The City of God
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Come, Let Us Walk in the Light of the Lord
Isaiah 63:15-64:12 (ESV)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
Sermon Outline
Set your heart on the city of God and pursue lasting joy and gladness (vv17-18).
1. What Is Missing
vv19-25 “no more… weeping… cry of distress… infant who lives but a few days… they shall not… plant and another eat… labor in vain or bear children for calamity… wolf… lion… serpent…”
v24 “Before they call I will answer”
2. Who Is Present
v24 “while they are yet speaking I will hear.”
vv18-19 “I create Jerusalem to be a joy… gladness. I will rejoice… be glad in my people”
3. How We Live
v25 “the lion shall eat straw like the ox…”
v18 “be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create”
Prayer of Confession
Our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, we are in great need of your help. We wander this world foolishly seeking to satisfy our pride, greed and lust. When joy is lacking, we envy, resent, and act with spite. We have lived in the world for ourselves. We have not put you first. We admit our disordered loves and disordered life. With hard hearts we have neglected your call, making excuses instead of coming at your invitation. Forgive every offense. Transform our hearts and minds. Fill us with your love so we inhabit and serve our city as faithful citizens of your city. Grant us eternal joy and gladness through Christ. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What do you love about New York City (or where you live)? What do you not like?
Why does the Bible make love for God such a priority? How is putting God first difficult for you?
What in the list of what God will fix do you most long for: no more cries of distress, no early death, no building and others inhabiting, no futile work, no children born to suffer, no predators?
How can the vision of a hopeful future help you in the present?
How is the city of God different from human cities? What does Jesus do and say that indicates the new Jerusalem will be very different?
What can you learn from the picture that the wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox?
How is the pursuit of joy and the pursuit of God intertwined?
What can you change in your life so that there is more joy and gladness in it?
How can sacrificial service be a means to a more satisfying life?
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