Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Isaiah 12

Sermon Notes:

1) The Song of Salvation, 1-2

2) The Well of Salvation, 3

3) The Heralds of Salvation, 4-6

Reflection questions:

1. What are reasons that you have to trust (v2) in God and not be afraid? Biblical reasons? Personal, experiential reasons?

2. Is your experience of salvation a deep well (v3; Rom. 11:33-36), an overflowing cup (Ps 23:5), or a glass that’s half-empty? Cf. Psalm 51:12.

3. Do you naturally want to tell others about the great deeds of God(vv4-5)? Have you noticed how a motivation to testify, tell, or evangelize is connected to a knowledge of God’s holiness? (See Is 12:4-6 and 1 Peter 3:14-15)

Great David's Greater Son

Isaiah 11:1-16

Sermon Notes:

1) The Righteous Character of the Branch, 1-5

2) The Reign of Peace of the Branch, 6-9

3) The Regathering of the Branch’s people, 10-16

Reflection questions:

1. What do you love about your home? What do you miss about previous homes? How will what you love and miss about all of your homes be fulfilled in your future home? (Read Rev. 21-22, especially 21:1-5)

2. What do the leaders in your life lack that you wish they had? Does the shoot (descendant) of Jesse (King David’s father) lack any of those things? Does he meet or exceed your desires for a leader?

3. Do you ever find yourself longing for the peace of the Branch’s kingdom (vv6- 9) without realizing that it requires the Branch’s kingship? In other words, do you find yourself longing for the blessings that will only fully arrive in heaven? Do you ever have a Holy Dissatisfaction (as the Puritans would say) with the things of this life? (Also see Psalm 120, especially v7.)

Divine Sovereignty and Assyrian Responsibility

Isaiah 10:5-34

Sermon Notes:

1) God uses evil instruments to judge His unfaithful people, 5-11

2) God sees the evil of His evil instruments, 12-19

3) As God judges His unfaithful people, God preserves a faithful remnant, 20-27

4) As God judges His unfaithful people, God also judges His evil instruments, 24-34

Reflection questions:

1. Read Habkkuk 1 (especially v.13) and Ps 73 (especially vv. 3-4, 13, 16-17). What question did Habakkuk and Asaph, the author of Ps 73, struggle with? What was their comfort?

2. Read Acts 2:23. Who killed Jesus? Whose plan was it? Who is held responsible or guilty for it? What is the solution or atonement for that guilt? (See Acts 2:36- 41.)

3. One of Isaiah’s sons (see Is 7:3) had a funny name, which meant, “A remnant shall return.” Some have pointed out that the word “return” could also be translated “repent.” Where is the comfort in knowing “a remnant shall return”? Where is the call for action in “a remnant shall repent”?

Judgment on Jerusalem

Isaiah 9:8-10:4

Sermon Notes:

What does this fire and brimstone passage teach us about God?

1) The Lord wants repentance and rest more than rebuilding, 9:8-12

  • Because He gives rest – Isaiah 30:18

2) The Lord wants us to seek Him more than experts, 9:13-17

  • Because He gives wisdom to those who ask – James 1:5

3) The Lord wants compassion more than contention, 9:18-21

  • Because He is patient with us and wants us to reflect His patience – 2 Timothy 2:24-25

4) The Lord wants philanthropists rather than parasites, 10:1-4

  • Because He lavishly gave to us – 2 Cor 8:9

State of the Church: Meditating, Rooted, and Prospering

Psalm 1

Sermon Notes:

1) The Blessed Man’s Don’t’s, v1

  • Titus 2:11-12

2) The Blessed Man’s Delight, v2

3) The Blessed Man’s Expectation, vv.3-4

4) The Blessed Man’s Destiny, vv. 4-6

5) The Blessed Man’s Secret

  • Psalm 32:1-2

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

6) The Blessed Man’s Lesson for Us:

  • Being a Psalm 1 pastor

  • Being a Psalm 1 church with Psalm 1 Ministry Teams

    • Faithful with what God provides, hopeful in God’s prospering, confident in God’s ultimate protection.

  • Psalm 1 Generosity

  • Psalm 1 Service

Reflection questions:

1. How can Psalm 1 help you with your doubts, fears, or tendencies to despair?

2. How can Psalm 1 help you with your expectations – expectations for your growth in Christ, your future, your fruitfulness?

3. How can “Psalm 1 expectations” help you achieve what someone once called “the rare jewel of Christian contentment”? See 1 Timothy 6:6.

A Tale of Two Sons and Two Prophecies

Isaiah 8:1-9:7

Sermon Notes:

1) Immanuel can be your hope, even in hard times, 8:1-10.

2) Immanuel can be your hope, even in lonely times, 8:11-22.

3) Immanuel can be your hope forevermore, 9:1-7.

Reflection questions:

1) Read Psalm 103:1-5. How can you “forget not all [the Lord’s] benefits?” During hard times, lonely times, and all times?

2) How has the Lord forgiven your iniquity?

3) How has He healed your diseases?

4) How has He shown you steadfast love and mercy?

Why Did Isaiah Name His Son ‘Shear-Jashub’?

Isaiah 7

Sermon Notes:

1) The Call to Believe, 1-9.

2) The Cowardice that Looks Like Belief, 10-14.

3) The Consequences of Unbelief, 13-25.

4) The Colossal Good News out of Ahaz’s Bad Unbelief, v14; Matthew 1.

Reflection questions:

1. Should Ahaz have trusted God’s Word (1, the promise to David in 2 Sam 7:16; 2, the name of Isaiah’s son; 3, the Word to stand firm from Isaiah’s mouth)? Is God’s Word reliable? See Hebrews 6:13-20, “the certainty of God’s promise,” according to the ESV editors.

2. Why did Ahaz not believe? How did he try to make his unbelief sound like a good thing? Have you ever tried to fool others or yourself by using similar words?

3. Read Matthew 1:18-25. Why would believing Gabriel and taking Mary as his wife have been an act of costly obedience (or costly faith) for Joseph?