The pulpit ministry of Christ Church PCA in Katy, TX (Houston) 970125

Jesus has ushered in a new era of redemption, forgiveness, and freedom. In chapter 61, Isaiah prophesies about this as the year of the Lord's favor. He calls upon us to believe the message of the Messiah and to rejoice in it.

For us to receive salvation, we must first realize how helpless we are because our sin has offended a holy God. Once we realize that, we will cry out to God in repentance. God hears our cry and he sends the Warrior Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, to work salvation for us. This is “The Lord's Solution for Evil.” (Isaiah 59:1-21).

God calls us in His word to delight in Him and to seek Him alone. Isaiah reminds us of the danger of false, performative religion. We are always to choose God over our own desires and instead be “Delighting in the Lord” (Isaiah 58:1-14).

We see the “the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy” (57:15). It is a prophecy that contrasts those who dwell with God, and those who are children of idolaters. God's message through the prophet challenges us to see the horror of idolatry, but also the peace that belongs to all God's children. For the wicked, there is no peace, but for those who repent and follow Christ, there is everlasting peace!

Now Isaiah starts to describe what that will look like: foreigners and eunuchs will come into the presence of the Lord and will have an everlasting name. What a blessing that we can hear about the God who gathers to Himself the outcasts! This is God's “Salvation for the World” (Isaiah 56:1-8).

The Lord issues a call to come to Him. It is a call that is compassionate, compelling, and confident.

We begin to see the beauty of the Lord's work of redemption. Where once we had strife and grief, now we have “The Lord's Peace” (Isaiah 54:1-17).

Isaiah brings us the third of the Servant Songs in chapter 50, in which he contrasts the people of God who will not listen with the Servant, who is awakened daily to listen and learn. He then tells us that the only way to find comfort is to listen to the Lord. We are called to “Hear the Servant” (Isaiah 50:1-51:23)

In one of the greatest passages of the Old Testament, Isaiah sets forth for us the Lord Jesus Christ as the Servant who suffered in our place. (Isaiah 52-53)

God does not give up on His people, but instead He redeems them from their sin and misery. He does this through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “The Restorer of Israel”

It is beneficial for us as we live in this world to never confuse the City of Man with the City of God. Isaiah helps us to see this with “The Ruin of Those Who Reject God.”

It is beneficial for us as we live in this world to never confuse the City of Man with the City of God. Isaiah helps us to see this with “The Ruin of Those Who Reject God.”

Isaiah speaks for the only true and living God when he writes, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” This is strikingly familiar to what Jesus tells us about Himself in Revelation chapter 1. The prophet wants us to know that there is “No God but God.”

Isaiah speaks for the only true and living God when he writes, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” This is strikingly familiar to what Jesus tells us about Himself in Revelation chapter 1. The prophet wants us to know that there is “No God but God.”

We can “fear not” because the Lord has redeemed us and is with us through the trials of life. Isaiah tells you to put your trust in “The Lord Our Savior”

We can “fear not” because the Lord has redeemed us and is with us through the trials of life. Isaiah tells you to put your trust in “The Lord Our Savior”

Mysterious wise men from the east come to worship Christ.

Isaiah turns to tell us of the Lord's Chosen Servant, who has been sent to bring salvation and peace. In the first of four “Servant Songs” Isaiah introduces us to God's Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. He gentle, patient, powerful, and brings God's people to praise the Lord. Listen to Isaiah when he brings God's message, “Behold My Servant!” (Isaiah 42:1-25)

Why is the Psalmist glad to go to God's house? There he finds the unity, rule, and peace of the church.

Jesus is born and given the name Jesus, because he will be the savior of God's people.

The Psalmist calls to God for help because he is surrounded by lies and violence.

Matthew opens his gospel with the genealogy of Christ, going all the way back to Abraham.

God is sovereign over all creation and He has set His covenant love on His people. Because of that, we can hear God's call to “Fear Not” (Isaiah 41:1-29).

At just the right time, the Bible tells us, Jesus came into the world, sent by the Father to redeem for Himself a people. When we think of Christmas, we cannot forget the cross. For it is because of the cross that Jesus was born a man, born under the law.

One of the hardest things about life is the feeling that God has forgotten us when we are in the midst of suffering. Is the Lord too busy to regard our situation? Or is it that He just doesn't care? Isaiah continues to press his point that the Lord is not only all powerful, but He is all wise and all caring

One of the hardest things about life is the feeling that God has forgotten us when we are in the midst of suffering. Is the Lord too busy to regard our situation? Or is it that He just doesn't care? Isaiah continues to press his point that the Lord is not only all powerful, but He is all wise and all caring

The conclusion to Ruth includes a redemption, a marriage and a baby, and a genealogy revealing God's redemptive plan.

There is no one like the Lord; no one can compare to Him. The Lord needs no counsel or advice. The nations are nothing before Him. When we realize how great the Lord is, all of our problems and difficulties are put into perspective. We are called to look to “The God of All Comfort: God the Creator” (Isaiah 40:12-26).

How will God deliver Samaria from a terrible siege?

How will God deliver Samaria from a terrible siege?

Boaz proves himself to be a worthy man of great trust in the Lord.

Boaz proves himself to be a worthy man of great trust in the Lord.

Our hope is in the Lord, who is ever faithful and true, ever able and mighty, ever tender and gracious. This is a word that we all need to hear. Life is hard, and we are all too aware of our sins and shortcomings. We need to hear that there is “The God of All Comfort: God the Redeemer” (Isaiah 40:1-11).

See God's amazing providence in bringing together Ruth and Boaz for the first time.

Our hope is in the Lord, who is ever faithful and true, ever able and mighty, ever tender and gracious. This is a word that we all need to hear. Life is hard, and we are all too aware of our sins and shortcomings. We need to hear that there is “The God of All Comfort: God the Redeemer” (Isaiah 40:1-11).

See God's amazing providence in bringing together Ruth and Boaz for the first time.

This chapter introduces the major characters, and especially Ruth, who puts her faith in the God of Israel

Sometimes we think that the Lord will rescue us because of our great faith. However, the Bible is clear in explaining that while we must trust the Lord and have faith, our faith is weak and unworthy of merit. At the best of times, we fumble and fail.

This chapter introduces the major characters, and especially Ruth, who puts her faith in the God of Israel