Hidden Hope, Purposeful Providence

Isaiah 28

Sermon Notes:

1) True Wisdom and Beauty in a Sea of Arrogance, 1-13

2) True Security in a Sea of Delusions, 14-22

3) True Purpose in a Sea of Meaninglessness, 23-29

Reflection questions:

1. What is the beginning of wisdom? What school do you have to attend to find it? (See Isaiah 28:5-6 and Proverbs 1:1-7.)

2. Which is better – seeking peace for the sake of peace, or seeking the hard truth of the present that eventually leads to peace? See Isaiah 28:14-22; Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11.

3. How does knowing that God has a purpose (and that it is good) make the present difficulties easier to endure? See Isaiah 28:23-29; Phil 3:20; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

The Lord's Vineyard, Revisited

Isaiah 27

Sermon Notes:

1) God is Faithful to fight for you, 1

2) God is Faithful to form you, in spite of you, 2-6

3) God is Faithful to you, even if He’s mysterious to you, 7-11

4) God is Faithful to gather you, no matter where you flee, no matter where you’re from, 12-13

Reflection questions:

1. How does Is 27:1 show you the unity of the Scriptures? Compare Genesis 3 (esp v.1, 14-15) and Revelation 20:1-3.

2. Read Is 27:2-6. Is the emphasis on what the vines (God’s people) do, or on what the vinedresser does? Compare John 15:1-11; what responsibility do the branches (God’s people) have, and what promises do they have? See John 15:7, 9-11 especially.

3. Read Is 27:13; what does God say to those who are “lost” in a foreign land? Compare to Luke 15.

The Christian Life According to Hebrews

Hebrews 10:19-39

Sermon Notes:

1. Jesus is Better

2. The Christian Life According to Hebrews

a. Proximity to God

b. Persisting in Faith

c. Love Towards Others

3. The Anti-Christian Life

4. Encouragement for Endurance

Reflection Questions:

1. Why does Jesus being our savior have an effect on our lives today? How is living in light of the gospel different from legalism?

2. Do you ever "get beyond" the need for the gospel? How does resting in the gospel everyday impact our persistence in faith?

3. If you knew that Jesus was coming in one week, how would that change your love and good works towards others? Should we live as if Jesus is coming in one week?

4. How does God's righteous judgment offer comfort for his people in the midst of a broken world and uncertainty?

To Save His People from Their Sins

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Notes:

1) Miraculous Conception, 18-20

2) Miraculous Revelation, 20-23

3) Miraculous Salvation, 21-25

Reflection questions:

1. Why is Jesus (from Joshua/Jeshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation”) also called Immanuel (“God with us” in Hebrew)? R.T. France: “The point is not that Jesus ever bore Immanuel as an actual name, but that it indicates his role, bringing God’s presence to man. This meaning is related to that of his actual name, Jesus, in that it is sin which separates man from God’s presence, so that salvation from sin results in ‘God with us.’” (From the Tyndale NT Commentaries, 84)

2. Read 2 Peter 1:16ff. What incident is Peter referring to from the gospels? See the Transfiguration in Matthew 17. What does Peter think is “more fully confirmed”? The voice that He heard from heaven? Or the Word that has been recorded, preserved and passed on for generations, the Word which WE HAVE? How should that make us feel about our copy of the Bible?

To Restore Shalom

Micah 5:2-5a

Sermon Notes:

1)A Ruler from Small Beginnings, v.2a

2) A Ruler from Ancient Beginnings, v.2b

3) A Ruler to Restore the Remnant, 3

4) A Ruler to Restore Shalom, 4-5a

Reflection questions:

1. Does God USUALLY choose the wise and talented, the rich and famous? Why or why not? See Micah 5:2, Deuteronomy 7:7-9; I Corinthians 1:26-31; I Samuel 16:1-13.

2. Read 2 Samuel 7:12-16 – What would happen if one of David’s sons was really bad? Would the covenant with David be cancelled? How do those themes occur in this passage from Micah?

3. Read 2 Samuel 7:18 – Ideally, how do God’s servants respond when He shows them Amazing Grace?

Far As the Curse is Found

Genesis 3

Sermon Notes:


1) Why is man cursed?

2) What does the curse mean?

3) How will the curse be reversed?

Reflection questions:

1) What happened to the Garden of Eden? How can I find it today? See Revelation 22:1-5.

2) How do I know that Jesus is the seed/offspring/he that is mentioned in Genesis 3:15? See Galatians 3:16. Also see Galatians 3:13-14.

3) What does it mean (see Gal 3:13, above) that Christ became a curse for us, to redeem us from the curse? Read Numbers 6:24-26. Think about each blessing in this list; think about what the opposite might be; now think about what Christ experienced on the cross. Compare Matthew 27:45-50.