Isaiah 52:13-53:6

The fourth servant song of Isaiah is also the most well-known. In fact, the description of God's Servant in Isaiah 53 is so detailed in its portrayal of what Jesus himself would go through and accomplish in his suffering, death and resurrection, that this passage has been called the gospel according to Isaiah. Jesus begins the week leading up to this death and resurrection, by entering the city of Jerusalem hailed as a King. So Isaiah begins this fourth servant song by giving us a clear picture of God's sovereign and suffering servant.

Isaiah 49:1-16

As we continue in our series from the Servant Songs of Isaiah, the snapshot of God's servant and his somewhat mysterious identity comes further into focus. This week we hear from the servant himself regarding his calling as "a light to the nations" to display the glory of the Lord and to gather in God's people from all the earth. Join us this week as we look at the glorious and gathering servant of the Lord.

Zephaniah 3:9-20

Does God ever sing? Throughout Scripture God calls us to lift our voices with glad shouts and songs of praise to him, but does God himself ever have cause to sing? Following the dark and ominous warnings of God's judgment for sin in Zephaniah, the light of God's grace breaks through in the glorious promise of his salvation which not only is cause for rejoicing among those who receive it, but leads the Lord himself to break out in song over his beloved, redeemed people. Here we conclude our study of Zephaniah by looking at when God sings.

Zephaniah 2:3-3:8

As believers, we like to talk about God as our wonderful Creator, our mighty Protector, our gracious Savior, and our loving Father, and it's usually those qualities that we highlight when we speak about God to others. However, to speak of God as a righteous Judge can actually cause people such discomfort that they challenge that truth and actually being to pass judgment on the judgment of God. Yet, God does hide the fact that he will judge not just his people, but all the nations of the earth. The prophet Zephaniah brings God's message of judgment on all the nations, and as we see God's judgment as critical to understanding the good news of the gospel.

Zephaniah 1:1-2:3

We have become quite accustomed to warning labels. It seems they show up everywhere trying to protect us against harm, usually as a result of the misuse or abuse of some item. It is meant to cause us to consider and heed the warning, but too often it is met with neglect or disregard. The prophet Zephaniah brought a message that served as a warning label to God's people regarding the coming day of the Lord. It is a day of great wrath and judgment for the misuse and abuse of God will and glory, but also a day of blessing and hope for those who heed the warning and follow God's way. Join us as we look at the call of Zephaniah to heed the warning and hold onto the hope on that great day of the Lord.

Psalm 63

When you have a craving for something such as your favorite food or an enjoyable activity, not only does it occupy your thoughts, but it starts to engage all your senses as well. We feel the physical elements of that craving and long to satisfy it. When we come to know God, our desire to experience his presence and love is not just a cognitive experience of our minds, but it should involve a desire and delight in God that satisfies all our deepest longings. Here we look at Psalm 63 and encounter in the life and words of David what it means to truly seek and be satisfied in the Lord.

1 Peter 5:12-14

As Peter brings his letter to a close, he summarizes all that he has written as the true grace of God and then exhorts us to stand firm in it. Here we look at the breadth of God's true grace and what it means for us to stand in it.

1 Peter 5:6-11

Most of us long to be able to say, "I haven't a care in the world," but for most of us that seems utterly impossible in a world full of anxiety-producing cares. To be truly carefree requires that our cares be offloaded to someone or somewhere else. That is exactly what God invites us to do: cast our cares on him. Listen as the apostle Peter gives us wisdom for care-free living in a care-full world.

1 Peter 5:1-5

God has granted and gifted servant leaders to shepherd and guide his people in the body of Christ. The elders are called and equipped by Jesus, to oversee and care for his church. It is a heavy responsibility to bear, particularly in times when the church is suffering, but it is one which, as Peter reminds us here, is exercised following the example and for the glory of our chief Shepherd.

John 10:11-18

Jesus in John 10 calls himself the Good Shepherd. The original reads: The Shepherd, The Good. Here we see how Jesus declares himself to be that ideal shepherd and how he demonstrates that ideal in his earthly ministry. And we can say of him: The Lord is my Shepherd.