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 – June 7, 2026
1. Read Isaiah 42:10-43:7
2. At the outset of this passage the whole world is invited (actually, commanded) to sing to the Lord. Why? What is the song about? What’s the lesson for you here?
3. Who is the servant of the Lord we read of in v.18-25? What do you learn about this servant in this text? What stands out to you about the Lord promising to deliver this servant?
4. In v.1 we come to these very powerful transitional words, “But now.” These words mark a dramatic shift from condemnation to grace. Define grace. How is God’s grace demonstrated in our passage?
5. In his commentary, Ray Ortlund says, “What God will now do is grace. Interestingly, there is nothing the Judeans have to do in advance for this grace to become available to them. They do not have to repent or promise to change their ways. God simply declares that He has ‘redeemed’ them.” How does this view of grace sit with you? Why is this understanding of grace something that some people completely rejoice in, but others find so difficult to get their arms around and accept?
6. The most common charge made against those who uphold the marvelous truth of God’s free grace is that it opens the door to licentious living. This is the charge Paul anticipates as he steps into Romans 6 after expounding on God’s grace from 3:21-5:21. How does Paul answer this charge in Rom.6:1 and following?
7. Read v.4! What is it that lies behind God’s marvelous grace towards you? What is it that tells you with absolute certainty that God loves you? How does v.3, where He says, “I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you,” tie into that?
8. In v.2 the Lord says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” What is God promising here? How does this comfort you?
9. What practical application can you make from this text/sermon?
10. Pray!
Reading of Law: Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Prayer of Confession:
Our gracious Father in heaven, you are the great and awesome God who is over all. Your Law is perfect, reviving the soul. Your testimony is sure, making wise the simple. Your ways are right, rejoicing the heart, and your commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. And yet for as beautiful, helpful, and enriching as your Word is we neglect it and do not let it dwell richly within us. We confess we do not take the time to read it, memorize it, and meditate on it, so that it would dwell in us richly and bear the bountiful fruit it otherwise would. We likewise fail to teach and admonish one another in the things of your Word, and we seldom sing your praises with thankfulness in our hearts, though you have given us so much to sing about and so much to be thankful for. Father, we confess this and ask you to please forgive us. We thank you that Jesus Christ has atoned for our sins and that through faith in Him we stand righteous before you. Please now cause your Word to dwell more richly within us. Please also help us to be a more grateful people, so that the gratitude in our hearts would overflow in songs of praise to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness: Isaiah 43:25
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 39
Q.104. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That I show all honor, love, and faithfulness to my father and mother, and to all in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction, and also bear patiently with their infirmities, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.
[1] Eph. 6:22; Eph. 6:1–6; Col. 3:18, 20–24; Prov. 1:8–9; 4:1; 15:20; 20:20; Ex. 21:17; Gen. 9:24–25. [2] Rom. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:18; Rom. 13:2–7; Matt. 22:21. [3] Eph. 6:4, 9; Col. 3:19, 21; *Prov. 30:17; *Deut. 27:16; *Deut. 32:24; *Prov. 13:24; *1 Tim. 2:1–2; *1 Tim. 5:17; *Heb. 13:17–18.
NT Reading: Romans 3:9-25
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is ban open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it– 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.