Isaiah 34:1-4, 35:1-10; Hebrews 12:12-24 Title Verse: Isaiah 35:9c-10 Big Idea: God brings judgement on the world/nations for how they treated him and his people but God redeems + restores his people to live for him + enter into the New Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 17:2-7; 1 Corinthians 5 Key verse: 1 Corinthians 5:8 Big idea: How should the Christian community respond when one of its members doesn’t repent over sin? It must expel them for the sinner’s own good, and for the health of the community.
1 Corinthians 4:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 Key verse: 1 Corinthians 4:16: Therefore I urge you to imitate me [Paul]. Big idea: The Corinthians believed they were super spiritual and were judging Paul because he was unimpressive by human ‘spiritual’ standards. However, true Christian ministry now will be ‘weak’ by human standards, just as Jesus’ was. […]
Isaiah 33, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Title Verse: Isaiah 33:5 Big Idea: God reigns – defeating the oppressor + establishing a new kingdom for his transformed people.
Job 5:8-17; 1 Corinthians 3 Key verse: 1 Corinthians 3:21 Big idea: Christian leaders are servants of God. They must build on the gospel with gospel truth, otherwise they are wasting their time, and in danger of destroying the church. But if the gospel is central, accept them as a gift from God.
Isaiah 31:1-32:8; Luke 7:18-23 Title Verse: Isaiah 32:1 Big Idea: It’s only by looking to God and his promised King that we have hope for real change, personally, in our families and in society.
Isaiah 40:12-17; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Key verse: 1 Corinthians 2:9 Big idea: Non-Christians don’t and can’t understand God’s nature and plans. We can because we have the Spirit who has revealed it for us. Therefore we shouldn’t be worried when non-Christians judge us because they can’t make right judgements.
Psalm 23; John 10:1-18 Title Verse: Psalm 23:1 Big Idea: You have to be able to call the Lord “MY” Shepherd – why and how.
Readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:17 to 3:13, Luke 8:4-15 Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 3:8-9
Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 Key verse: 1 Corinthians 1:24 Big idea: On every level the world will see the gospel as weak and foolish. Yet God has used it to bring salvation for those he’s called. This means that all glory and boasting needs to go to God.