Keep growing in your relationship with Jesus: Take the message with you into your week. Reflect on the Bible passage and sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you talk it over with your friends, coworkers, family, or Grow Group.

Icebreaker idea: How do you feel about surprises? Is there any kind of surprise you especially enjoy or dread?

A way to pray: Thank Jesus for coming to suffer in our place and for His continuing intercession for us. Ask Him for opportunities to share this good news with others we know personally, as we seek to see 2,000 people by 2022 baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

• How does the prophet Isaiah liken both humans and Jesus (God in human form) to sheep? In what ways do the similarities and differences between people and Jesus help me treasure God more?

• Isaiah 53 reminds us that Jesus bore our griefs, iniquities, and sin. When I’m called to bear with people who challenge or hurt me (or other people), what can I do practically to remember what Jesus did for me and let that shape my response?