Sunday, Jul 5
Scripture
Isaiah 7:3-4 3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.’”
Dialogue
2 Kings Review • On your announcement card 2 Kings 1 • Ahaziah dies after seeking Baal-zebub instead of the Lord. 2 Kings 2 • Elijah is taken to heaven; Elisha succeeds him. 2 Kings 3 • God gives victory over Moab through Elisha. 2 Kings 4 • Elisha performs miracles for widows, families, and the needy. 2 Kings 5 • Naaman is healed; Gehazi becomes greedy. 2 Kings 6 • God protects Elisha and blinds the Aramean army. 2 Kings 7 • Samaria is delivered from famine. 2 Kings 8 • Hazael becomes king of Aram; Judah's kings decline. 2 Kings 9 • Jehu is anointed king and destroys Joram and Jezebel. 2 Kings 10 • Jehu wipes out Ahab's house and Baal worship but keeps Israel's idols. 2 Kings 11 • Joash is rescued and crowned; Athaliah is overthrown. 2 Kings 12 • Joash repairs the temple, but Judah remains vulnerable. 2 Kings 13 • Elisha dies after promising victory over Aram. 2 Kings 14 • Amaziah rules Judah, defeats Edom, then falls 2 Kings 15 • Israel cycles through kings amid assassinations as Assyria rises. 2 Kings 16 • Ahaz embraces idolatry, submits to Assyria, and corrupts the temple's worship.
Dialogue
How will I persist • On your announcement card Will I persist in looking to God for help Will I persist in being discipled Will I persist in seeking God’s help early Will I persist in seeking partnership with what God is doing in my world Will I persist in seeking God when I feel like an outsider Will I persist in being community in order to navigate my fears healthily Will I persist in keeping things together without compromising Will I persist in looking for help away from God to the point of looking to those who have hurt me
Dialogue
The Kings of Israel • Northern Kingdom • 2 Kings 13-16 Jehoahaz • ch 13 Jehoash (Joash) • ch 13–14 Jeroboam II • ch 14 Zechariah • ch 15 Shallum • ch 15 Menahem • ch 15 Pekahiah • ch 15 Pekah • ch 15–16 The Kings of Judah • Southern Kingdom • 2 Kings 13-16 Amaziah • ch 14 Uzziah (Azariah) • ch 15 Jotham • ch 15 Ahaz • ch 16
Quote
“Scripture as a whole narrative is not a story of people striving and seeking to have relationship with God, but it is a story of God striving and seeking to have relationship with humanity.”
Dialogue
Think about your personal ideal: How closely do your actions match that ideal in these areas? Give each a score from 0-7 0 - I always ignore my ideal and compromise in this area of life 7 - I always hold my ground and never compromise from the ideal in this area of life
Dialogue
What stands out to you as you see your answers on this survey?
Dialogue
Where do your ideals for different areas of life come from?
Dialogue
In your life, what makes someone or something truly helpful in getting to your ideal?
Scripture
Matthew 23:1-4 • A Warning Against Hypocrisy 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”
Dialogue
How do you seek help from others while still being discerning and realistic about human imperfection?
Scripture
Isaiah 7:2 • Ahaz is afraid 2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
Scripture
God sends Isaiah with a message. "Be careful." "Keep calm." "Do not be afraid." "Do not lose heart." Isaiah 7:4 • Don’t worry 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.’
Scripture
Isaiah 7:7-9 • What you fear will not happen 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘It will not take place, it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”
Scripture
Isaiah 7:11 • Ask for a sign 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
Scripture
Isaiah 7:12 • I will not ask for a sign 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
Dialogue
Why would someone ask their enemy for help?
Scripture
2 Chronicles 28:20 • Trouble instead of help 20 Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help.
Scripture
Isaiah 7:4 • Don’t worry 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.’
Dialogue
What are some keys to making good decisions while fear feels crushing?
Scripture
Isaiah 7:4 • Don’t worry 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.’
Dialogue
When life is extremely heavy, what do these calls to action mean to you? What is their impact? Isaiah 7:4 • God’s call to us 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood’
Take it deeper
Question 1
Read Matthew 23:1-4.
Question 2
Who has invested in you making you a better person?
Question 3
How do you measure that person’s impact on your life? How do you think they would measure their impact on you?
Question 4
How are you impacted as you see a person live out a principle as opposed to just talking about it?
Question 5
How would you like to refine your actions in order to be a great teacher?
Question 6
How are you challenged, focused, encouraged, and/or confused by this text?
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