Pastor James will post his Sermon Study Questions every Tuesday with the previous Sunday’s sermon. Our hope is for these study questions to promote deeper personal study and further edify our church body.
Sermon Study Questions – July 12, 2026
1. Read Isaiah 45:14-25
2. What is the context of this passage? In light of the context, why is it so outrageous for the Lord to say what He says in v.14, that “the wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.'”
3. In v.15 Isaiah says, “Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.” What does he mean by that?
4. The Scriptures are clear that God is omnipresent, and yet we know there are means which He has prescribed for covenantal worship as the means through which He would come to His people in a special way to minister to us, grow us, and bless us. What are those means? Practically speaking, what are some implications that flow out of the reality that the Lord has prescribed these means through which we would encounter Him and He would bless us?
5. Read Ephesians 2:17 and Hebrews 2:11-12. What conclusion are you to draw from these verses? What are the implications to them?
6. What is an idol? What do you learn about idols and idolatry from this passage?
7. In v.20 and 22 we find the free offer of the gospel. What is meant by the free offer of the gospel?
8. In v.25 Isaiah says, “In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.” What does it mean to be justified? Who is Isaiah referring to in saying all the offspring of Israel shall be justified?
9. What are some practical points of application you can make from this text/sermon?
10. Pray!
Reading of Law: James 2:8-9
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Prayer of Confession:
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. For your name is great and greatly to be praised. We come before you this morning confessing our sins to you, and specifically confessing our failure to love our neighbor as ourselves. As you teach us, our neighbor refers to all those whom we come in contact with, even if it be someone who despises us. These we are called to love as ourselves, and we confess that we have failed to do this. We also confess our tendency to show partiality, judging people by unrighteous measures like looks, wealth, status, popularity, and celebrity, and often preferring to associate with them than with the lowly. This reveals the sinfulness of our hearts and shows how different we are from you, for you are not partial to anyone and you judge no one based upon outward appearances, but you look upon the heart. Father, please forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of our unrighteousness. And please continue to work in our hearts that we would be more like our Savior. It is in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness: Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace bin which we stand, and werejoicein hope of the glory of God.
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 44
Q.113. What does the tenth commandment require?
A. That not even the least inclination or thought against any commandment of God ever enter our heart, but that with our whole heart we continually hate all sin and take pleasure in all righteousness.
[1] Rom. 7:7–8; *Prov. 4:23; *Jas. 1:14–15; *Matt. 15:11, 19–20.
Q.114. Can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?
A. No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of such obedience, yet so that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the commandments of God.
[1] 1 Jn. 1:8–10; Rom. 7:14–15; Eccl. 7:20. [2] Rom. 7:22; Jas. 2:10–11; *Job 9:2–3; *Ps. 19:13.
Q.115. Why then does God so strictly enjoin the Ten Commandments upon us, since in this life no one can keep them?
A. First, that as long as we live we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and so the more earnestly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ; second, that without ceasing we diligently ask God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we be renewed more and more after the image of God, until we attain the goal of perfection after this life.
[1] 1 Jn. 1:9; Ps. 32:5. [2] Rom. 7:24–25. [3] 1 Cor. 9:24–25; Phil. 3:12–14; *Matt. 5:6; *Ps. 51:12.
NT Reading: Acts 4:1-12
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead– by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus1 is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”