Lesson #27: Preparation for our December 17th Study

We are going to complete, or at least set aside our study of Isaiah following this Wednesday, and start the new year with a fresh topic.  You can prepare for our closing lesson by a simple exercise--see how many of the themes we extracted from the first 36 chapters you can remember.  After you give it a try--go ahead and look below:


Themes extracted from our study of Isaiah:

1.  Mankind is under indictment!  He has been diagnosed with a terrible malady.  

2.  God is the moral authority in the universe!  That’s because He is Holy!

3.  God graciously offers salvation to rebellious and sinful mankind.  

4.  Choices have Consequences!  

5.  God wants a people who are dependent upon Him—in every circumstance!

Now go to the last chapter of Isaiah--chapter 66, and see how many of these themes you can still find under discussion even in the last chapter of the book.  

See you on Wednesday,

Kevin

Lesson #26: Preparation for December 10th

Two things for you to consider as we get back into our study of Isaiah after a few weeks away.  

1.  Read Isa 49:14-26, and pay particular attention to the opening (vs 15-16) and the closing (vs 26) verses.  Is it reasonable  (does it seem even remotely possible) that these verses apply to the Church?

2.  Read Isa 50:4-9 and 52:13-15.    Do you think it reasonable to apply these to Zerubbabel?  (He was governor of the province of Judah when the first group of exiles returned from Babylon.)  

As you can tell, we are going to spend some time talking about principles of interpretation this coming Wednesday--for that becomes a very important process as we turn to chapter 53.

In His grace,
Kevin

November 19th Meeting

We have a Quarterly Business Meeting this Wednesday, and no Wednesday night service the week of Thanksgiving (26 Nov).  So please look for a update the week before our next Wednesday night service which will be on the 3rd of December.

Lesson #25: Preparation for November 12th

We will continue our study in chapters 49-52.

1.  The Jews as a people have many times come through very difficult circumstances--which continue to this day.  They might be tempted to proclaim Isa 49:14, but what great truth does the following text reinforce.  How would you use the New Testament to parallel this same idea?

2.  Isa 51:1-2 give further guidance regarding what should be front and center in the thinking of the Jewish people.  Is this admonition in any way connected to Christianity?

3.  Simply read through Isa 50 and see how many connections you can find to the historical accounts of what happened to Jesus.

See you on Wednesday!
Kevin

Les #24: Preparation for November 5th

(Due to a guest speaker on the 29th--this lesson has been pushed back to the 5th of November.)

The next block of text at which we are going to look is chapters 49-57.  I would like you to get a general overview as we prepare to investigate these 9 chapters.  

1. Begin by reading chapter 53. Put a little pencil mark by every phrase the seems to make reference to something we know about Jesus Christ.  You will be amazed at the number of marks you accumulate.  

2.  From there, just go back to chapter 49 and start reading.  Again, you will be amazed at how often references to Jesus occur and how often those references entail some sort of suffering or humiliation. Why do you think the Jews were expecting only a reigning king?

See on you Wednesday!

Les #23: Preparation for October 22nd Study

We are going to spend one more study in Isaiah chapters 41-46.  This time we want to take a look at another theme that runs through the latter part of the book and is very pronounced in these six chapters.  Furthermore, it once again has significant ramifications for us in our day.  

You may wish to read the entire six chapters again, by as you do, concentrate on the following sections:  Isa 41:22-24, 41:26-29,  42:8-9,  43:9-13, 44:7,  45:1-4,  45:11-13, 46:5-13

1.  What is the major point the Lord is making clear in each of these sections?


2.  How many times has God told us ahead of time what He is going to do, and then done it?  Jot down as many as you can think of.

3.  What ramifications does this have for a correct understanding of prophecy in our day?

See you on Wednesday the 22nd.

October 15th Study

No preparation for the 15th as we will have a guest speaker in the person of Steve Hayes who, along with his family, are missionaries to Russia.  He will have some very interesting things for us as they prepare to return.