Lesson 7: Preparation for our April 30th Study

Our Memory verse:  Isa 59:1 (combine with Rm 10:13)

Themes:  
1) Mankind is under indictment!  We have been diagnosed with a terrible malady.

2) God is the moral authority in the universe!  That's because He is . . . 

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

4) Choices have consequences.  

As we continue unfolding the prophetic content of Isaiah chapter 2, we are going see that one common way in which prophecy is communicated is as a combination of current circumstances, near term events and future (prophetic) events.  In order to both see this, and get comfortable with it, this is what I would you to do to prepare for our next study:  

   1)  Make three columns as indicated below.

   2) Then read through chapters 2-4, and as you do so, see if you can assign the each verse (or block of verses) to the appropriate column.  

Current Circumstances      Near term event     Future Event

Lesson 6: Preparation for our April 23rd Study

Our Memory verse:  Isa 59:1 (combine with Rm 10:13)

Themes:  
1) Mankind is under indictment!  We have been diagnosed with a terrible malady.

2) God is the moral authority in the universe!  That's because He is . . . 

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

4) Choices have consequences.  

(Don't forget, it it two weeks until we meet again.)

We finished our study of the opening prophecy of the book (chapter 1), and are now ready to move into chapter 2.  Please read Isa 2:1-5, and then consider the questions below.  

1.  Is Isaiah talking about something that is going to happen in the near term, or prophecy regarding the future?  What evidence from the text supports your position.

2.  There are many who teach that vs. 1-2 refer to the church--what do you think about this theological position?  

3.  If you are skeptical of chapter 2 referring to the church, and you should be, what kinds of things in the text make you so?

4.  If you start with the position that this chapter is speaking prophetically of the church--what does that mean vs. 3-4 are talking about?  Does that seem like even a remote possibility?  How about in the light of 1Tm 4:1-f and 2Tm 3:1-f?

Lesson 5: Preparation for our April 9th Study

Our Memory verse:  Isa 59:1 (combine with Rm 10:13)

Themes:  
1) Mankind is under indictment!  We have been diagnosed with a terrible malady.

2) God is the moral authority in the universe!  That's because He is . . . 

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

4) Choices have consequences.  

During our last study, we discussed a process whereby we can extract principles from a given passage from which we can make application, even if we are not the original audience for the message.  In this way we operate under the principle that although not all Scripture is to us it is all for us.  

I would like you to apply this process to Isa 1:11-17.  Carefully study the passage, and then answer the following:

1.  What is God rejecting in this passage.  

2.  You might find this odd--since God is the one who required the sacrificial system associated with the Mosaic Law.  Why do you think God is rejecting what He has required?  

3.  If you had to distill the "lessons learned" to one or two principles, what would they be?  

4.  How do those principles apply to our church fellowship?  

***Here is an advanced question for you.***

5.  Can you find an example of what God has a problem with, regarding worship,  in Isa 7:1-13?  (Reading 2Kings 16 might give you some helpful background.)