A Song of Woe to a Worthless Vineyard

Isaiah 5

Sermon Notes:

1) The Worthless Wine-yard, 1-7

2) The Warnings of Woe, 8-25

• 6 Woes (vv 8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22)

3) The Invading Warriors, 26-30

Reflection questions:

1) Have you ever read history and wondered why people back then couldn’t understand why this or that was so wrong? Consider Matthew 7:1-5 – Is it easier to see your own sin, or that of someone else?

2) Israel was rebuked for the sins of greed (v8), drunkenness (11, 22), arrogance (18-19), excusing their sin (20), conceitedness (21), and injustice in the form of accepting bribes (23) and possibly more. Do you see any of those sins in yourself? Which prayer is more fitting for you: ‘Redeem my life from the pit (Ps 103:4),’ OR, ‘Lead ME not into temptation (Mt 6:13; 1 Cor. 10:12)?’

3) Is the word “judgment” or “discipline” more appropriate for God’s actions against His people? No matter which word seems best and most Biblical, what comfort is there for God’s people when He allows unfortunate circumstances to come our way? See Hebrews 12:3-17.

God's Holy City - Actual and Future

Isaiah 3-4

Sermon Notes:

1) Leaders Exiled, 3:1-15

2) Beauty Taken Away, 3:16-4:1

3) Home at Last, 4:2-6

Reflection questions:

1) God’s judgment upon Israel is her leaders being taken away. Are you preparing yourself to be leader? If you are a leader or a mature Christian, are you preparing others to lead and become more like Christ? See 1 Tim 3:1; 2 Tim. 2:1-2; Titus 2:1-8

2) Read Proverbs 31:30. Also read 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (especially vv.6-7, 12). Is beauty (or a good external appearance) a good thing or a bad thing? Or is it merely something that we overemphasize, something does not qualify or disqualify?

3) Read Isaiah 4:2-6, then read Revelation 19:6-9; 21:1-5. What images of Isaiah’s do you see John use in Revelation?

God's Holy City - Ideal and Real

Isaiah 2:1-22

Sermon Notes:

1) The Glorious Future of God’s Holy City, 1-5

2) The Ugly Pride of Man’s Downfall, 6-19

3) The Terrible Dread of God’s Majesty, 10, 19-22

Reflection questions:

1) Is 2:1-5 seems to be a vision of what could be for God’s people. How much of this is possible on this side of heaven? Also see Matthew 5:13-16. What does Jesus call us to do in these verses? What does he want the end result to be (see v.16, especially)?

2) What can you learn about pride from this passage? What about these passages: James 4:6; Philippians 2:3-8 (esp vv.3-4); I Cor. 10:12; Rom. 12:3.

3) Many believe that Isaiah’s audience wanted the day of the Lord (so he would destroy their enemies) to come and that many of them were in for an unpleasant surprise, based on Isaiah’s prophecy. See Amos 5:18-20 for another example of this. What should Amos’s “be careful what you wish for” message teach us?

Court is in Session

Isaiah 1:1-31

Sermon Notes:

1) God’s Rebellious Children Need a Bath, 1-17

• Title and setting of the book, 1

• Israel’s rebellion and ruin, 2-9

• Israel’s ruined worship, 10-17

2) God’s Rebellious Children Have an Opportunity, 18-20

3) God’s Repentant Children Will See Justice Restored, 21-31

• Justice (Paradise) Lost, 21-23

• Justice = Restoration for the Weary, 24-27

• Justice = Vengeance upon the Wicked, 28-31

Reflection question:

1. What is the Bible’s idea of justice? Read Leviticus 19:9-18 and try to see the following points/illustrations/applications (especially the 4th one) of the “Love your neighbor as yourself” principle:

1. Vv. 9-10 – Loving others with our possessions

2. Vv. 11-12 – Loving others with our words

3. Vv. 13-14 – Loving others with our actions

4. Vv. 15-16 – Loving others with our judgments

5. Vv. 17-18 – Loving others with our attitude (Taken from DeYoung and Gilbert, What is the Mission of the Church?, pp. 142-147.)

The End of the Matter: Glorify God and Make Disciples

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Sermon Notes:

1) The Dead End: Meaninglessness and Vanity under the Sun, Eccl 1-12

2) Man’s Chief End: Finding Meaning and Purpose BEYOND the sun, 12:8-14

3) Man’s Chief End: Fearing and Glorifying God, 12:13

What does it mean to Glorify God? (These lists are based on some Biblical word studies done by one of our elders.)

A) Fearing God in our hearts. Fear = awe leading to obedience and reliance on God (Paraphrased from Eerdman’s Concise Bible Handbook)

B) Praising and Thanking God in prayer and praise

• Praising Him for who he is

• Thanking Him for what he does

• Such as: His attributes, benefits (including Salvation for us and others!), miracles, providence, and promises.

C) Honoring God in our actions

• Stewardship

• Sabbath rest and worship

• Building and keeping a beautiful place of worship

• Maintaining our physical fitness and chastity (because our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit)

• Obedience (including the fruit of the Spirit, good works including evangelism)

• Suffering for His name’s sake.

4) Man’s Chief End: Keeping His Commandments (to Make Disciples), 12:13

What is a disciple?

A) A follower and imitator of Christ

B) A man/woman of priorities and practices. (He/she believes that they MUST:)

• Worship and serve God

• Serve God in a local church

• Grow in Godly character

• Know and use their gifts (including every gift, like picking up chairs).

• Trust God’s promises

• Pray regularly

• Study the Word

• Develop a Biblical world view

• Testify of God’s goodness to him/her in the gospel

• Finish well

C) A future-focused disciple-MAKER

• Able to evangelize and follow-up until the new disciple becomes a disciple-maker.

Missed Opportunities for Health

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Sermon Notes:

1. Missing out when we function as individual parts independent from others.

2. Missing out when we aren't serving in the role God called us to.

3. Missing out when we're missing whole parts of the body

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of your passions? What are some of your skills?

2. What are some of the needs that need to be filled at Forestgate?

3. What unique giftings might Forestgate possess that contributes to the health of the broader, global, body of Christ?

Nothing Shall Separate Us

Romans 8:31-39

Sermon Notes:

1) The Questions that Haunt an Apostle’s Conscience, 31-34

2) The Answers that Almost Make Sense, 31-34

3) The Ultimate Question behind the Other Questions, 35-37

4) The Ultimate Savior that Silences Every Doubt, Conquers Every Fear, 37- 39

Reflection Questions:

1) Do you ever doubt that things are going to work out for you? Why is that? With whom do you share your doubts? Read Psalm 56 and see how (and with whom) David shared his doubts.

2) How does Paul answer the accusations and possible condemnations (vv33-34) in this passage? Did Paul have a lot of things that could have condemned him, or was Paul (formerly called Saul) a pretty good guy? Read Acts 8-9; Acts 13:9; 1 Timothy 1:12-17.

3) Have you ever wondered why Paul has such confidence in the security of God’s love? Did Jesus say or do something to make his people think that? See John 10:27-30; 11:25-26, 43-44; 20:24-31.

All Things Together for Good

Romans 8:26-30

Sermon Notes:

1) Our Perfect God Is Perfecting Our Prayers on the Way Up, 26-27

2) Our Perfect God Is Perfecting His Plans for His People, 28

3) Our Perfect God Is Perfecting His People to Be More Christ-like, 29-30

Reflection questions:

1. Read I John 5:14. Do you ever worry that your prayers are not according to God’s will? How does it help you to know that the Spirit intercedes for us as we pray?

2. Read Proverbs 16:9. Can you think of a time when God showed you His plan in a way that unexpected or very different from your plans? (Also see Gen. 45:4-8; 50:15-21.)

3. Read I Peter 1:6-7. Can you think of a time when God uses “various trials” to refine you and make you more like Jesus? Was it enjoyable at the time? Can you rejoice in it now? Did you rejoice in it while it was happening?

The Glory to Be Revealed

Romans 8:18-25

Sermon Notes:

1) The necessary perspective regarding suffering, 18

• Suffering is a fact of life

• Suffering is a fact of THE CHRISTIAN life (2 Tim 3:12)

• Suffering is temporary (2 Cor 4:16-18)

• We suffer, because this world is not our home (Phil 3:20-21)

2) The worldwide problem behind suffering, 19-22

3) The glorious payoff after suffering, 23-25

Reflection questions:

1. What was the last “first-world problem” you complained about? How could counting your blessings (Eph 1:3-14; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2 Peter 1:3-4) have improved your perspective about that problem?

2. How does our knowledge of this world’s fallenness help us to sympathize with the pains and groanings that others might express? See Job 2:11-13 (Note: This is the high point for Job’s three friends.)

3. Read 2 Cor 4:7-18; Phil 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-2. After reading this, how would you describe “the glory that is to be revealed to us” in Rom 8:18?

The Law is So Good Because it Shows Us We Are So Bad

Romans 7:7-25

Sermon Notes:

1. The law is good because it reveals we're bad

2. Sin can misuse the law to make you feel good

3. We grow by using the law to show us we are bad

Reflection Questions:

1. How does understanding our adoption into the family of God help us view obedience as a response to love rather than an outlet to earn love?

2. Do you ever feel tempted to think about your faith as "Justified by Faith" but "Sanctified by Law" (See Galatians 3)?

3. Google "3 uses of the law" (here is a good ligonier article). What are the 3 uses? What then are some improper uses of the law?

4. How can we use the law to increase our faith?