Pastor James will post his Sermon Study Questions every Tuesday with the previous Sunday’s sermon. Our hope is for these study questions to promote deeper personal study and further edify our church body.
Sermon Study Questions – April 26, 2026
1. Read Isaiah 38-39
2. As this narrative opens, it does so by telling us that Hezekiah was ill and Isaiah telling him that he was going to die. Hezekiah is understandably devastated by this news. In the sermon we noted two reasons why he was so devastated. What were they?
3. The Lord responds to Hezekiah’s prayer by saying he would add fifteen years to his life and would deliver them from the Assyrians. He then gave him a sign. What is the sign, and what is its significance?
4. Just like we saw in ch.37, prayer makes a difference. Read the following quote from R.C. Sproul and discuss what he means by it and how this helps us to reconcile the mystery that exists in our understanding of the way prayer interacts with God’s sovereignty. “The mind of God does not change for God does not change. Things change, and they change according to His sovereign will, which He exercises through secondary means and secondary activities. The prayer of His people is one of the means He uses to bring things to pass in this world. So if you ask me whether prayer changes things, I answer with an unhesitating “Yes!”
5. In v.9-20 Hezekiah looked back on his affliction and reflected on it. What were his concerns in this section, and what was his expectation as to how he would respond to God’s kindness towards him in healing him?
6. In ch.39 we see the very disappointing way Hezekiah responded to God’s kindness. What did he do, and why did he do this?
7. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man is a snare.” What does that mean? How is it a snare?
8. As noted in the sermon, the events recorded in ch.38-39 took place before the events in ch.36-37 (likely ten years before). Why did Isaiah rearrange the events in Hezekiah’s life to end this major section of his prophecy by showing such a tragic failure by him?
9. What practical application can you make from this text/sermon?
10. Pray!
Reading of Law: Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Prayer of Confession:
Our Father in heaven, you are a wonderful and gracious God. We are so grateful for your grace and kindness towards us in Jesus Christ. Father, in hearing this commandment we confess that it cuts right to the heart of our problem, that we are by nature turned in on ourselves. We far too often put ourselves first, doing things that benefit us without regard for others. We think of ourselves as more significant than others, prioritizing small things in our own lives over big needs in the lives of others. How easy it is for us to worry obsessively about things that affect us, while brushing off the heavy and weighty concerns that others are being crushed by. In all of this we show that our hearts are sinful and self-absorbed. We confess this and we ask for your forgiveness. For you are a God who places enormous significance on each one of us, sparing not your own Son for us, but delivering Him up for us all. We pray that you would help us to place upon others this same significance you place upon us, for the glory of your name. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness: Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned– every one– to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 33 (part 2)
Q.92. What is the law of God?
A. “And God spoke all these words, saying: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”
“You shall not murder.”
“You shall not commit adultery.”
“You shall not steal.”
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”1
[1] Ex. 20; Deut. 5; *Matt. 5:17–19; *Rom. 10:5; *Rom. 3:31; *Ps. 119:9.
NT Reading: Luke 18:35-43
As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.