Grace Community

Isaiah 7

1. Ahaz was more pagan in belief and practice than Israelite. His father, King Jotham, “did not enter the temple of the Lord.” How do parents’ attitudes toward church and faith impact their children? What does this teach us about spiritual leadership in families? (Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 1:5)

2. Isaiah’s references to the “house of David” were a reminder of the covenant promises God made with David to establish his throne forever. How should these promises have helped Ahaz in a time of crisis? (Psalm 89:3–4) As believers, how should God’s promises encourage us in times of crisis? (Romans 8:28; Colossians 3:1–4) Which promises of God have you relied on in the past to help you through difficult times?

3. God shows in this chapter that He is able to nullify the plans of nations and can use any nation to accomplish His purposes. How does this knowledge help you when considering current events, such as the wars in Israel and Iran or news of trade tensions? (Psalm 33:10–11; Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26)

4. God told Ahaz to “Be careful” (watch over yourself and your actions), “be quiet” (be at rest), “do not fear,” and “do not let your heart be faint” (don’t let your heart be weak). Which of these four commands do you find most challenging in your own life? What does each command teach us about how to live by faith?
(Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7)

5. Isaiah said, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” How is this true for us not only regarding salvation, but also in our daily lives? (Ephesians 2:8–9; Colossians 2:6–7) How can we become firmer in our faith?

6. Discuss what the name Immanuel (“God with us”) means for you and your faith. (Hebrews 2:17–18; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 11:28–30; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 4:14–16) 

 Home group questions

1. Why do you think God uses people to speak on His behalf and to be His workers on Earth? Can you think of a time when you shared the gospel, and how it felt to do so? Why is it significant that God’s call to Isaiah wasn’t a command?
   
   
2. Jesus said, in regard to the “woman of the city, who was a sinner,” who anointed His feet with ointment and wiped them with her hair:
    “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
    What does this, along with Isaiah’s eagerness to serve God, teach us about the greatest motive for serving Jesus no matter the cost? How might we cultivate and grow that motivation in our own lives? (Consider Hebrews 12:1–2.)
   
   
3. Isaiah’s response to God’s question carries a dual emphasis – “Here I am! Send me.” How would you describe the difference between those two statements, and why is it important that both aspects be present in someone who serves God well? (Acts 16:6–7 & 9–10)
   
   
4. Isaiah’s mission was to preach the truth of God’s word, but the result would be the hardening of Israel’s hearts. Yet at the end of the passage, there is a ‘seed’ of hope – a small, holy group would emerge. What does this teach us about the importance of speaking the whole truth of the gospel to all people? (Consider 2 Corinthians 2:15–17 & 4:1–6; Romans 1:16–17.)
   
   
5. How would you respond to someone who says it is wrong for God to harden someone’s heart? (Consider Romans 1:18–23 & 28; Romans 9:14–21.) What does Hebrews 3:12–15 tell us about what hardens peoples hearts, even those who attend church? So what must the church do to help people avoid this?
   
   
6. The Israelites were destined for destruction because of their unrighteousness and rebellion against God. Yet we are no better, because “none is righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10), and all deserve God’s wrath. Read Ephesians 2:1–10 and discuss how this passage shows the unmerited mercy of God toward believers, and what it ought to motivate us to do.

 Home Group Questions

Isaiah 6:1-7

1. John 12:41 says Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus on the throne. How does knowing that Jesus is on the throne help us in our everyday life? (Consider Colossians 3:1–4; Ephesians 2:6; Romans 8:38–39)
    
2. How do you reconcile God’s sovereignty with the reality of Christian persecution worldwide—or even your own struggles? (Revelation 13:5–10; Romans 8:16–19)
    
3. Isaiah said the “train (hem) of [God’s] robe filled the temple.” How does an understanding of the grandeur of God and His threefold holiness—compared to humanity, whose righteous deeds are like filthy rags—make His grace and mercy even richer, and the incarnation more incredible?
    
4. God’s holiness is the most emphasised attribute in Scripture. It speaks of His separateness—unique in His being (His nature) and unique in His moral character (His righteousness).
    
5. How important should it be to believers to understand God’s holiness, and how might we go about increasing our understanding of it? (1 Peter 1:15–16; Ephesians 1:16–17) How might a deeper understanding of God’s holiness change the way you approach worship, prayer, or Bible reading?
    
6. What does Isaiah’s response to seeing God in His holiness teach us about how we should respond to God’s holiness?
   (Job 40:1–5) Notice how quickly and completely Isaiah’s guilt is removed and his sin atoned for. How does this picture of instant forgiveness encourage you when you struggle with guilt or shame?
    
7. "The only way we can ever truly know ourselves is when we truly know God." Do you agree with this? How has growing in your knowledge of God changed how you see yourself?

Isaiah 4:2-6

1. When the prophets say “in that day”, there is rarely any specific timeframe given. Why do you think God makes the timing of these future prophecies ambiguous? (Consider Joel 2:1–2, 12–13; Matthew 24:36–51.) How does the lack of specific details about future events help believers in every generation? (1 Corinthians 10:1–12.) How does the book of Revelation encourage Christians across all generations?
2. In Isaiah 2:2–4:6, “in that day” refers both to times of judgement and dread, and also to times of blessing and peace. How do verses 3–4 show that to be the case? Isaiah 4:4 speaks of God washing away filth “by a spirit of judgement and by a spirit of burning.” How does this connect to what Jesus accomplished on the cross? Why does knowing that it is God who makes people holy and writes their names in the Book of Life give us assurance? (Consider Titus 3:3–7.)
3. Isaiah 4:2–6 points to the coming church—a people made holy who worship the Messiah. What are the marks of a faithful church in our context today? What would it look like for our church to make Jesus our “pride and honour”? What does it mean to make Jesus our “pride and honour” as individuals?
4. Verses 5–6 promise God's presence like a canopy, providing shade and shelter. When have you experienced God as your “refuge and shelter” during difficult times? How does knowing that God's presence is with us change the way we face trials?
5. How can Isaiah 2:5–4:6 help us guard our hearts against bitterness or envy when it seems that unfaithful people prosper?

In Isaiah chapter 2, we saw that God’s judgment will come against human pride, abundance, and all the things humanity holds precious and in high esteem. But in chapter 3, God’s judgment is to remove the necessities of life and the necessities for human societal flourishing. 

1) What does God’s judgment show us about the foolishness of human pride in thinking we don’t need Him? How is the removal of the pillars of a society’s structure (from the strong leader to the local leader, to the tradesmen and the counsellor) a punishment? (Consider Judges 21:25; Romans 13:1–5). Why do you think God will also remove the prophet? (Consider Amos 8:11–12; Proverbs 1:22–31) How is God giving humanity the desires of their hearts the ultimate form of punishment? (Consider vv. 4–5) 

2) What do verses 8–9 tell us about the extent of the pride and arrogance of Judah and Jerusalem? How have we seen this kind of behaviour in Western nations? In what ways do people in the West—who have a Christian heritage—defy His glorious presence? (Consider where the glory and presence of God is today: 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; Romans 1:19–20) What does this tell us about the importance of Christian speech and deeds? 

3) What do verses 13–14 tell us about what is of utmost importance to God? How could we make this a greater priority in our church? 

4) Verse 16 presents a picture of frivolous, flirtatious, sexually promiscuous women who use their bodies and outward adornments to attract men.
What does this reveal about the object of their worship? Our culture is not much different. How is some of this mindset and behaviour entering the church?
How should the church respond to this? (Consider Titus 2:3–5; 1 Peter 3:1–6) 

5) Discuss how Isaiah 3:16–4:1 presents a picture of God’s judgment on people who have rejected Him and worshipped something else. He gives them the desires of their hearts—but without His support and supply of the good things He gives. What does this tell us about the danger of placing anything in higher esteem than God? 

Isaiah 2:5-22

1. What does Isaiah's call for the house of Jacob (those chosen by God) to walk in the light of the Lord tell us about our responsibility as God's chosen people?
   (Consider Colossians 1:9–10)
2. Read verses 6–9. Considering all the things Judah had filled themselves with (instead of God), how would you translate this list into a contemporary version for Christians and churches to be watchful of? What are some ways Christians and churches today behave like Judah?
3. Why does exalting man and devaluing God lead humanity to become more like animals?
   (Consider Romans 1:21–32)
4. Why is pride such a horrific sin, deserving of God’s wrath? Verses 12–18 list things humanity highly values and esteems. Why will God bring judgment on all these things?
   (Consider Isaiah 46:5–9)
5. Why is Isaiah's message about the terror of God often avoided in churches? Why is it vitally important that God’s wrath and the terror of His judgment be part of our gospel message?
   (Luke 12:5; Revelation 20:15)
6. Isaiah 2:22 says, “Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?” How should this verse shape our perspective on human achievement, status, and self-sufficiency?