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City Group notes.

Resources for our mid-week groups.
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High and Lifted Up.

Summer Term 2026.

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​Introduction

Tragic social injustice, fearful uncertainty, widespread rejection of the true God, feeling like a religious minority…the prophet Isaiah’s context in the Eighth Century BC has some similarities to ours.  But whatever the challenges of his (and our) context, Isaiah saw that God is enthroned above it all as the majestic, holy, awesome and sovereign one.  


As we work through Isaiah 1–12 together, we’ll see a magnificent vision of who God is, high and lifted up.  Not only that, we’ll see that God is thoroughly involved in and at work in our broken world, and that He is on a mission to bring justice, joy and peace to every nation.  

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​​The questions and activities below are suggested ways of engaging with this outside of the Sunday service: individually, with a friend, or as a basis for City Group discussions. You should be able to use these questions even if you haven’t heard the sermon. 

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You may not have time for all of the questions in a City Group evening, so consider them as a menu of options to pick from, either in advance or in the moment as you see how the discussion progresses. Some of the questions are repeated in multiple weeks; others are specific to one week's passage. Make sure you include some of the “implications” section so that the discussion isn't just theoretical. â€‹â€‹

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Quick Links
Tips for leading  |  3 May  |  10 May  |  17 May  |  24 May (no notes)  |  31 May (no notes)  |  7 June  |  14 June  |  21 June  |  28 June  ​|  5 July  |  12 July  |  19 July
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Sermon recordings are here (or search City Church Cambridge in a podcast app).
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Tips for Leading Bible Discussions.

  1. In advance, try to at least read the passage, pray for the group, and decide which of the suggested questions and activities you’re going to prioritise. 

  2. You want to help the group to have a discussion with each other, so don’t talk too much yourself, and do encourage them to respond to each other’s contributions (“That’s an interesting point; what does everyone else think about that?” – especially useful if someone’s said something unhelpful.)

  3. Encourage people to discover things in the Bible passage, not just share their own ideas (“It’d be great if you could share which verse you’re looking at when you answer this question.”)

  4. Generally speaking, ask one question at a time, and keep it simple to understand (even if it’s not simple to answer!)

  5. Make sure everyone gets a chance to participate. Discussing something in 3s and 4s is a great way to do this.

  6. Don’t be afraid to leave silences, nor to call time on a side-track that’s gone on for longer than is helpful.

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​Week commencing 26th April:  Standalone sermon

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No suggested questions this week.  Come to the Week of Prayer!!

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​Week commencing 3rd May:  Just (Isaiah 1)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 1.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again and find all the problems that God identifies in His people, and all the promises He makes.

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What does God say He is going to do in this passage?

  • What is God’s objective in doing this? In what ways do we see Him having the same or similar objectives in the New Testament?

  • How does this passage paint a picture of the kind of lives God calls us to live?

  • Someone says to you, "Because we're forgiven in Jesus, we don't need to worry too much about social justice."  How might this passage help you respond?

  • In what way is the good news of Jesus the answer to the social injustice we see around us?

 

God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 10th May:  Pre-eminent (Isaiah 2)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 2.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again and find everything that is lifted and everything that is lowered.

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What does God say He is going to do in this passage?

  • What is God’s objective in doing this? In what ways do we see Him having the same or similar objectives in the New Testament?

  • Re-read vv2-4. In what ways are we seeing this fulfilled at the moment, and what aspects are still to come?

  • How do these verses motivate us to mission?

  • How is Jesus at the centre of how God is fulfilling this prophecy?

 

God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 17th May:  Refiner (Isaiah 3-4)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 3-4.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again and look for the contrasts between chapter 3 and chapter 4.

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What are the things in our culture that compete with God for power and beauty?

  • What does God say He is going to do in this passage?

  • What is God’s objective in doing this? In what ways do we see Him having the same or similar objectives in the New Testament?

  • How does chapter 4 shed light on the ministry of Jesus?

 

God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 24th May:  Standalone sermon

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No suggested questions this week.  

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​Week commencing 31st May:  Standalone sermon

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No suggested questions this week.  

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​Week commencing 7th June:  Judge (Isaiah 5)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 5.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again and look for everything about which God pronounces woe.

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What does God say He is going to do in this passage?

  • What is God’s objective in doing this? In what ways do we see Him having the same or similar objectives in the New Testament?

  • Ask someone to read John 15:1-8. Thinking about Isaiah 5, why does Jesus call Himself the vine, not the gardener?

  • How does Jesus being the vine give us hope that Isaiah 5 is not the end of the story?

 

God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 14th June:  Holy (Isaiah 6)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 6.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again and make a list of the questions you have about this passage.

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • Why is Isaiah sent on a mission that will apparently fail?

  • Ask someone to read Matthew 13:10-17.  How does this highlight the mercy and grace of God towards us?

  • Re-read Isaiah 6:6-7. How could you use these verses to explain the gospel to someone?

 

God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 21st June:  Present (Isaiah 7:1-8:10)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 7:1-8:10.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again. How often does God remind His people that He is with them?

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • Why was it important for Ahaz to grasp that God knows and controls the future?

  • Ask someone to read Matthew 1:18-23. Why does Matthew want to remind us of this passage inIsaiah?

  • Ask someone to read Matthew 28:18-20. How does this remind you of Isaiah 7-8?

  • God's presence with us and authority over the world should give us confidence to tell people about JEsus. Where do you need a confidence-boost in witnessing at the moment?

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God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 28th June:  Wonderful (Isaiah 8:11-9:7)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 8:11-9:7.

  • [In twos and threes:] What are the contrasts between the end of chapter 8 and the start of chapter 9?

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What does God say He is going to do in this passage?

  • Ask someone to read Matthew 4:12-17. In what ways did Jesus' ministry fulfil the promises of Isaiah 9?

  • Re-read Isaiah 9:6-7.  In twos and threes, choose one word or phrase from these verses and chat about how that truth about Jesus speaks good news to the challenges people around us are facing, [Report back to the whole group.]

 

God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 5th July:  Angered (Isaiah 9:8-10:4)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 9:8-10:4.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again. How was God's anger going to be expressed?

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • Why was God telling His people about His anger? What response was He looking for?

  • How does a passage about God's anger enhance your appreciation of the gospel?

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God's Character

  • How is God's anger different to ours?

  • How should we respond to God's anger in this passage?

  • Worship Him through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 12th July:  Sovereign (Isaiah 10:5-34)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 10:5-34.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again. What does God say about Assyria's future and whjat does He say about Israel's future?

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What was God using Assyria's military campaigns to achieve?

  • What was God's problem with the king of Assyria?

  • What other examples are there in Scripture of God using evil human choices to further His purposes?

  • Re-read vv20-23. Why does God preserve a remnant of Israel?  How do these verses find fulfilment in Jesus?

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God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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​Week commencing 19th July:  Saviour (Isaiah 11-12)

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Passage familiarisation

  • A​​sk someone to read Isaiah 11-12.

  • [In twos and threes:] Work through the passage again and choose a favourite verse each.

  • How would you summarise Isaiah's main message in this passage in a sentence?

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God's Mission

  • What does God say He is going to do in Isaiah 11?

  • What aspects of this do we see fulfilled at the moment? What aspects are still to come?

  • Work through Isaiah 12 one verse at a time and discuss how each verse helps us celebrate the good news of Jesus.

  • Thinking the way salvation is described in Isaiah 11-12, what would you love your friends to grasp about the gospel?

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God's Character

  • [In twos and threes:] Look over the passage again: what does it show us about what God is like? How do feel about God having those characteristics?

  • Why are you glad that God is like this?

  • Respond to Him in worship through prayer and/or song and/or silence.​​​

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