Message Title: GO: Everybody
WEEK 1: GO Series
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 (esp. verse 8)
Bottom Line: Who goes?
Small Group Check in:
How is it with your soul?
Prayer Request? Praises?
Ice Breaker:
Have you ever been on a mission trip? If so, where?
Do you have a favorite place that you like to volunteer at? If so, where and why?
Overview:
We (Everybody) belong to Christ, and we are here on Earth to advance his Kingdom.
A few are called to be a Moses, a Paul, a Priscilla, or a Tabitha; all are called to be part of a movement. A few are called to change the world; all are called to change someone's world. A few are named in the pages of history; all are part of God's story.
God met Isaiah at his point of need, but God also expanded Isaiah's awareness of need. We may not have Isaiah's visionary experience, but God meets us at the point of our need, too, and God invites us to serve divine purpose, also.
There is an inner revolution that needs to take place to help us realize that God is NOT part of our life. We are a part of God's life. God is NOT a part of our story. We are part of God's story. We need to move beyond caring about ourselves to caring about others.
Important Quotes from Pastor Sean:
"We look for affirmation when we should be looking for transformation."
"God likes to use broken things to make beauty!"
"Inward grace necessarily leads to outward growth."
"An authentic encounter with God brings about real change for ourselves and for others in need. He expands our "bubble" so we can reach and help others."
Discussion Questions:
The death of King Uzziah led to disruptions and destabilizing events. The irony of this was that In the same year as the King's death, Isaiah had his visionary experience. Why do you think disruptive, unsettling events drive us to see God more eagerly?
Read Isaiah 6:1-8. What do you think Isaiah was thinking and feeling at that time? How would you have reacted?
The only presence of God that Isaiah saw was the bottom of His long robe. Why is the robe so significant? What does it symbolize? (Think royalty)
Isaiah felt broken by his sin. What sins are competing with hearing God's voice in your life right now?
Verse 8 leaves us with a happy, heroic ending. The next verses paint the seriousness and the difficulty of Isaiah's. The man who said "Here I am, send me" next asked God a question: "How long is this going to take?" Isaiah found his purpose, but his task would not be easy. God has a purpose for each of you.....are you up for the challenge? What will your response be?
God calls us whether we like it, want it or not - in our weakness (unclean lips) God gives us strength. What is keeping you (or your church) from answering God's call? How is God helping you overcome that obstacle?
God chooses to offer healing, purification and forgiveness not directly but through a messenger (In this passage, it was Seraph). How might we be God's messenger?
What can we learn from Isaiah's story?
Break into partners, discuss what you have learned from Isaiah's story. How will you choose to respond to God's call? End the session by praying together.