Redemption is one of those 'Bible-words' that we perhaps use without thinking. But isn't it just incredible that we mattered enough to the LORD that he was willing to pay a price to rescue us?

The LORD doesn't simply leave us to get with the job ourselves. He generously offers help to his people, because we simply can't manage on our own.

Many of us know the kids' song, 'Jesus loves me, this I know / for the Bible tells me so'. The Bible does tell us that God loves us. In fact, in today's reading, in Isaiah 43:4, God actually says to his people, 'I love you'. So what does it mean to actually know that the Lord loves us? And not just in our heads, but in our hearts as well?

We live in a world obsessed with novelty. We think that we can escape the 'same old-same old' with new things, or a 'new you'. The problem is, we never really change. In Isaiah 42, we're introduced to the LORD's new servant, who succeeds where the old one failed. And through this servant, the LORD will do amazing new things for his people.

All of us need comfort, because all of us experience sorrow, disappointment and pain. Often we look to good things for comfort: friends and loved ones. Sometimes we look to unhealthy and destructive things. But the best comfort comes from knowing a comforting God, a God who forgives us, is always the same, can handle anything we can throw at him, and will provide what we need to just keep going.

Small group leader training for teaching Isaiah 40-55 using the 'COMA' method. Study outlines available to download below.