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Bible Study: April 27, 2014


NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.

Bible Passages: Isaiah 52:13-53:9; 53:10-12; 1 Peter 2:21-25

Discussion Questions: How is God’s glory revealed through prophecy? What is the significance of the portrait of the coming Savior becoming clearer over time?

Food for Thought:

Isaiah is the most celebrated among all of God’s prophets. He had no match or rival through history. Born in Judah when there were no lines between spiritual counsel and political counsel, Isaiah thrived as a prophet under the rule of four kings. He came from a family of nobility and wealth, and his educated writings were rich with history, poetry, and prophecy.

But the role of prophet wasn’t to act as some religious seer for the king. A prophet was to be God’s voice for each generation, setting the stage for the divine redemption of man. God used prophecy to build bridges between events of the past and events of the future, glorifying God and reinforcing the character of His Word. Fulfilled prophecy got the attention of the people by revealing what no one could possibly know, and it fixed their eyes on the will of God.

Though sometimes far-reaching in time, prophets generally spoke into events that would happen within their generations. Someone in Isaiah’s shoes must have known the great risk of the words of his mouth. Imagine what Isaiah must have thought when he found himself describing in great detail the death of a Savior. Do you think he wondered whether the death would occur that year or 10 years later? Do you think he knew it would be more than 700 years in the future?

No one described prophecy concerning the Messiah more extensively and accurately than Isaiah. It was controversial that the Messiah would come from Galilee instead of Jerusalem, the home of the temple and hierarchy of priests. But Isaiah went on to say that Jesus would be rejected, tortured and put to death with sinners. And all this was predicted 700 years before Jesus was born.

The Gospel Project

The Gospel Project is a Christ-centered curriculum that examines the grand narrative of Scripture and how the Gospel transforms the lives of those it touches. Through a three-year study plan, participants are immersed in the Gospel through stories, theological concepts and calls to missions from Genesis to Revelation. Separate study plans for kids and students/adults ensure the proper focus and depth. The Gospel Project is designed to unify an entire church under a single Christ-centered curriculum. More information, free samples and The Gospel Project blog can be found at gospelproject.com.

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
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    About the Author

  • Staff/Lifeway Christian Resources