Solid Joys and Lasting Treasures

Isaiah 60

Sermon Notes:

1) Light has come | 1-3

2) Wealth of the nations shall come | 3-7

3) Glory and Beauty shall come | 7-17

4) Peace shall come | 14-19

5) In its time, it shall come | 19-22

Reflection Questions:

1. How can the hope of God’s promises sustain us in dark times? Read Is 60:1-3; Ps 42-43.

2. Imagine the overseers and taskmasters and the authorities in your life. Imagine that they were replaced with peace. What does that make you think of?

3. What do these words make you think of? “Savior, if of Zion’s city I, through grace, a member am, Let the world deride or pity—I will glory in Thy name. Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion’s members know.”

Reveling in Redemption

Isaiah 59

Sermon Notes:

1) The LORD Can Save … Can’t He? | 1

2) Sin Can Separate | 2-8

3) Truth Has Stumbled | 9-15

4) The LORD Saw and … | 15-21

Reflection questions:

1. Is it wrong to ask God questions when His promises haven’t seemed to come true yet? Compare Isaiah 59:1 (and 58:3) and Psalm 13.

2. Read Isaiah 58:2-8. What are some of the negative effects of sin, in addition to separation from God?

3. Is it ever appropriate to pray for the sins of others, in addition to your own? Read Isaiah 59:9-13.

4. Read Exodus 2:23-25 – What did God see? What did God know or remember? Compare to Isaiah 59:15ff.

True Worship

Isaiah 58

Sermon Notes:

1) How Hypocrisy Hinders Divine Hearing | 1-3

2) How to be Selfish on the Sabbath | 3-5, 9, 13

3) How to be Selfless on the Sabbath | 5-14

4) How God Satisfies the Selfless | 6-14

Reflection questions:

1. Based on Isaiah 58, which of the following best reflects the attitude God desires on the Sabbath: a day for “me time,” a day to rest in God’s goodness, a day to bless others in light of His goodness?

2. Is God simply promising to bless us if we do the right things? Do the promises God offers negate the fact that salvation is by grace alone? See Eph 2:1-9, but also read v.10, and Eph 6:1-3.

3. Read the promises of God (in vv8-14) to those who keep His Sabbaths and fast days in the way He desires. Are any of these blessings that you need right now?

The Triumph of Grace

Isaiah 56:9-57:21

Sermon Notes:

1. The Wrong Leaders | 56:9-12

2. The Wrong gODS | 57:1-13

3. The Right-er of All Wrongs | 57:14-21; cf 57:1-2, 13

Reflection questions:

1. How would you describe Israel’s leaders in Is 56:9-12? (Compare to Ezekiel 34:1-16.) How would Jesus be a better shepherd? See Psalm 23 and John 10:1-16.

2. What are the some of the ways that Israel’s worship in Is 57 had gone astray? Was Israel’s main problem laziness (lack of effort) or misguided effort? Consider Isaiah 30:15-18, as well.

3. What was God asking Israel to do in order to be healed? Consider Isaiah 57:15, 18-19; Psalm 51:16-17.

Increasing Faith, Increasing Fruit, Increasing Gospel

Colossians 1:1-14

Sermon Notes:

1. Increasing Faith | vv. 3-8

2. Increasing Fruit | vv. 9-12

3. Increasing Gospel | vv. 5-6, 13-14

Reflection Questions:

1. When was the last time you were overwhelmed with the joy and glory of salvation? If it's been a while, why has it become insignificant or mundane? Why is Paul compelled to pour out thanksgiving every time he prays for the Colossians?

2. What are some specific ways that your spiritual fruit shows your devotion to God? What ways have you seen your spiritual fruit grow since becoming a Christian?

3. God has delivered us from slavery to sin and death. Like God reminded Israel over and over again, he reminds us where we've come from and who we are now. What is your identity in Christ and how can you live out of the gospel more today than you did yesterday?

Serve Deeper - Worship Connect Serve DEEPER - Part 3

Philippians 2:3-9, 1 Peter 4:10-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Sermon Notes:

1) Meet the Servant | Philippians 2-4

2) Serve in the Strength that God provides | 1 Peter 4:10-11

3) Serve Better by Knowing Service Doesn’t Earn Salvation | Philippians 3

4) Serve Better by Saying “No” More | John 3:30

5) Serve Better by Expecting Busy Seasons | 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Reflection Questions:

1. How did Paul prepare Euodia and Synteche to get along? What did he first show them? See Philippians 4:2, as well as chapter 2.

2. How can you change your habits to make sure that you are serving in the strength that God provides? See 1 Peter 4:10-11

3. What are some of the things that God wants us to say No to, some of the things He wants us to say Yes to? What are you already saying Yes and No to? Are you doing more or less than you realized?

Connect Deeper - Worship, Connect, Serve Deeper - Part 2

Genesis 3:11-19; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Romans 12:10, Galatians 6:10

Sermon Notes:

1) Our past and present separate us from God and others, Gen 3:11-19

2) Our Savior has comforted us so that we might comfort and connect to others, 2 Cor 1

3) Our Savior has left us examples of comfort and connection, Acts 4:34- 37; I Cor. 10:6

4) Our Savior has left us commands of comfort and connection, Rom 12:10

5) Our Savior has not left us without comfort, 2 Corinthians

Reflection Questions:

1. How does our sin nature keep us from connecting with God and others? Do we ever forget how much remaining sin we still have even after God saves us? See Romans 7:7-25.

2. Can you think of a time when the God of all comfort comforted you in a way that allowed you to comfort others? See 2 Cor. 1:3-7.

3. Barnabas (Acts 4:36) was a nickname that meant “son of encouragement.” Can you think of someone you know who is a Barnabas? How might you become more of a Barnabas? Also, Titus was apparently a Barnabas, too. See 2 Cor. 7:5-13.

4. Have you prayed that God would give you more opportunities to do good (Gal. 6:10), or that you could recognize the opportunities that you already have? Have you prayed that God would help you to outdo (Rom 12:10) your neighbors in showing honor to others?

5. Do you ever worry that God will let you overdo it in caring for others? Consider this prayer from St. Augustine: “Lord, command what you will, but then grant what you command.”

Worship Deeper - Worship, Connect, Serve Deeper - Part 1

Romans 11:33-36; Psalms 1, 84, 119, 121, 136

Sermon Notes:

1) Recognition – Recognize His Worth, Rom 11:33-36.

2) Preparation – Preparing for Worship, Psalms 120-134.

3) Participation – Participate in Worship, Psalm 136.

4) Rumination – Ruminate upon Sunday’s worship, Psalm 1.

5) Anticipation – Anticipate the next Holy Day, Ps 84.

Reflection Questions:

1. Why is God worth your worship? See Romans 11:33-36; 12:1-2; 16:25-27.

2. What’s one way you can prepare for worship this year?

3. What’s one way you can participate in worship this year?

4. What’s one way you can ruminate or meditate upon worship this year?

5. What truth can you anticipate learning more deeply next Sunday and the next?

The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

Sermon Notes:

1) The Faithfulness We Speak Must Be Matched by the Faithfulness We Do

2) The Faithful Endurance of the Church in Pergamum

3) The Trouble of Compromise in Christian Living

Reflection questions:

1. When does our contemporary life demand of us to confess publicly our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?

2. How often are we prompted to do something by other people, the radio, social media, TV, or advertising? How often are those things a “manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ?” (Philippians 1:27)

3. Do we examine these suggested actions, after the example of the Christians in Berea? (Acts 17:11)

A Weary World Rejoices

Luke 2:21-38

Sermon Notes:

1) A Gift fit for the Poor, 21-24

2) A Gift worth Waiting for, 25-26, 33-38

3) A Gift to Die for, 27-32

Reflection questions:

1. Why is it important to know that Jesus was born into poverty? Compare v.24 with Leviticus 12:8. Also see 2 Corinthians 8:9.

2. Have you ever waited for a gift and then been disappointed to not receive it? Think about that as you read the following verses: Luke 2:25-26, 36-38; Romans 5:1-5, especially v.5.

3. Was Simeon unique, or are there others in the Bible who received the gift to die for? Cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8.