So far I’ve preached through the first five chapters on Isaiah and I’m very grateful I decided to take on this series of sermons. A close study of Isaiah reaps rich rewards, and I am blessed that it’s my “job” to mine this portion of God’s Word week by week for its treasures.
And I’ve discovered there are more great commentaries on Isaiah than one person could possibly read while preparing weekly sermons. The two I’ve leaned most heavily on so far are J. Alec Motyer’s The Prophecy of Isaiah and Edward J. Young’s The Book of Isaiah. Both have been excellent guides. Motyer provides the insights only a 30-year study of the book could produce, and Young couches his commentary within the framework of orthodox Reformed theology.
Last Sunday I finished a series of fifteen Sunday School lessons I called “Reformed Faith and Practice.” The basis for the first fourteen lessons was Presbytopia by Rev. Ken Golden. I have used this superb introduction to Reformed and Presbyterian theology for a few years now for New Members’ Classes.
For the last class, I put together my own material for a brief survey on the history of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I thoroughly enjoyed re-learning the inspiring history of the founding of our church. The most helpful book for this class was Edwin Rian’s The Presbyterian Conflict. For a thorough first-hand account of the events leading up to the formation of the OPC, I highly recommend it.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Johnson