Wednesday night I began a series at Highland on the theme of “re-imagination” from Isaiah 56-66.
Many have noticed that there seem to be three chunks of Isaiah: chapters 1-39, which warn the Jews to repent or face judgment; chapters 40-55, which offer hope to those in exile; and chapters 56-66, which try to imagine (again) a way to live after the exile.
Last Wednesday - Re-Imagining God
June 14 - Re-Imagining Salvation
June 21 - Re-Imagining Life
June 28 - Re-Imagining Justice (led by Dr. John Willis)
July 5 - Re-Imagining Hope
July 12 - Re-Imagining the Gospel
Haven’t all of us been there at one time or another — after failure, fractured relationship, illness, or death? A time when we have to re-imagine our lives in light of what we’ve learned?
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.(Is. 60:1-3)
For me, re-imagination offers an opportunity to rescue concepts like salvation, the gospel, and justice from slow death at the hands of bumper-sticker theology, tips and hints bible studies, and silly, five-step solutions to problems that are older than recorded history. Isaiah casts a vision that blows apart all of the fences and walls that I use to reduce the gospel to something less than itself, and invites me to see how our world is, how it could be - and how it will be.
I wish our cultural fascination with the “end times” were more consistent with Isaiah’s vision, rather than a lets-get-out-of-here-so-the-world-can-go-to-hell mentality.
I’m really looking forward to this series.
Thanks Mike.
Sometimes I can’t imagine the resurected Christ living in me.
But other times, I see what the Lord has done and is doing…and I love it!
Are you going to sing “I can only re-imagine?”
Mike - I’m currently in re-imagine mode. I know exactly what you mean.
Mike -
I just switched from teaching Sunday morning 4-year olds to Wednesday nights…but I’m really interested in your series on Isaiah. Are you going to post the lessons as podcasts?
Thanks!
Mike,
I’m a former ACU student and I’ve recently discovered your blog and your podcast. I’d love to see this series show up on the podcast.
Google is the best search engine