Seeing the Glory of God's Salvation and Judgment (Isaiah 1-12)

November 13, 2022 • David Schrock • Isaiah 1—12

This Sunday we begin our new Advent series, The Seed of the Woman: The Story of Isaiah’s Immanuel. If you haven’t begun the reading plan, it’s not too late. You can find an explanation and a daily reading schedule here. Additionally, you can find a host of resources on my blog to help you get the most of Isaiah.

Yet before jumping to Isaiah, you might be asking, Why Isaiah? The answer is simple: Isaiah is the Fifth Gospel which prepares the way for the good news of Jesus Christ. Indeed, long before Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to pen one of the most glorious depictions of the coming Christ. And for the next six weeks, we are going to follow Isaiah’s message until we come to celebrate the birth of Christ.

This Sunday we will begin that journey as we look at Isaiah 1–12. To help you see what is in the passage, you may find this blog helpful. In the weeks ahead, it is my hope to keep providing some resources as we read Isaiah together. We will link to those in upcoming Friday emails.

As for this Sunday, please pray for our time. May God give us a fresh sense of his grace and glory as we gather together. In preparation, take a look (or a listen) at Isaiah 1–12. It will help you as we take a look at these introductory chapters. On Sunday, I won’t read everything in these chapters. Instead, like a tour guide, I will show the main points and draw some connections to Christ and ourselves. So, the more you read ahead, the more you will catch the turns in Isaiah’s Gospel.

That is our plan. And Lord willing, I will see you on Sunday as we journey together from the beginning of Isaiah to the one who existed before the beginning and yet who entered in time, when he was born in Bethlehem.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,

Pastor David

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Discussion & Response Questions for Isaiah 1 – 12

1. When you think of Isaiah what comes to mind? What verses, truths, or questions?

2. What’s the difference between knowing verses from Isaiah and knowing the message of Isaiah?

3. Why does knowing the message of Isaiah, and not just parts or portions of the book, matter?

4. What’s the first step in discerning the message of Isaiah? How can you learn the structure of a book?

5. What is the basic arrangement of Isaiah? How do the first 12 chapters help find the book’s message?

6. When is Isaiah written (1:1)? What is going on in Israel / Judah at that time? What is the role of a prophet in Israel?

7. Where does the prophesy begin (1:2–20)? What are the problems in Israel?

8. What is the solution to the problem? What is Isaiah’s role?

9. Where do we find hope in Isaiah 1–12? How do the visions of glory (2:1–5; 4:2–6) fit together with the promise of a coming messiah (7:14; 9:6-7; 11:1-5)?

10. How does the theme of offspring hold the chapters together (see 6:13; 7:14; 9:6–7; 11:1-5)?

11. What do we learn about God and his plan of salvation?

12. How does this approach to Isaiah encourage or challenge you in reading Isaiah and the rest of Scripture?

New Creation for the New Year, or The Anointed Savior Will Gather The Nations and Restore Zion (Isai

January 1, 2023 • David Schrock • Isaiah 55—66

At the end of the year, we often find ourselves tying up loose ends. Maybe it's taking the last of your vacation days, finishing up a 2022 project, or checking in to see if you completed your New Years Resolutions—you know, the one from January 1, 2022. For us, at OBC, we will finish the year (and start the new year) by looking at the last part of Isaiah. Since November, we’ve been seeing how the Lord promised to bring salvation to the world, and in the birth of Christ we have celebrated Salvation’s arrival. Now, as we come to the first day of the new year (Sunday is January 1), we will finish Isaiah and its promise of a new creation. Indeed, Sunday we will start the new year with a focus on the new creation. In doing this, we will tie up some loose ends from Isaiah, showing how the whole book fits together and leads us to Christ and the New Jerusalem. What better way to begin 2023? To prepare for our last look at Isaiah, take time to read Isaiah 65–66. That’s where we will be going on Sunday. As you ring in the new year, check out those chapters (or all of Isaiah 55–66) and pray that God would bless us as we gather to bless his holy name. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday. May the Lord be glorified as we begin the new year worshiping him. For His Glory and your joy in Jesus, Pastor David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Isaiah 55 – 66 1. What has been eye-opening in reading / studying Isaiah? 2. What has been the most difficult part to grasp? 3. The next time you read Isaiah, how will you read it differently? (Why can’t you read Isaiah like John or Paul?) 4. What is the main point of Isaiah 55–66? How does it relate to Isaiah 49–54? And the beginning of Isaiah? 5. Who is the Spirit-anointed Savior? How do these “Spirit songs” anticipate the coming of Christ? 6. What does Isaiah 55–66 teach you about God? About humanity? About God’s plans for salvation and judgment? 7. What is final vision for humanity—for Israel and the nations? How does Zion play a part of that vision? 8. How is the church already experiencing Zion? See Hebrews 12:22–24. 9. What is the new creation? Is the new creation present? Future? Or both? 10. As you approach the new year, what promises of God are you hoping in?

Salvation & Judgment From Zion to Zambia: An International Comedy (Isaiah 13-27)

November 20, 2022 • David Schrock • Isaiah 13—27

Has the Bible ever made you mad? Have you ever stopped reading the Bible because you couldn’t understand it? Are there parts of the Bible that you avoid because they are too difficult to comprehend? I have. A number of years ago Isaiah 13–27 was one of those places. Or rather, it was somewhere in Isaiah 13-19. Reading those chapters, with their endless judgments against ancient foreign powers, I put the Bible away, because it made no sense. After all, what does Moab have to do with me? Fast forward two decades, and I can say that these chapters are some of the most exhilarating chapters in the Bible, if only we take the time to read all of them. On Sunday, we will do just that. Or actually, we won’t read them all, but we will look at them all. Isaiah 13–27 is a single unit, broken into three main sections, maybe four (13-19 / 20 / 21-23 + 24-27). On Sunday, we will look at each major section, to see the way that God in his perfect righteousness judges sin and saves sinners. This is the theme of the whole book, and it is the good news for the whole world. Take time to read or listen to as much as you can of Isaiah 13–27 before Sunday. We will be moving quickly again, but I trust it will be an exhilarating ride. Let’s pray that God would continue to show us his mercy as we study the whole canon of scripture. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. For His Glory and your joy in Christ, Pastor David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Isaiah 13 – 27Have you read Isaiah 13–27 before? How have you read it – chapter by chapter, or as one total unit? How does reading strategy help us (mis)understand the Bible?What is the big picture of Isaiah 13–27? Water evidence is for the big picture?In Isaiah, salvation and judgment or two inseparable themes. Where do we see that in these chapters?There are two sets of five oracles, Isaiah 13–19 and Isaiah 21–23. What is similar about these lists? What is different?What is the purpose of Isaiah 20? What do we learn from this chapter that applies today? Or doesn’t apply!Isaiah 24–27 is filled with good news. What did those chapters teach you about your salvation? What is personally encouraging?What was the most difficult thing to understand in these chapters? What would you like to look at more in the future?What have you learned about God in this series so far? What have you learned about man? Salvation? Jesus Christ?

Trust In the Lord: The Promises of God Incarnate (Isaiah 28-35)

November 27, 2022 • David Schrock • Isaiah 28—35

Thanksgiving is a good reminder of how many good gifts God has given us and how many gifts we need. From the necessities of life to the manifold blessings of spiritual life, we are a needy people. Each day we need food, water, oxygen, sleep, shelter, transportation, and a host of other physical needs. Just the same, we need the Son to uphold the universe, the Spirit to give us personal grace, and the Father to ordain it all. Indeed, the more that we think about it the more foolish self-reliance looks. Nonetheless, self-reliance continues to threaten all that we have and all that we are. On Sunday, we will come face to face with the way Israel relied on themselves and their political alliances. In Isaiah 28–35, God issues a warning for Israel to not seek refuge in Egypt. Instead, they must look to him in order to find strength. Simple as this command is, they do not well receive or obey the command. So too, today. The command to trust and obey is not as easy of the song suggests (Trust and Obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey). Indeed, how often do we find ourselves trusting in other things, or invited to add levels of security to all that God promises us? Indeed, in a world where human plight and spiritual needs are manifold, this is common temptation. And in our study of Isaiah, we will see how our needs are met in the Lord and how the promises of God lead us to Christ and his daily grace. To prepare for Sunday, take time read Isaiah 28–35. If time is short, be sure to read the centerpiece of this section, Isaiah 30:18–33. On Sunday, we will again over view this whole section and see how God warns of trusting other saviors, so that we can trust in him alone. Indeed, such trust in the Lord is how the Lord proves who his children are and who they are not. May the Lord continue to give us faith as we seek him, and may he pour out his grace on us as we gather Sunday. As the Lord allows, I will look forward to seeing you Sunday. For His Glory and your joy in Jesus, Pastor David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Isaiah 28 – 35 1. As we come to the third section of Isaiah, are you starting to see some of the big themes of this book? What are they? 2. You’ve read Isaiah, what has been most helpful or illuminating for you? 3. In Isaiah 28–35, what are some of the key words or themes that hold this passage together? (Why do we read these chapters together?) 4. Read Isaiah 30:18–33 again. What is the center message? How does that impact your reading of this section? 5. What threat does Egypt pose for Israel? How does that translate today? Where are the places you are tempted put your faith? 6. Except for Isaiah 28, every chapter ends with good news. What does this tell you about the message of God? What does this teach us about sharing the faith? 7. Of the messages of hope, which is most encouraging? Why? 8. How do these chapters relate to other parts of Scripture? For instance, compare 32:9–14 with 3:16–4:1, 32:15–20 with 11:1–5; 42:1–4; 61:1–4. How does these connection help you read Isaiah? 9. In these chapters, what do you learn about God? God’s plan of salvation? Mankind’s condition? And the nature of faith? 10. What else stands out from these chapters?