Isaiah is a deep well, full of life-giving water that has refreshed God’s people for more than a millennium. At Grace Snellville, we’ve been drawing from Isaiah’s depths since February, and on Sunday we’ll come to drink from its inspiration once more to conclude our spring series on the book.
One of the unifying threads throughout Isaiah is the idea that God rules. But what does God’s sovereignty have to do with us? With the nation in which we live? And in our world?

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: The Reign of the Lord God // Scripture: Isaiah 1, 6, 40, 56, 61

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
Isaiah is a deep well, full of life-giving water that has refreshed God’s people for more than a millennium. This week, we drew inspiration from Isaiah one more time as we concluded our Spring series on the book. One of the unifying threads throughout Isaiah is the idea that the LORD God reigns. But what does God’s sovereign rule have to do with us? With the nation in which we live? And with our world?

God appears to mankind personally – as indicated in most Bibles by LORD and/or GOD in capital letters. He acts out his sovereign will throughout history. At the start of his story, Isaiah encounters the glory of the LORD. Isaiah instantly recognizes him as King – the GOD who is over all and always with his people – before Israel and Judah were conquered and exiled, while they were in exile, and during their return and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Isaiah reminds us how God is sovereign LORD over the nations, overseeing and directing on a broad level. Isaiah then expands our vision of GOD’s sovereignty, as he helps us understand that God is sovereign over the cosmos. He describes the might and power of GOD, and shows him holding the nations and the very universe in his hand! Isaiah then demonstrates the heart of God by presenting him as the humble, suffering servant. Isaiah challenges us to consider how the God over all, reigns personally in our own hearts as a sacrificial, suffering servant. He is not just the God of the nations, and the cosmos, but also the GOD of the poor, downcast and brokenhearted. The LORD God reigns supreme over all!! Because God is LORD, we can rest in his sovereignty over the universe and over the nations. More importantly, we can walk through our lives with the confidence that the LORD God is with us, loves us, and will never leave or forsake us. The LORD God reigns over all! There is no one like Him!

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
God is LORD over all!

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): How does Isaiah describe God? Why is it important to see God as sovereign on every level? Why does it matter if we do or do not recognize God as LORD over everything? What is Isaiah’s conclusion about who God is?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Who holds the “tablets of destiny” in your own life? Why is that important to you personally? How does recognizing God as LORD over the nations, the cosmos, and your personal life impact the way you live out each day?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How is the LORD God overseeing and guiding your everyday experiences? What are some ways you can reflect the sovereignty of God in those places? What is the message of hope you can share with others because God is LORD over all?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise
Take time to identify specific ways that God is LORD of the nations, the cosmos, and your own life. Give each person an opportunity to share. Pray together, thanking God for how he has shown your community that he is sovereign GOD.

Change IN // Group Activity
Have each person indicate one specific area in their life that they will invite GOD to be sovereign over, and one specific area in their life where they have already given God complete sovereignty. Commit to give him the best you are and have.

Change OUT // Life Application Assignment
Where is a specific area that a sense of the sovereignty of GOD is lacking in the community around you? Talk about some specific ways you can invite God into that space. Commit to demonstrate God is LORD over all in that place this week.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.