9/27 - The Galactic God Who Invites Us Into His Glorious Plan

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September 27, 2015

This Week: The Galactic God Who Invites Us Into His Glorious Plan

The Lord asked Isaiah a simple question—“Whom shall I send?” He is still asking that question today. In this lesson we look not only at the question, “Whom shall I send,” but even more importantly, we will try to grasp the magnificence of the God who is asking us to join Him in His work of saving a people for Himself.

This Week's Resources:

This Week’s Take Home TruthChristians are not at their leisure. Rather, we are under the mandate of the grace of God—grace that found us, restored us, redeemed us, breathed life back into our dormant lungs, and brought us back from the grave for a purpose. And that purpose is that we would, with everything in us, become an amplifier of the beauty of Jesus among all the peoples on this planet. This mission is crystal clear.Introduction

  • If you were given the opportunity to spend one month in any place in the world, where would you choose? Why?
  • Explain a time when you had to get an urgent message to someone, and you didn’t have access to a phone. How did you communicate the message? Explain the situation.
  • If you had to communicate an urgent message, and you couldn’t do it yourself, who would you turn to? Why?

Read the Text (Isaiah 6:1-8)

As we begin this study on finishing the mission let’s focus on the God who is inviting us into it. Isaiah 6 seems to say it all. When you have a vision, as Isaiah had, about who God is, that’s all you really need. If you see what Isaiah saw, that should do it. There doesn’t need to be any application at the end of a pure vision of the glory of God. When you get a vision of who God is, of his magnificence and splendor, you don’t need somebody to come along and give you three steps to take. When we have a true vision, even a fleeting glimpse of the glory of God, it absolutely wrecks us but in a good way. The Spirit of God then leads us through a process of reclaiming the wreckage and putting us back together again and on a new track, the track of his glorious plan. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.

Digging Deeper

  • As you read Isaiah 6:1-8, describe in your own words what Isaiah saw and how it impacted him. Circle words that seem most descriptive.
  • Why do you think in the midst of this incredible vision of God’s majesty and glory, the Lord would ask Isaiah a simple question: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (v. 8a).
  • A common response when we are challenged by a question is “Who’s Asking?” We want clarification. If it’s someone important, we will respond one way; if it’s someone we don’t deem as important, we might respond another way. In this next section, we will try to put some color to the simple response, “Who’s Asking?”

Illustration #1: Do a Google search on “Hubble” and “ten thousand galaxies” before your Lighthouse meeting. What do you see? As you read a couple of the articles on this topic, what facts can you note? Be prepared to talk about this with your group.

  • Read Psalm 33:6 and Psalm 33:9. What does this tell us about God?

Illustration #2: Do a Google search on “Hubble” and “Sombrero Galaxy.” Again, makes some notes about this particular galaxy for your group discussion.

  • Why do you think the universe is so big? Read Psalm 148 and make some notes to answer this question.

Why me? God didn’t ask mankind to help Him create the universe, but He did ask us to join him in the miraculous process of redemption. Prophets proclaimed the way. A baby needed a parent. Even soldiers, in God’s time, carried out the execution. Certainly, Jesus was born to die alone—because he was sinless and the only one who could die for our sins. None of us could be a part of that. But in his resurrection, he said partnership is still very much alive, and we are to be those proclaiming life and grace and the possibility of peace with God to all the people on the planet. I’m choosing you, he says, to help finish the job in the strength I supply.

  • Read Matthew 28:18-20. This is known as “The Great Commission.” It was given by Jesus to His disciples shortly before He ascended into Heaven. What is significant about “The Great Commission?” Make a few notes that jump out at you as you read these words.
  • At the conclusion of The Great Commission Jesus tells us “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” You may not feel like Jesus is very close to you. How can you be close to Jesus?

Concluding Thoughts

  • As you read the Scriptures and study God’s Word this week, what do you hear God saying to you?
  • Only a small percentage (roughly 2 percent) of us are called to leave our homes and go to a foreign land to bring the gospel message. For the remaining 98 percent of us, we have a critical role to play. Over the next month of this study, ask the Lord to reveal to you what your role is in His mission. If the Lord is revealing some thoughts to you right now, take a minute to jot them down and pray over these thoughts this coming month.

Lighthouse Calendar

  • Sept. 20 - Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
  • Sept. 20 - Launch Week
  • Sept. 27 - GO Month Study: “The Galactic God Who Invites Us Into His Glorious Plan”
  • Oct. 4 - GO Month Study: “The Glory of God, the Lostness of Man, and the Gospel of Christ”
  • Oct. 11 - GO Month Study: “Christ, Courage, and Finishing the Mission”
  • Oct. 18 — Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
  • Oct. 18 - GO Month Study: “From Every Land to Every Land: The Lord’s Purpose and Provision in the Lord’s Prayer”
  • Oct. 25 - International Dinner
  • Nov. 1 - “Paul’s Postcard to Philemon”
  • Nov. 8 — Church-wide Fireside Chat, 5:00 p.m.
  • Nov. 15 — Lighthouse Leader Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
  • Nov. 15 — “Truth Walkers #1” (2 John)
  • Nov. 22 — Autumn Night of Worship/Thanksgiving
  • Nov. 29 — “Contending for the Faith” (Jude)
  • Dec. 6 — To Fulfill: Christmas Scene 1
  • Dec. 13 — To Fulfill: Christmas Scene 2
  • Dec. 20 — Begin Christmas Break
  • Dec. 27 — Christmas Break
  • Jan. 3 — Christmas Break
  • Jan. 10 — Lighthouse Spring Semester Begins

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