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 – September 20, 2026
1. Read Isaiah 51:9-52:12
2. Our passage moves through a series of four double imperatives, “Awake, awake,” and “Depart, depart.” The first call to awake is an expression of lament by Judah. What is a lament? What is Judah lamenting about to the Lord?
3. In response to their lament, the Lord points them to the promise (v.11) and to Himself (v.12, “I, I am He”). What promise does He point to, and what about Himself does He point to? What is it that you learn from this?
4. Beginning in v.17 the Lord turns the tables on Judah, telling them to “Wake yourself, wake yourself.” What three things does He want them to wake up to? Why do they need to wake up to these things?
5. In v.22-23 the Lord points to His grace in their lives by speaking of Himself as “the One who pleads the cause of His people.” (Or, the One who contends for His people”). What does He point to in the text as evidence of Him contending for us? What does this refer to?
6. V.1 of ch.52 begins with the third call to awake, as the Lord says to them, “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city.” What is the Lord calling His people to here?
7. There are three things the Lord says are true of you as a result of His grace in your life. He says you are clean (v.1). What does this mean? What is it that makes you clean? What does it mean to now live in accordance with that?
8. He also says to live as those who are free (v.2). What are you free from? What does, and doesn’t it mean, to live as those who are free?
9. The final double imperative comes in v.11, “Depart, depart.” What is He calling us to depart from, and how do you apply this?
10. Pray!
Reading of Law: 1 Peter 1:14-16
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Prayer of Confession:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. You are the thrice holy God who is veiled in unapproachable light. There is no darkness, deceit, or impurity in you, but only pure and perfect holiness. As your people you call us to be holy just as you are holy, and yet there is so much that is unholy about us. We are unholy in our words, not setting apart our words for the honor of your name. We are unholy in our thoughts, allowing and entertaining thoughts that are abhorrent to you. We are unholy in our ways, as our lives are daily corrupted by sin. In every way and in every part of our being we are sinful and unholy. We confess this and ask you to forgive us. We thank you that through faith in Jesus Christ we are made righteous in your sight, so that even though our sins are like scarlet, we are made white as snow in our Savior. We pray that you would grow us in holiness, so that in word, thought, and deed we would live in a way that reflects the wonderful truth that we believe in, and follow, a holy and righteous God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness: Psalm 86:4-5
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 4. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
John 4:24; Job 11:7-9; Ps. 90:2; Jas. 1:17; Ex. 3:14; Ps. 147:5; Rev. 4:8; 15:4; Ex. 34:6-7.
Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.
Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
NT Reading: Romans 10:4-15
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”