Preparing for Sunday - Isaiah 52:13-53:12

June 20, 2013 by Bret Capranica Preparing for Sunday

Read Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12
Make a list of everything you learn about what God, the Father does or is like.
Make a list of everything you learn about God's "servant." What does he do and why? What is he like?
Who is speaking in 52:13-15? Who is speaking in 53:1-12?
How do the speakers of 53:1-12 feel about what the servant of God did and went through? Why do they feel this way?
How many in the world are impacted by what the servant does? Where do you see this specifically in the text?

Think of and write down as many different ways you can, as to how Jesus (as revealed in the New Testament) fits the description of the "servant" of God in this text.
In what ways should our perspective in looking back on the work of the "servant" feel like those who are speaking about it in 53:1-12? Why do we not have these responses? How could we cultivate these sorts of responses?
How often do you specifically meditate on the work of Christ on the cross and the implications of that work and its practical effects on your daily life? How could you develop a habit of carefully considering Christ's sacrifice and its effects on us?
What are specific ways we could/should respond to this passage as a congregation? What would it look like? How would we express it together? How could you contribute to this response personally?
Are you looking to anything other than what the servant did to forgive, atone for, or relieve your sin (any activities, good deeds, habits, relationships, etc.)?

How will you use this passage to prepare your heart to join with the church in taking the Lord's Table this Sunday?
What specific sins are you aware of this week that you need to think in a refreshed way about what Christ has done on the cross for those sins?
How can this passage assist you in cultivating a heart of Matthew 5:4 (Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted)?
Pray for those attending this Sunday who do not know Christ. Pray their hearts will be awakened to who Jesus is and what he has done to redeem them from their sin.
Pray for believers attending this Sunday to be impacted to prioritize Christ more supremely in their lives because of what Christ has done on the cross.
Pray for those leading the service to help our focus to be centered on God and the cross: Dawson Bryant, music; Brett Harris, Scripture Reading and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching.
Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing on Sunday and prepare yourself to sing them fervently and from the heart with the church.