Crisis ConvertedSample
Theme: God's Suffering Servant
Crisis Converted Then:
Suddenly the prophet returns to the imagery of God’s suffering servant. Whereas the powerful kings of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and every other nation elaborately decorated themselves to be impressive by human standards, Isaiah contends that God’s servant will have nothing of physical presence to attract people to him. Actually, he will be appalling because of the physical abuse he will receive as God's servant.
Crisis Converted Now:
We want our leaders and public figures to look a certain way. We want smiles like Julia Roberts and biceps like Dwayne Johnson. If nothing else, we want them to have a certain imposing presence. We must be very careful of doing the same in our spiritual lives. It is easy to be attracted to a preacher or worship leader because of their charisma, but true servants of God come with humility. They lack self-promotion and detest fame.
Scripture
About this Plan
This study from Isaiah 40-55 explores our identity as people affected by trauma but living in hope. In the exile, God’s nation had to find new life when their old life had been completely overturned and destroyed. Similarly, we now find ourselves trying to “return to normal” in the aftermath of a global pandemic. Yet, God can take any crisis and convert it for his glory and our growth.
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