First Baptist Lenoir City

1. Isaiah 53

2. Isaiah 55

3. Isaiah 59:1-2

4. Isaiah 64:6

Isaiah tells the Gospel Story (aka The Christmas Story) 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Yet he reveals the sinful condition of mankind and the need for a supernatural born Savior. God’s Governor removes the gloom and replaces it with glory! We call this glorious event Christmas!

I. The Gospel According to Isaiah

II. The Gloom of the Problem of sin - 9:1-5 (1:1-17) -

III. The Glory of the Promise - 9:6-7

The Promise Unwrapped - will have several Names - 9:6d-7 (descriptions; character; revelation) - How will He govern?

I. The Gloom of Our Sin - 

II. The Glory of Our Savior - 

III. A Jet Tour Through Isaiah:

Isaiah 1:1-17, 18-20

Isaiah 6:1-8 (John 12:36-41)

Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 26:3

Isaiah 40:1-5, 28-31

Isaiah 53:1-12

Isaiah 55:1-2, 8-9

Isaiah 59:1-2

Isaiah 64:6

= A New Testament Pastor is a Shepherd (points to his task)

= A New Testament Pastor is an Overseer (points to his authority)

= A New Testament Pastor is an Elder (points to his maturity)

= Hebrews 13:7; 17 - congregation to pastor and pastor to congregation.

I. Intensity & Intentionality Required -

1. Flee - Run from the wrong things

2. Pursue - Run to the right things

3. Fight the good fight (I Tim 6:11-12)

4. PO/PO - Ephesians 4

5. Flee - James 4:7

• We run away from sin (sanctification), but Satan runs away from you (submission)

II. The Shepherds as Bond-Servants:

1. “Must not be” - “quarrelsome.”

• I Timothy 2:8; 3:3; 6:4

• Titus 3:2; Titus 3:9

• II Timothy 2:14; 2:23; 2:24

2. “Must be” - Serving & Discerning

• Kind to everyone - (leads to repentance - Romans 2:4)

• Able to teach - unique word here and I Timothy 3:2. Ezra 7:10, The hand of the Lord is upon him because He SET HIS HEART to (3): Rigorous study; Regular obedience; Robust teaching.

• Not resentful - (patient when wronged). Many commentators noted that this is one of the most difficult challenges of a pastor. What is the key to being faithful to this verse? Making sure ministry is about His Name; His Word; His Will. It’s not about us.

• Correcting opponents w/ gentleness - (correcting carefully) - Look to Joseph of Genesis and Jesus of Nazareth! Genesis 50:20; I Peter 2:21-23

3. Must Trust God when correcting: We must trust God to change people

- We follow His commands

• God will grant them repentance

• God will lead them to the knowledge of the truth

• They will come to their senses -

• They will escape from the trap of the devil - “who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Grace-Driven Study

Grace-Driven Sanctification

Grace-Driven Shepherding

= 5 Encouragements from Paul: being honorable; being holy; being useful; being ready; having a pureheart

= The LAST words from LAST week - 2:19, “depart from iniquity” - still on that theme: How do you read that? How can it be read? Is it harsh or is

it hopeful? We can depart from sin! We don’t have to stay in bondage. We don’t have to live in our past.

I Cor. 6:9-11 is the main passage

I Thess. 4:3-5; I Peter 1:14-16

I. Being Honorable - 2:20

II. Being Useful - 2:21

III. Being Decisional - 2:22

I. The Language of Life & Faith - Jesus uses physical realities to picture spiritual truths.

1. You must be born-again, John 3:1-8

2. You must drink Water-John 4:1-15

3. You must eat Bread-John 6:22-40

4. You must drink Blood-John 6:41-60

5. You must know Who Jesus is - John 6:60-71

I Corinthians 11:23-26

The Vision of Cornelius (vv. 1-8)

Peter's Vision (vv. 9-16)

The Visitors (vv. 17-23)

The Breakthrough (vv. 23b-35)

The Gospel of Peace (vv. 36-43)