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 – January 4, 2026
1. Read Isaiah 26:1-27:1
2. Our focus this week was on v.7-18 and the life of faith. In v.7 the life of faith is referred to as the “path of the righteous,” and Isaiah describes it as “level.” What is the best way to translate that, and what does it mean?
3. Isaiah also says the life of faith is a life of waiting. What does this mean? Moreover, Isiah says to the Lord that we wait “in the path of your judgments.” What does he mean by this?
4. In v.9 Isaiah says, “v.9. “For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” What does this mean?
5. What does Isaiah mean in v.10 where he says, “If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the LORD.”
6. In v.12 Isaiah says, “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have done all our works.” What works has God done for you? Be thorough and specific.
7. What is the lesson to learn about the life of faith from v.13 where Isaiah says, “O Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us.”? The response to this is, “But your name alone we bring to remembrance.” What is the lesson there?
8. In v.16 we see the reality of the Lord’s chastening in the life of the believer. What are some lessons we learned about His chastening in this passage?
9. In v.17-18 Isaiah describes for us the reality that in the life of faith we often feel like our efforts aren’t producing the results we hope for. That being said, where do you find encouragement to counter these feelings so as to continue to labor for the Lord and “not grow weary in doing good”?
10. Pray!
Reading of Law: 1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Prayer of Confession:
Our Father in Heaven, blessed be your most holy and glorious name. You are God full of majesty and splendor; a God who is high and lifted up far above all others. In hearing your perfect law we recognize that we are a sinful people who fall immeasurably short of your glory. You call us to fight the good fight of faith, and yet we confess we often fail to do so. We have often buckled under the weight of temptation, giving in to our sinful desires. We have often grumbled in the face of trial, yielding to our feelings rather than to what you say is true about us and our circumstances. We have tolerated thoughts of unbelief rather than confronting and attacking them with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Father, please forgive us. Please also work in us by your Spirit so that we might fight this good fight of faith for the honor of your name and the good of your people. Give to us courage and steadfastness to stand firm in the face of whatever threats we may face, that we may always endure and remain faithful to you. We thank you that you are the faithful One, and that you will complete the work you began in us. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Assurance of Forgiveness: 1 John 4:9-10
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 18
Q. 49. What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension into heaven?
A. First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven. Second, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge, that He as the Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself. Third, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and not things on the earth.
[1] 1 Jn. 2:1; Rom. 8:34. [2] Jn. 14:2; 20:17; Eph. 2:6. [3] Jn. 14:16; Acts 2:33; 2 Cor. 5:5. [4] Col. 3:1; *Jn. 14:3; *Heb. 9:24.
Q. 50. Why is it added: “And sits at the right hand of God”?
A. Because Christ ascended into heaven for this end, that He might there appear as the Head of His Church, by whom the Father governs all things.
[1] Eph. 1:20–23; Col. 1:18. [2] Jn. 5:22; *1 Pet. 3:22; *Ps. 110:1
NT Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-16
But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time– he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.