Genesis Road is a non-profit organization with a passion for worship. We seek out fresh insights about God's character and inspire churches to focus on Him in worship. We believe worship is not about what, but about Whom.
We provide economical and educational worship resources for churches.
Put God in the spotlight at your church with our FREE worship service packets. In each packet, you'll find a complete sermon, children's story, prayers/call for offering, responsive reading, newly-penned hymn words, and song suggestions that will bring a God-focused theme to your entire service. Find out what your worship has been missing!
Fundamental Focus: a closer look at God in the 28 is now available for purchase in the store. You may also read the magazine online.
Isaiah / chapter 9 (read the chapter)
No, I’m not talking about convicting you of a crime! I’m talking about convicting you of truth, helping you to see and understand when you’re on the wrong path. Could Isaiah have said it any more clearly? “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (vs 2)
Have you ever been outside at midnight when it’s cloudy and there is no moonlight? It’s hard to see. If you’re out in the country away from the “light pollution” of the city, sometimes it can be hard to see your hand in front of your face! It can be dangerous to walk in the dark—especially if you aren’t familiar with your surroundings. Tripping over the wrong thing can lead to great bodily harm.
This is also true in a spiritual sense. As the spiritual night of evil settled down on this world, man became depraved in his heart; relationships began to break down, families began to fall apart, and the knowledge of right and wrong grew dimmer and dimmer with each successive generation. Very quickly, humanity became a people walking in darkness.
If you’re like me, you’ve certainly felt like you have walked in spiritual darkness! You may feel like that right now, but take heart! God always finds people who walk in darkness, but He never leaves them in darkness. Isaiah says He shines a “great light” on them. When God meets us in our darkness, He immediately brings us light that is like a sunrise.
Later in the chapter, Isaiah wrote: “The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. All the people will know it.” (vs 8-9) This is why we should never fear deception. With God, deception (continually walking in darkness and not knowing it’s darkness) isn’t ultimately possible. He always illuminates the darkness.
But the astonishing thing is that some people prefer the darkness! Some people see the light, but even though they know it is light, they prefer to head right back into the cave and act like they never saw the light in the first place. That’s why the only thing we should worry about is not that we might be deceived, but that our pride would cause us to reject what we know is true.
So, are you wondering if you’re in darkness? God will let you know. Thinking you might be believing lies? God will convict you of the truth. To those who walk in darkness, He is and will always be a great light.
Isaiah / chapter 8 (read the chapter)
In this chapter, Isaiah compares God to a rock: “‘Don’t think there is a plan against you just because the people say there is. Don’t be afraid of what they fear. Don’t let them frighten you!’ The LORD All-Powerful is the one you should fear. He is the one you should respect. He is the one who should frighten you. If you people would respect him, he would be a safe place for you. But you don’t respect him, so he is like a stone that you stumble over. He is a rock that makes both families of Israel fall.” (vs 12-14) Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 7 (read the chapter)
At the beginning of this chapter, Syria and Israel join forces to go to war with Judah. Ahaz, the king of Judah, is obviously very nervous about this. More than nervous. He’s terrified. So much so that he’s willing to make an alliance with the king of Assyria to get the help he thinks he needs to defeat his enemies. Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 6 (read the chapter)
There is a short (but sweet) gem about God in this chapter. And even though it might seem like a little thing, to those of us who find ourselves in uncomfortable situations with God, it’s a huge thing: God alleviates anxiety. He is aware of our feelings and emotions. He knows when guilt or fear has overtaken us, and He acts to make us feel as comfortable as possible in His presence: Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 5 (read the chapter)
It is one of the paradoxes of life that, while God takes total responsibility for dealing with the sin problem, He is in no way responsible for sin. It entered His universe through the free choice of Lucifer, one of His beloved creatures. He is not to blame for sin. It has infected His creation through no fault of His own. Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 4 (read the chapter)
It bothers me when people who say they have read the Bible claim that the God revealed there encourages slavery or polygamy or racism or abuse against women. Whenever I hear that, I think that the person either hasn’t really read the Bible, has only read selected passages, or has not read with an eye toward putting the whole picture together. Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 3 (read the chapter)
There has been much emphasis of late put on the reality of God’s acceptance. God accepts you as you are. God loves you as you are. And He does. There is no doubt about it! There is nothing we can do to earn His love; we already have it. But it is a fallacy to believe that God wants to leave us the way He finds us. It is because He loves us that He wants to change our hearts and lives for the better. As Max Lucado wrote in the extended title of his 1998 book, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be . . . just like Jesus.” Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 2 (read the chapter)
War and peace. No, not the book title; the two things people are constantly headed toward. Either we are moving toward war or we are moving toward peace. Sometimes, in this sinful world, it’s difficult to know when (or if) war is appropriate. Some people believe it is never needed; others believe certain situations warrant it. Certainly, the Bible presents situations in which God allowed or sent His people to war. Continue Reading »
Isaiah / chapter 1 (read the chapter)
In this first chapter of Isaiah, God reveals Himself as someone who has little interest in religious traditions: “‘The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.’” (vs 11-14) Continue Reading »
Song of Solomon / chapter 8 (read the chapter)
For me, this chapter holds one of the most beautiful passages ever written about love: “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, he would be utterly scorned.” (vs 6-7) Continue Reading »
