Week 2 Running With The Giants

Series: Week #2 – Running with the Giants
Title: Isaiah
Speaker: Pastor Tim Perkins
Date: June 28, 2020

(Hebrews 12:1 NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

(Isaiah 30:21 NIV)

Big Idea: When you are trying to make sense of it all… “An with changes everything.”

Isaiah’s God Encounter Teaches Us…

• Our greatest can be a for our greatest . (Isaiah 6:1-4)
• When we see clearly, we see clearly. (Isaiah 6:5)
• God removes our so He can redeem our ! (Isaiah 6:6-8)

Isaiah’s Words of Encouragement…

1. “God wants to more of Himself to you.” (Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13)

• Action: Go .

2. “God wants to you.” (Isaiah 1:18-19; 1 Peter 2:2-3)

• Action: Take the .

3. “God has an for you.” (Isaiah 60:1-3; Matthew 5:13-16)

• Action: Discover my .

Discussion Guide

Think about it…

• Throughout the “Running With the Giants” Series, we will be learning key truths from some of the greatest heroes of the faith found in the Bible. This week, we talked about Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet who was gifted in hearing the voice of God. Isaiah was very familiar with the power of God’s presence, and if he had the opportunity to speak to us personally today, he would be empathetic to our struggles, tell us about his own difficult moments, and encourage us by saying, “When you are trying to make sense of it all, an encounter with God changes everything.” Isaiah knew from experience that God often meets us most potently in the hardest times of our life, and thus our greatest pain can be a catalyst for our greatest gain. When we are desperate for help, our heart is positioned to receive greater revelation from God, and we begin to see Him more clearly. When we see God more clearly, however, we see our own impurity and imperfections more clearly, and we can get bogged down by the failures of our past. But God does not want us to get stuck there – He wants to set us free and empower us live a life of fulfillment and purpose for His glory. Isaiah would remind us that God wants to change us, but this change is for our benefit, so we need to be faithful to take the next step and continue to grow. And Isaiah would joyfully tell us that God has an assignment for us. He would encourage us to discover our purpose, knowing that the greatest fulfillment and meaning we will find in our life will come from living out the purpose for which God made us. Let’s go all in, take the next step, discover our purpose, and live out the redeemed future that God desires for us.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying ‘This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Talk about it…

• Talk about a time when you encountered God at a low point of your life. Share how you saw Him turn that painful moment into an opportunity for gain in your life.
• Discuss what Pastor Tim meant when he said God wants to remove our past so that He can redeem our future. What did it take (or would it take) to go “all in” with God so that you could move into the redeemed future that He has for you?
• None of us have reached the maximum possible growth in our relationship with God, which means we each have a next step to take. What is your next step in your journey with Him?

Pray about it…

• Thank God that He loves you just the way you are – and that He loves you too much to let you stay as you are. Submit your pain to Him and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a powerful way in the midst of it. Ask God to help you release your past to Him so that you can receive forgiveness and walk in the future that He has for you.

Act on it…

• Reading Plan: As we learned today, an encounter with God changes everything! Join us in this weeks reading plan as we learn how we can better encounter God in our day to day life.
• Memorize: (Hebrews 12:1 NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
  • Invite someone to join you for church online next week. Here are some tools to help.