A series of Bible Studies on Zoom
Tuesdays 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Link to the sessions
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82890316166?pwd=dUVDc0Y0Z3BjRlh6clF4OTgrcktPQT09
In Advent, the church draws heavily on the writings of the prophet Isaiah. Extracts from his writings are included in each of the Sunday services leading to Christmas.
Christians look back on the prophet and read the story of Jesus into them. But Isaiah was speaking to his own day in a very different and challenging context. In this short series, we will look at three of the Bible passages set for services.
We will ask –
- what it meant when Isaiah wrote the text
- What it means in the Gospel story
- What it means to us today
November 29th 7pm
No more war! - Isaiah 2:1-5
In a remarkable passage, Isaiah talks of crushing swords into ploughshares and pruning hooks. He dreams of a world without war.
In this session we will look at Isaiah’s motivation for writing this alongside ways in which the text has been read both by Jews and Christians.
We will then ask what it means for our contemporary world at war.
December 6th 7pm
A branch growing from the stump of a tree! - Isaiah 11:1-10
This passage is seen as a prophecy of a coming Messiah and a future peaceful reign. It locates the expected leader within the family tree of the King David.
In this session we will try to discern the original context, which is harder to locate than other passages. We will look at the messianic expectation and the Christian tradition that it is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. We will also ask what a continuing messianic hope means for the way of being Christian today.
December 13th
A message for the anxious heart! - Isaiah 35:1-10
This is a very hopeful reading, which foresees a transformed world. The earth itself will be renewed with green in the wilderness and water in the desert. The wild animals will be tame. There will be a road and welcome for returning refugees.
In this session we will look at the original context for Isaiah’s writing and the Jewish and Christian traditions in its interpretation. We will also examine contemporary applications for the teaxt.
The series will draw upon material from ‘Unto us a Child is Born’ by Tyler D Mayfield.
Thumbnail image by Andre Carrotflower -
