathering of so
Every year, the Hawaii Ironman... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
Every year, the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon is broadcast sometime during the winter.
Two young Catholic priests left... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
Two young Catholic priests left work at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, very weary as th
In May, 2000, the town... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
In May, 2000, the town of Walkerton, Ontario, gained worldwide attention when almost 50 percent of i
There is an incredible power... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
There is an incredible power in receiving aid from unexpected quarter.
It is good to ask... -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
It is good to ask questions.
A plenipotentiary is a diplomat... -- Colossians 1:15-28 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - C -- 2001
A plenipotentiary is a diplomat who acts with the full authority of the state.
Australian philosopher Peter Singer, professor... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
Australian philosopher Peter Singer, professor of bioethics at Princeton University, has argued for
As the football coach of... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
As the football coach of Northwest High School, Coach Freeman made it a habit to read at least three
Augustine was tutoring young clerics... -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
Augustine was tutoring young clerics to go into the world to start churches and preach the gospel.
One of the most difficult... -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
One of the most difficult decisions we face is when it's time to move on, give up or acknowledge def
The Parliament building in Ottawa... -- Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
The Parliament building in Ottawa, capital of Canada, has a chapel in its Peace Tower.
Alfred, an elderly man of... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
Alfred, an elderly man of German descent, first started attending our church several years ago.
In 1998, for the first... -- Colossians 1:1-14 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C -- 2001
In 1998, for the first time in history, the U.S.
Every morning for the past... -- Galatians 5:1, 13-25 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
Every morning for the past eight years, Paul and David had gotten together for coffee on Wednesday m
In the movie Scent... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
In the movie Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino plays an army officer blinded by an errant grenade.
Sometimes I think I'm the... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
Sometimes I think I'm the world's biggest procrastinator.
This text has always seemed... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
This text has always seemed like a conflict of differing tunnel visions.
When Linda Greenlaw was a... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
When Linda Greenlaw was a crew member on fishing boats, she recalls how when they departed for their
Classified ad seen in I... -- Luke 9:51-62 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - C -- 2001
Classified ad seen in The Jerusalem Gazette, A.D. 30:
Growing up on a wheat... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
Growing up on a wheat farm, I learned quickly about reaping what you sow.
You reap what you sow... -- Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - C -- 2001
You reap what you sow.
Four brothers gathered around the... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
Four brothers gathered around the bed of an 84-year-old woman late one Friday night.
I was ecstatic. After months... -- Luke 13:10-17 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C -- 2001
I was ecstatic.

Political Pulpit

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The Political Pulpit

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John Jamison
Object: You may present this message as a simple story, or have the children act it out as a role-play. I will show the role-play version, but you can ignore the acting pieces and just tell the story if you prefer.

Note: For the role-play version, you will need to select two girls and one boy to play the roles. You might also have a broom and a dust rag if you want to.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! Let’s get started.

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For July 20, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52
Amos proclaims the word from God that punishes the people. The people are to be punished for their lack of faith, for their focus on practicing deceit, betraying honesty to their neighbors, and being impatient for the time after the Sabbath when they can focus on profit and selling their crops and wares. Oh, my! What a terrible message for people. You have been unfaithful so I will punish you. And then in the psalm, God is proclaimed to be the olive tree, that which brings blessing.
David Kalas
I have tried to find different ways of saying it so that my children don’t tire of hearing it. But the basic principle remains the same, and my kids have heard it a ton. “First things first.” They ask if they can do this or they start to do that, and I will endeavor to redirect them, saying, “Why don’t we make sure we’re doing first things first!”

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (v. 24)

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
One of Martha's earliest memories was of her little sister Mary singing and dancing in the middle of an admiring crowd of friends. Mary had always been a dancer, from the time she could walk. Privately, Martha thought she'd always been something of a show-off and ought to go on the stage, for Mary loved an audience.

SermonStudio

John E. Sumwalt
Jeanne Jones
Several years ago, before we moved to Wisconsin, I was an honorary nanny for our pastor's son, Jonathan. I took care of him from the time he was able to walk until our pastor moved, when Jonathan was about five. We had wonderful times together. One time, when I was at their house, and we had been doing some spiritual direction together, Pastor Michael asked me if I knew the name of my guardian angel.
James Evans
We are not surprised when we learn about crooks and robbers boasting about "mischief done against the godly" or "plotting destruction" all day long. The image we have in our minds about who "bad" people are, and how they conduct themselves, make such accusations completely plausible. We are less inclined to believe such things about leaders, especially respected leaders among us. We have difficulty believing someone with wealth and power would deliberately plot to do someone else harm.
Arley K. Fadness
Today's gospel from Luke 10 follows the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke positions the good Samaritan and the Mary-Martha story back to back for good reason. The parable and the story are examples of the Great Commandment "to love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." The good Samaritan parable illustrates "love to neighbor," whereas the Mary-Martha story illustrates "love to God."
Kirk R. Webster
In the early 1990s, Wesley Nunley of Dallas completed a project he had dreamed of for decades. "I tell you, this could be a big thing," he explained. Wes then walked out to a concrete octagon in the middle of his backyard. With a beaming smile, arms raised up in excitement, the energetic retiree said, "This welcomes the UFO to land, which has never been done before."
John W. Wurster
It was the best of times. A time of prosperity and confidence, a time of relative peace, a time when most everything looked pretty good, a time when most everyone felt pretty good. It was a time maybe not unlike our own time.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
Our God is both wise and caring: afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Pastoral Prayer
God, we bow before you this morning, knowing that you hear every prayer. We know that in all of Creation, you are the source of life. You are the one who set the light swirling between the galaxies. The breath of your Spirit pulses through all life. You have even become flesh among us. We praise you, Lord, that in all your wonder, you have not forgotten us.

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