1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” 4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” 8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” ISAIAH 6:1-7 NLT

God is inviting me to know him

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 CHRONICLES 16:9 NLT

– God is terrifying

…For our God is a consuming fire. HEBREWS 12:29 ESV

– God is forgiving

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. PSALM 103:8 NLT

God is inviting me to join him

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me… JOHN 10:27 NLT

– Through service

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace… 1 PETER 4:10 ESV

– Through worship

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe… HEBREWS 12:28 NLT

At Sandals Church, we worship God when we…

– Sing together

I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me. PSALM 13:6 NLT

– Listen to the preaching of God’s word

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season… 2 TIMOTHY 4:2 NIV

– Give an offering

Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. 1 CHRONICLES 16:29 NLT

– Have real discussion and reflection

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” ISAIAH 6:9-10 NLT

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. When was there a time in your life where a friend invited you on an adventure that you never would have attempted alone and what happened as a result?
2. Read Isaiah Isaiah 6:1-8. Have you ever had an encounter with God that is anything like this? If not, how do you think you would have reacted if you were in Isaiah’s shoes?
3. In this passage, Isaiah felt extremely unworthy. In what ways do your insecurities or fears hold you back from serving or following God?
4. Read Hebrews 12:28. If the words used to describe acceptable worship in this passage don’t match the ways you worship, what practical things can you change to approach worship differently?
5. Read 1 Chronicles 16:29. What makes giving an offering, or even the time of offering during weekend church services, so essential to our worship of God?
6. Read Isaiah 6:9-10. God can be confusing at times, in what specific ways has talking with others helped you unlock or understand something you were having a hard time with?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can quiet yourself before God. Begin by confessing that there are many things about God that you don’t understand. Then read Isaiah 55:9. Acknowledge God’s higher perspective and give him thanks that he is above all of our circumstances, life’s trials, and even life’s triumphs. Isaiah 6:10 says to turn to God for healing; do that now in the quiet. Visualize yourself before God, and ask him for trust in his ways and the courage to worship and serve him in your life, in your thoughts and actions, and in your heart. Thank him for your time together, and ask him to reveal his presence to you throughout the week as you take strides to serve him more and more faithfully.