We are called not merely to put up with people, but also to treat them kindly.
– Phil Ryken in Loving the Way Jesus Loves
Q&A#6: Verses, Questions, Project
Q/A#6
Q: What is the Word of God?
A: The Word of God is his flawless, unchanging, living, and abiding Word to us, consisting of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
Memory Verses
Forever, O Lord, your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
– Psalm 119:89
Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
– I Peter 1:23
Further Supporting Verses
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
– Proverb 30:5
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
– Luke 24:27
…as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you…as he does in all his letters…. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
– II Peter 3:15-16
All Scripture is breathed out by God….
– II Timothy 3:16a
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth….
– John 16:13
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Why is it important to your life that God’s Word is flawless, unchanging, and abiding?
How have you found God’s Word to be alive and active in your life?
How do the supporting verses give you confidence that the Bible really is God’s Word?
Project
Read Psalm 119 and reflect further upon God’s gift of His Word.
Reflections on Isaiah 36-39
Assyria threatens Jerusalem, but God will deliver. Babylon, not Assyria, will plunder Jerusalem.
- Trust – Hezekiah provides a striking contrast to Ahaz back in chapters 7-8. While Ahaz looked to other nations for help, Hezekiah turned to the Lord, and the Lord answered. Are you looking to the Lord for help in your troubles?
- God Alone – The Assyrians mock God, claiming God cannot save Judah from their hands. But God hears. God kills thousands of them in one night and sends them packing back to Assyria where the proud king is killed by his sons. God alone reigns supreme over all the nations of the world.
Classic Quote
Free will without grace has the power to do nothing but sin…. You call the will free, but in fact it is an enslaved will.
– Augustine
Isaiah 36-39, II Kings 18-20, II Chronicles 29-32: Hezekiah
(2K18) What words are used to describe Hezekiah in v1-6?
How does his example challenge you?
(2Ch29-30) What is Hezekiah’s first order of business (29:3-19)?
Describe the worship that followed (29:20-36). Note their actions, mood, and motives.
Describe their preparations for, and their keeping of, the Passover in chapter 30. Note their decisions, actions, mood, and motives.
What can we learn from their example in chapters 29-30?
(Is36) What is the main issue the Assyrian official raises in his speeches (see especially v4-7, 15)? What three options do the people of Jerusalem have?
What options do we have when trials come against us?
(Is37) Isaiah encourages Hezekiah not to fear – God will take care of the Assyrians (v1-7). The Assyrians leave to fight another battle, but send a letter to Hezekiah threatening they will return (v8-13). How does Hezekiah respond (v14-15)?
How does Hezekiah describe God (v16-17)?
What does Hezekiah ask God to do (v17-20)? Why (v20)?
What can we learn from Hezekiah’s prayer?
How did God respond to Hezekiah’s prayer (v21-38)?
(Is 38-39, II Chron32) Hezekiah became sick. Once again Hezekiah prayed to God, and God healed him. How did Hezekiah respond to his healing (II Chron 32:24-26)? How did this response show itself (Isaiah 39)? How might we be tempted in the same way?
What were the results? What warning is there for us?
He Is Risen…
He is risen, so we can have:
Forgiveness of Sins
Removal of Guilt
Cleansing from Shame
Righteousness in Christ
A New Life in Christ
A Relationship with God
Victory over Sin
Victory over Satan
A Mediator with God
Intercession by Christ
The Sending of the Holy Spirit
The Way to Heaven
The Return of Christ
Personal Resurrection
Hope in Death
Confidence in God’s Word
Mercy or Grace
A Strong Basis for Our Faith
Numerous Reasons to Sing
If Jesus Is Dead and Gone…
If Jesus is dead and gone, we have:
No Forgiveness of Sins
No Removal of Guilt
No Cleansing from Shame
No Righteousness in Christ
No New Life in Christ
No Relationship with God
No Victory over Sin
No Victory over Satan
No Mediator with God
No Intercession by Christ
No Sending of the Holy Spirit
No Way to Heaven
No Return of Christ
No Personal Resurrection
No Hope in Death
No Confidence in God’s Word
No Mercy or Grace
No Basis for Our Faith
No Reason to Sing
Good Friday Collection
Here are some good posts for your reflection today:
It Was My Sin That Held Him There: Weeping at the Foot of the Cross – Greg Morse (DG)
We Are Barabbas – Dave Furman (Crossway)
Let Us Never Grow Weary of the Cross – Kevin DeYoung
10 Things You Should Know about the Cross – Patrick Schreiner
Sermon Songs: Revelation 14
As God’s children bearing His name, We will worship and adore
Righteous, sinless, pure, without blame, We’ll be redeemed by the Lord
Believe these truths, And live them out
So we might each day endure
Fear of God instead of the Beast, Those who die in Christ will rest
Christ will gather His for a feast, Raised forever as His guests
Believe these truths, And live them out
So we might each day endure
Our godless culture will soon fail, We must walk a different path
Forever the wicked will wail, Punished under God’s just wrath
Proclaim to all, The gospel call
Lest hell’s fury they endure
To the tune of “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending”
Brian J. Mikul 