December 27, 2020 Sermon Notes and Slides
SERMON NOTES
God with Us Our Central Hope: The Return of Christ in Glory
Isaiah 11:1-9
Tamene Menna, Director of Outreach and Care
Overview: In the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people of Israel lived in various kinds of oppression. They had kings who did not do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. As a result, judgment was coming. Foreign enemies were coming to invade them. The nation was about to fall apart. Fear and worry overtook them. In the midst of this, Isaiah gives an encouraging message. Although the people of Israel may suffer under the oppression of foreign nations, they are called to trust in God because of what he will do in the future. Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of a new ruler includes a description of Jesus’ first coming, which inaugurated the last days, and His second coming, which will bring in the consummated kingdom of God. The final coming of Christ is the central hope of believers, and living by this future hope empowers us in the present in many practical ways.
01. We wait for the return of the Lord by living a godly life in the present, being empowered by our future hope.
02. We wait for the return of the Lord by continuing to proclaim the gospel until he comes again.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. What does a branch refer to in verse 1?
2. Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Who is Jesse? Why did Isaiah say the king would come from the stump of Jesse instead of “from the stump of David”?
3. Read verses 2-3a. How is the coming king will be equipped for his role?
4. Read verses 6-9. Explain what kinds of things characterize life in the coming kingdom of God?
5. How does the return of the Lord empower us to live a godly life in the present?
For further reading: Piper, John. Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. Revised Edition. Crossway, 2004