THIS WEEK’S PASSAGE
ISAIAH 42:1-9
BACKGROUND PREPARATION Spend some time exploring the background to this passage and the situation Israel was in at the time - ensure you are able to paint a picture of Israel to your young people. Ask members of the congregation to be praying for the session, and that God will be working in the young people. Invite some members of the congregation who have the gift of prophecy to come and pray with the group and speak of how they have developed their gift.
Baby left , baby right
15 mins
Find some ‘Baby left, baby right’ (from TFI Friday) clips on YouTube and play a game of guessing which way the baby will fall. Alternatively, find a recording of a football penalty shoot out and set the same prediction challenge. The young people should move to the left or right of the room to guess which way the baby will fall or whether the penalty will score or miss. Obviously plenty of hype and cheering will be necessary!
At the end of the game, explain that the theme of the session is prophecy. Make the point that in the game the young people have played they had to predict a future event. Highlight that biblical prophecy might not be quite the same.
Shaking the box
10 mins
Begin by setting the scene for the passage, giving background as to what was happening in Israel at the time, before reading the passage together. Invite the group to make any immediate observations or comments. Do any of them recognise the passage? Who is being spoken about in the passage? Have they heard similar words elsewhere in the Bible? (See Matthew 12:16-21.) Then ask:
• What is prophecy?
• What is the gift of prophecy?
Discuss why the Israelites needed to hear this prophecy at this time. What does the passage tell us about prophecy? (It encourages and edifies, it glorifies God, it is in line with the Bible.) Ask the group whether prophecy is different in the Old Testament to now.
Unwrapping the gift
20 mins
Cut out some pieces of paper or card and write one of the sentences below on each piece with a small explanation for leaders in brackets.
Prophecy is a tool in a toolbox rather than a trophy in a cabinet. (Something to use rather than something to show off.)
Prophecy is about unlocking rather than locking up. (A prophecy will release a person / group / church.)
Prophecy is to equip, the Holy Spirit will convict. (Prophecy builds up; its role isn’t to point out sin.)
Prophecy fits in with what the Bible teaches. (This is a great way of testing what you feel God is saying.)
Prophecy builds up a person / a group / a church. (It edifies - see 1 Corinthians 14.)
Words not from God can still be Godly words. (We can still bless people with words that aren’t directly prophetic.)
God has already spoken to us in the Bible. (When we think about wanting to receive a word from God, it is good to remember he has already spoken to us about all aspects of life and faith - and this is all contained in the Bible.)
Prophecy shines a light on Jesus rather than the person prophesying. (Prophecy shouldn’t bring focus onto the prophet. It should always glorify Jesus.)
Arrange the cards in the middle of the group face down. In turn, invite a member of the group to pick a card, turn it over and read the sentence. After each card has been turned over ask:
• What does it mean?
• What does it tell us about prophecy?
• Do you agree?
At the end, draw the points and discussion together by summarising what has been learnt about prophecy. Is there anything to add? Refer to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14:1-5.
Playing with the gift
15 mins
Pray for the gift of prophecy in the group. Give time to wait on God and ask him to speak to members of the group, explaining that this can happen in a variety of ways. Explore anything shared and agree to continue praying into each one through the week ahead, agreeing on a time or session to feedback.
KEY POINT #1
Most of what Isaiah prophesies about is in the present, and when God does give him a vision of the future this is only ever to help the people he was talking to at the time. Reinforce the point that prophecy isn’t about predicting the future or fortune telling. So what is prophecy about?
KEY POINT #2
Prophecy is a tool used to glorify God, for equipping not convicting. There is a marked difference between Biblical prophecy and any ‘fortune telling’ type of prophecy.
