Monday, February 18, 2008

Isaiah 53

Last week Kevin challenged us to learn Isaiah 53. So we are breaking it into sections and are currently working on v.1-3. Here is the NIV version from biblegateway.org

Isaiah 53

1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes [c] his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Romans 12 : A prefix

Hey guys. This week we will be Romans Chapter 12 as the back drop. However, we will be three brothers short. Mike Smith will be showing his wife that he does have some sentiments. Ryan Sinks will be closing a financial bargain and Don Wildfang will be on a mini mission to Hawaii. No, he won't be converting, but rather a bit if spiritual reconditioning.

With that in mind I and knowing that we will talk about what's on our hearts, I would press upon you to read Romans 12 this week. Romans 12 was one of the many parts of scripture used to support the teaching that Craig Smith gave us this Saturday in Mosaic.

It's not enough to just read Romans 12. I am going to start challenging myself and you all to not only read Scripture, but to find exact passages of scripture that support the ideas that form when you read and are inspired by scripture.

I pray for blessings upon you all and your families.