The book of Isaiah talks a lot about "praising" and "glorifying" God. Apparently it's important. But why? And how do we do it? And what if we're not very good singers?

We are all seekers.

Seeking fulfillment.

Seeking happiness.

Seeking God.

Perhaps we can find these things in money, sex, or people...

But before we accept that, let’s see what Isaiah has to say

As God seeks to lead his people out of exile in Babylon, and re-establish a relationship with them, he gives them important things to do on “the way back.” One of those is to hope. His people would need hope that things could turn out better than they had in the past. We also need hope. But hope is hard? In a world of darkness and gloom, where can we find out hope?

"Do not fear" is one of the most common commands in the Bible, and in the book of Isaiah. As God seeks to reestablish his covenant relationship with his people, they need to learn to trust him and not be afraid of where he will take them. But trusting God is hard, and the world is a scary place inspiring much fear. How do we learn to trust God and fear less? Pastor Matt gives six things we can do.

The Israelites have been in Exile for 70 years and want to return home. God is ready for them to return, but in order to do so, they have to learn how to get there. This week we begin a new series called “The Way Back”, and the first step on “The Way Back” is to LAMENT. While we don’t talk about LAMENT often as Christians, it is essential in our relationship with God. This week will talk about just that.

The nation of Judah is finally out of their divine timeout and this is the moment they have longed for, this is the fulfillment of the prophecy Isaiah had predicted over 100 years earlier: The moment that they can rebuild their holy temple! But as construction begins it becomes clear that Isaiah and God meant something else entirely.

Following the destruction of their captors in Babylon, the people of Judah have the chance to return home to Jerusalem. But going home can be hard. It was a long journey? Would they head home to Zion, or stay back in Babylon? Sometimes we face a similar question in our own spiritual journey.

Following the exile of God’s people to Babylon, God does not just leave them there. He has a plan to bring them back. First that involves destroying their enemies, the Babylonians. Isaiah predicts the city’s destruction in chapter 47 of his book. As we’ll see, the fall of Babylon comes to mean so much more in the Bible, and it should to us.

The people of Judah are now living in Exile in Babylon, and God has an important message for them. What we realize, is that God’s message is the same for us today.

The Fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC was a devastating event for God’s people. God had sent the prophet Isaiah to warn his people that it would happen if they did not change their ways. But they didn’t, and it did. What does the destruction of Jerusalem say about God? And what does it mean for us?