Do Not Be Afraid, I Am With You – Bryan Lee
This week, Pastor Bryan brings us a special message titled 'Do Not Fear, I Am With You' based on Isaiah 41:5-10.
When you are afraid, know that you belong to God, and he is with you
1. You don't belong to the world
2. You belong to God
ICEBREAKER: What do you fear?
1. In Isaiah 41:1, the LORD summoned the Gentile nations to court to give an account to Him. What does this indicate about God’s relationship to those who do not trust Him [cf. Psalm 47:1-9; Isaiah 34:1-3; and Daniel 4:34-35]?
2. What does it say about the LORD when He can use a pagan Gentile king – in this case, King Cyrus of Persia [Isaiah 41:2-3] – to accomplish His purposes [cf. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; and Isaiah 44:28-45:6]?
3. What unique attributes does the LORD ascribe to Himself in Isaiah 41:4? What difference do these make [Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:8; and Revelation 22:13]?
4. Rather than trusting in the LORD, what did the unbelieving nations surrounding God’s people turn to [Isaiah 41:5-7]? Why was this foolish and vain [cf. Exodus 20:3-6; Isaiah 40:18-20; and Isaiah 44:9-20]?
5. Who are named in Isaiah 41:8-9? Why would remembering the patriarchs of the nation be of encouragement for God’s people during challenging times [cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:15-18; and Genesis 28:10-17]?
6. According to Isaiah 41:10-13, what is the basis for God’s people to take courage and not be afraid? How does this help you during life’s difficulties [cf. Joshua 1:9; Psalm 118:5-14; and Romans 8:31-39]?
7. What did you find helpful or challenging about this Sunday’s message?
“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.”
John Newton
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Jan 29, 2023Do Not Be Afraid, I Am With You – Bryan LeeDo Not Be Afraid, I Am With You – Bryan LeeThis week, Pastor Bryan brings us a special message titled 'Do Not Fear, I Am With You' based on Isaiah 41:5-10.
When you are afraid, know that you belong to God, and he is with you
1. You don't belong to the world
2. You belong to God
ICEBREAKER: What do you fear?
1. In Isaiah 41:1, the LORD summoned the Gentile nations to court to give an account to Him. What does this indicate about God’s relationship to those who do not trust Him [cf. Psalm 47:1-9; Isaiah 34:1-3; and Daniel 4:34-35]?
2. What does it say about the LORD when He can use a pagan Gentile king – in this case, King Cyrus of Persia [Isaiah 41:2-3] – to accomplish His purposes [cf. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; and Isaiah 44:28-45:6]?
3. What unique attributes does the LORD ascribe to Himself in Isaiah 41:4? What difference do these make [Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:8; and Revelation 22:13]?
4. Rather than trusting in the LORD, what did the unbelieving nations surrounding God’s people turn to [Isaiah 41:5-7]? Why was this foolish and vain [cf. Exodus 20:3-6; Isaiah 40:18-20; and Isaiah 44:9-20]?
5. Who are named in Isaiah 41:8-9? Why would remembering the patriarchs of the nation be of encouragement for God’s people during challenging times [cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:15-18; and Genesis 28:10-17]?
6. According to Isaiah 41:10-13, what is the basis for God’s people to take courage and not be afraid? How does this help you during life’s difficulties [cf. Joshua 1:9; Psalm 118:5-14; and Romans 8:31-39]?
7. What did you find helpful or challenging about this Sunday’s message?
“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.”
John Newton - Jan 1, 2023Renewed Day by Day – Bryan LeeRenewed Day by Day – Bryan LeeOn this Vision Sunday, Pastor Bryan sets the tone for the new year with a messaged titled 'Renewed Day by Day' based on 2 Cor. 4:16-17.
Main Point:Don’t be discouraged, God is renewing you today for a glorious tomorrow
1. You are ________ renewed today
Though our outer body and world decays, God is working in us powerfully now. He isn’t done with us.
2. You will be ________ renewed tomorrow
There is a purpose behind our suffering as it prepares us for the final day of glory when we and the world will be renewed completely.ICEBREAKER: What are some New Year’s resolutions you have not kept in the past that you may revive this year?
1. What was the Apostle Paul’s response to the hardships of Christian ministry [2 Corinthians 4:1-2]? How does his reaction inspire you to courageously face our current culture’s opposition to the gospel [cf. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Galatians 6:9-10; and Ephesians 3:13]?2. What is one major reason unbelievers find the gospel unbelievable [2 Corinthians 4:3-4]? What hope is there for anyone to be saved [cf. Matthew 13:18-23; Acts 26:15-18; and 2 Corinthians 4:5-6]?
3. What mindset best suits a Christian servant for effective ministry according to 2 Corinthians 4:7? Also consult 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; and 2 Timothy 2:20-21 for more insights.
4. Was Paul’s experience described in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 to be expected, or was it unusual? According to his own words, how was he able to endure [cf. John 15:18-25; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; and 2 Timothy 3:10-13]?
5. How did Paul’s faith help him cope with the challenges he faced in his Christian walk and ministry [2 Corinthians 4:13-15]? Also consider Psalm 116:10; Philippians 1:19-26; and 2 Timothy 1:12 for fresh encouragement.
6. Despite the reality of your physical body “wasting away”, how are you planning to renew your “inner self” in the coming new year [2 Corinthians 4:16-18]? Also examine Isaiah 40:28-31; Romans 12:1-2; and Ephesians 3:14-19 for helpful ideas.
7. What did you find helpful or challenging about this Sunday’s message?
“It is good to renew ourselves, from time to time, by closely examining the state of our souls, as if we had never done it before; for nothing tends more to the full assurance of faith, than to keep ourselves by this means in humility, and the exercise of all good works.”
John Wesley - Dec 25, 2022The Gift of Grace – Bryan LeeThe Gift of Grace – Bryan LeeOn this Christmas Sunday, Pastor Bryan Lee concludes the series "Christmas: The Season of Grace" with a message titled "The Gift of Grace" from Luke 2:14.Receive the gift of God's grace, because it's for the undeserving.
1. God ________ grace to the undeserving
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth"
2. God is ________ in the undeserving
"peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
ICEBREAKER: What is one of your favourite Christmas memories?
1. Joseph is remarkable. Many details of his story were beyond his control, such as being uprooted due to Caesar’s decree, having a lowly status despite Davidic lineage, and caring for his supernaturally pregnant betrothed. Yet, he faithfully fulfilled his calling [Luke 2:4-5]. How do you account for his extraordinary character [cf. Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15; and 2:19-23]?
2. Every detail in the birth story of Jesus reeks of abject poverty [Luke 2:4-7]. Why did God the Father arrange for His Son to enter into the human race in such a humble fashion [cf. Isaiah 53:2-4; 2 Corinthians 8:9; and Philippians 2:5-8]?
3. Shepherds appear frequently throughout the Bible, and many of the great Old Testament saints tended flocks [cf. Abraham – Genesis 13:5-7; Jacob – Genesis 30:43; Moses – Exodus 3:1; and David – 1 Samuel 16:11]. Why do you think shepherds play such a significant role in the biblical story [cf. Genesis 48:15-16; 2 Samuel 5:1-2; Psalm 23:1; and Micah 5:2-5a]?
4. Why is fear such a common reaction when God’s glory bursts onto the stage of human history [Luke 2:9-10]? What does it say about God? What does it say about us [cf. Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 28:5-10; and Mark 9:2-8]?
5. The angel’s message to the shepherds made at least six astonishing claims concerning the Baby lying in a Bethlehem manger [Luke 2:11]. What were these claims, and why were they crucial to our understanding of Jesus identity [cf. Matthew 16:16; John 20:28; and Hebrews 1:1-4]?
6. Angels play prominent roles in Jesus’ story [Luke 23:9-14]. What do you infer from their appearances and activities that encourages you today [cf. Acts 12:7-11; Hebrews 1:14; and Revelation 5:11-14]?
7. What did you find helpful or challenging about this Sunday’s message?
“So, God throws open the door of this world—and enters as a baby. As the most vulnerable imaginable. Because He wants unimaginable intimacy with you. What religion ever had a god that wanted such intimacy with us that He came with such vulnerability to us? What God ever came so tender we could touch Him? So fragile that we could break Him? So vulnerable that His bare, beating heart could be hurt? Only the One who loves you to death.”Ann Voskamp
