Sermons on Isaiah (Page 3)

As we prepare to move from 2nd Isaiah into 3rd Isaiah, we zoom out to look at one of the themes that is in play throughout the book: shalom. We examine how Isaiah teaches about all the wrong places to find it, as well as where he says it can be found. A Source Critic Looks at Downton Abbey

In Isaiah 54 and 55 God invites his people to participate in his peace, following the redeeming work of the Servant in chapter 53. That peace is what they (and we) were seeking all along, but they had been looking in the wrong places. Slides for Isaiah 54–55

This week we look at all four of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, with special focus on the fourth song in Isaiah 52:13–53:12. This section of the book (chapters 49–55) has been building up to this point. Now God will show how he will overcome oppression and redeem his people. Slides for Isaiah 53

This week we read Isaiah 50:4—52:12. In it we cover the 3rd of Isaiah’s four servant songs. If, when we’re in dark places, we want God to wake up to our situation (as Israel did in this passage), God responds by telling us to wake up. He is acting and engaged. Slides for Isaiah 50–52  

We make a turn into a new section of 2nd Isaiah this week, where the Servant moves into prominence. In Isaiah 49, we see the second of the four Servant Songs. We also see the Servant and Israel struggle with discouragement, and God answer them both. Slides for Week 12

This week we read Isaiah 44–48 as a unit, following the reading from the previous session. Slides from this class

This week we set out to read Isaiah 40–48 out loud, but actually only get through most of chapter 44. We examine the themes that we’ve covered so far, and see how they are woven into the narrative as a whole. Slide Deck for Isaiah 40–44

This week we connect the themes from the first four chapters of 2 Isaiah. This will prepare us for next week’s class, where we’ll deal with several chapters of Isaiah as one unit. We also spend some time on the application of the teaching of Isaiah to us, claiming again the promise of 2 Timothy 3:16 where we are told that all Scripture is meant for us. Slides from Week 9 Book Referenced: The Bible Among the Myths: Unique Revelation…

Israel failed as the servant in part because they adopted the thinking of the nations around them. This included adopting the religious practices of using rituals to manipulate the actions of God. In Isaiah 43, God reminds them that the reverse is instead true: He acts on their behalf, and they respond to his activity. The reading this week is Isaiah 42:18–44:5. Slides from Week 8 Commercial: It’s Only Weird if It Doesn’t Work