In this sermon, pastor Harry Fujiwara (of First Baptist Church, NYC) reminds us that, when we find ourselves in a crisis, and life seems to be caving in, our cries will be met with God’s comfort. Ultimately, as we look to the savior, Jesus Christ, we will find our greatest comfort and our only hope […]
When Israel had given into the “sleep” of despair, doubt, and hopelessness, God brought them a word of comfort, calling them to wake up from their slumber to the reality of his reign. In this passage, pastor Keith gives us the remedy for our own sleep of remorse, self-doubt, and despair. and calls us wake […]
For this Lord’s Day, we were pleased to have Joe and Sierah Pliska with us from Landmark Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. The Pliskas are preparing to serve as missionaries in Japan and Joe was able to share their plans for gospel ministry with our congregation and preach on the next passage in our Isaiah […]
For this Lord’s Day gathering, we spent time lamenting the sudden and tragic death of one of the precious children in our congregation, Orlando Vargas Jr., who died the day before his sixth birthday. We took time to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) because “if one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians […]
In the four “servant songs” Isaiah is painting a picture of who Jesus is, what characterized his life, and what he came to do as God’s servant. In the first song, the servant is the Spirit-filled ruler who brings justice to the nations. In the second song, he is the prophet who restores Israel and […]
Isaiah 49 begins with a portrait of the faithful servant of the Lord who would bring Israel back to God and be a light to the nations. Verses 1-13 describe the redemption that would take place soon (in Israel’s return from exile), eventually (by the work of Christ), and ultimately (in the new creation). But […]
Last week, we began the next section of Isaiah 40-66. In chs. 49-55, the focus is on the servant of the Lord, who would be for Israel and for the world what Israel failed to be. He would be the one chosen by Yahweh to bring faithless Israel back to their God, ending the separation […]
So far, in Isaiah 40, we’ve been hearing the word of comfort God speaks to his defeated, faithless, and soon-to-be exiled people. In vv. 1-2, we found that God’s comfort was promised. In vv. 3-5, we learned that his comfort was coming, and in vv. 6-8 that it was guaranteed. Now, in vv. 9-11, we’ll […]
Though God’s people had failed to keep the covenant and would one day find themselves living as exiles in Babylon, God had not forgotten his promises. He remained faithful to the covenant, and in his wrath remembered mercy. Isaiah 40 is the word of comfort that God speaks to his defeated, and faithless people. And […]
