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Isaiah 50:4-9a

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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Passion -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1991
Each year we take time during Lent to follow Jesus along his road from high admiration to the cross.
What makes a king? -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- Passion Sunday - C
By the time this issue of Emphasis reaches your desk, we will probably know whether Peter Jac
Victory -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Luke 19:28-40, Philippians 2:5-11 -- Passion Sunday - C
Once a woman came to Abraham Lincoln, after he had made a speech during the Civil War, and said, "Mr
The wrong anthem -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66 -- William H. Shepherd -- Passion Sunday - A
The choir director was aghast. "I just didn't realize," she said. "It was totally inappropriate.
Getting to a teachable moment -- Mark 15:1-39 (40-47), Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a -- R. Craig Maccreary -- Passion Sunday - B
I spent part of a recent Sunday talking with a public school teacher who was quickly coming to the e

Illustration

Emphasis Preaching Journal

A question often asked in... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B -- 1994
A question often asked in the ranks of professional caregivers -- medical doctors, nurses and techni
The servant of the Lord... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A
The servant of the Lord, boosted with the firm knowledge that God helps him, set his face like a fli
The Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A
The Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa left us a powerful image of dealing with pain when he said that we
The young American man was... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A
The young American man was traveling around Europe by himself for a couple of weeks.
Rex Reed has a disease... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - A
Rex Reed has a disease that is slowly causing his body to shut down.
About thirty years ago, a... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - C
About thirty years ago, a strange story was reported concerning an unlettered Brazilian peasant who
There is an old legend... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B
There is an old legend told about Saint Martin of Tours.
Jon was awakened by an... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B
Jon was awakened by an early phone call one bone-chilling morning.
Rosa Parks, who died last... -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Passion Sunday - B
Rosa Parks, who died last fall at the age of 92, modeled Christlikeness throughout her long life.
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For August 31, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

David Kalas
When one of our children was young, she pretended to throw something at me from close range, and then she cheerfully declared, “Ha! Made you flinch!” I remember from my own elementary years that that was always regarded as something of an achievement — to make someone blink or to make someone flinch. In reality, of course, it is little more than a test of one’s reflexes. It’s my reflex to blink or to brace when I think something is coming at me, and the reflex is a good one.
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Jeremiah 2:4-13
Regarding verses 6-7 of the lesson John Calvin observes:

… there is nothing more common than for the ungodly when they are proved guilty, to have recourse to this subterfuge, that they acted with good intention, when they gave themselves up to their own superstitions. (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol.IX/1, p.78)

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (v. 2)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity for the children. You will want a container of some kind of treat to give to all of the children.

Note: This is a fairly brief message as presented, but that may help keep an emphasis on the simplicity of the message if you stress it.

* * *

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

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus knew the importance of humility and used a banquet to teach people about it. As we feast on him today, let us make sure we come to him with unassuming spirits.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are unaware of our own arrogance.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we spot other people's haughtiness but fail to recognise it in ourselves.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are so humble that we become victims of inverted pride.
Lord, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
-- Hebrews 13:1-2

James Evans
The writer of Psalm 81 employs a most interesting mixed metaphor. It is not mixed, however, because the psalmist was careless and neglected his subject matter. On the contrary, it is because of an important insight into human nature that the psalmist has us "eating with our ears."

Verse 10 rehearses what was, and is, the most basic confession of faith for followers of the Lord. God speaks and says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it."

Ron Lavin
There are three words I hope you will take home from church today. The words are "Only The Lonely." As you think about these words, the assurances of God's Word will comfort and strengthen you. But I'm getting ahead of my story. Before we get to these three words, we need to look at the full text of Luke 14:1, 7-14. That involves looking at three other words: humility, hospitality, and hope.

Humility
Chrysanne Timm
It is never a pleasant prospect to deal with someone who has a complaint with you. As a new pastor, and a very young one at that, one of the things I struggled with most was the experience of conflict with members. I remember as if it were yesterday a significant misunderstanding that developed between the congregation's "matriarch" and me very early in my time there. I prayed about the difficulty we were having, and I knew that I needed to go to her home and ask for the opportunity to talk things out.
H. Burnham Kirkland
Words Of Assurance
In this be confident: that the grace of God is active enough to forgive, and the love of God is powerful enough to transform.

Pastoral Prayer

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