Read Isaiah 1

Check out this commentary if parts are confusing.

• Why is God angry from what you read in this chapter? List out His grievances.
  
• Phrases like “I will turn my hand against you (vs. 25), “you will be ashamed because….(vs. 29), and  “woe to the sinful nation…they have forsaken the Lord (vs. 4) , show a depth of emotion from God that can make us uncomfortable. How do you feel reading this chapter? What is it stirring up in you?
  
• Spend some time talking to the Lord about how you are feeling.

Yesterday we heard Adam preach through passages in Jeremiah and Zechariah:  How Israel looked forward to the Messiah and the hope that He would bring. We, during Advent, look backwards to remember the hope that He brought as well as the hope He will bring in the future. Life is hard. Yes, life is hard. This month in our devotions we are going to work through the Old Testament book of Isaiah.

• We see God judging His people. 
• We see God mourning that He has to judge.
• We see Him promise a future for them.
• We see his compassion.
• We will see how we live in the now and the not yet.

Watch this video from The Bible Project.

We will watch the overview of the end of Isaiah later, but the first few weeks we will be in this beginning section. Basically, Isaiah is sent by God to warn the people of impending judgment, first by the nation of Assyria, and then by the Babylonians. The chapters cycle back and forth between warning, explanation of their sins, the coming judgment, and the hope of a promised Messiah. 

Spend some time sitting and asking the Lord to help you order the days of this Advent season.

As we work through Isaiah this month, there may be verses and chapters that are just downright confusing. Bible Gateway has a great commentary to help with those: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Isaiah

It’s been a heavy week reading about brothers and sisters divided,  unforgiving, prideful, and the list goes on. 

• As you prepare to worship with the body this morning, sit quietly before the Lord and ponder your contributions in our body. Are you bent towards unity? (Really – how do you know whether or not you are someone that promotes unity?)
  
• Are you willing to do the hard work that unity takes? 
  
• What has the Lord shown you this week?

Spend some quiet time just relaxing with the Lord. Kick back and imagine that the two of you are just sitting in your favorite spot together.

Read Matthew 18:15-17

• What is the sin that is being confronted?
  
• Based on Matthew 18 and Matthew 5, how concerned is God that we work through our areas of anger and wronging/being wronged?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

I know that we answered the “Do” question already. But since resolving conflict in Godly, healthy ways is so uncommon in our world, and in the church, it seemed good to ask one more question. 

Reread the  passages from Matthew 5 and 18 one more time. Matthew 5 is asking you to search your heart to see if you have wronged someone. Matthew 18 wants you to again search your heart to see if someone has wronged you.

Truly spend some time with God being quiet, listen to His voice. And then, based on what He says, plan your response, which might include calling a friend, writing a letter, having a conversation you’ve been putting off for weeks/years, etc…?

Read  Romans 12:18-21, Ephesians 4:31-33, & Matthew 5:23-24

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Are you harboring unforgiveness towards someone? Ask the Lord to show you His way forward.

Read  1 Corinthians 12:12-26

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 & 3:1-9

What is the sin that is being confronted?

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

KNOW:

BE:

DO:

Where do you see this worked out in your life and heart?