Encountering God's Holiness

 

Study Guide for Week of February 6, 2021 

This Week's Scripture:  Isaiah 6:1-13

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: Do It Again  (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                   

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• How do you think you would respond if jesus appeared to you?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This study examines the calling of Isaiah by God. He was living in a time of transition. King Uzziah who had been king for 52 years had died. They had lived in a time of properity and saftey while the King was alive. All of that was changing and everything was in transition and uncertain. It is that season of change that Jesus reveals himself to Isaiah.

As you go through the study note carefully the progression. Isaiah has an encounter with Jesus (John 12:41 make clear this vision is of Jesus). Isaiah sees the absolute hoilness and purity of Jesus. he then flls down and says woe is me - he sees his own sinfulness and unworthiness. Next he is forgiven and cleansed. next God asks who will go and be His messenger to others. Isaiah answers the call and says here I am send me. 

To read the background of King Uzziah you can read 2 Chronicles chapter 26. 

Subject: Revelation
Theme: Life Change  
Proposition: Seek an Encounter with God

We look at 3 missing ingredients in our lives  

1. Missing Ingredient One: Thirst or hunger for more of Jesus – verse 1  

2. Missing Ingredient Two: Seeing and Experiencing the Lord in His Holiness verse 2-4

3. Missing Ingredient Three: Seeing Ourselves – verse 5-8

I. Verse Outline: Key Points to Discuss

1. Missing Ingredient 1: Thirst or hunger for more of Jesus – verse 1 

• Key Concept: Nothing changes in our lives or the lives of others until the heart changes and we desire more of Jesus. 

• Key Verse: Isaiah 55:1-3 Come, all you who are thirsty, 

      come to the waters... 2. Why spend money on what is not bread, 

      and your labor on what does not satisfy?... 3. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.   

• Community Group Application: The place to begin in reaching people is to pray that their hearts become dry and they become thirsty for God.   

 

2. Missing Ingredient 2: Seeing and Experiencing the Lord in His Holiness verse 2-

• Key Concept: Each person’s greatest need is to have a life changing encounter with the risen Jesus   

• Key Verse: Revelation 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.  

• Community Group Application: We get tastes of Jesus presence in worship, prayer and other times but when we encounter the living risen Jesus we will fall at his feet because He is absolutely Holy.

 

3. Missing Ingredient 3: Missing Ingredient Three: Seeing Ourselves – verse 5-8

• Key Concept: Your encounter with God and your forgiveness is for the sake of others   

• Key Verse: 1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.  

• Community Group Application: God’s goal with every follower of Jesus is that they get to the place of surrender and say ‘here I am, send me.’

 

J. Word: Read the scriptures above. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.