Faith Talk – January 11, 2026
Faith Talks are designed to help you keep the conversation going beyond Sunday morning. Use this guide with your family or friends to reflect on the sermon and Life Group lesson, pray together, and put God’s Word into practice. Think of this guide as a starting place—then let God shape the conversation.
Sermon
Title: Preparing Your Hearts for the Days to Come
Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31
Overview: Isaiah reminds God’s people of who the Lord is and how He cares for them in seasons of uncertainty and weariness. God is eternal, powerful, and fully aware of our weakness. While human strength eventually fails, those who trust in the Lord receive renewed strength to endure, persevere, and remain faithful as they wait on Him.
Main Points:
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
For Students & Adults
Application: This week, identify one area of your life where you feel weary or discouraged. Each day, intentionally bring that need to God in prayer and choose to trust Him instead of relying on your own strength.
Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31
Overview: Isaiah reminds God’s people of who the Lord is and how He cares for them in seasons of uncertainty and weariness. God is eternal, powerful, and fully aware of our weakness. While human strength eventually fails, those who trust in the Lord receive renewed strength to endure, persevere, and remain faithful as they wait on Him.
Main Points:
- God’s Character: God is unmatched, eternal, understanding, and ever-present. He does not grow weary, and nothing is beyond His knowledge or care.
- Our Condition: God’s people struggle with fear, fatigue, and spiritual complacency. Even the strongest among us grow tired and discouraged without God’s strength.
- God’s Compassion: The Lord invites His people to wait on Him. When we trust Him, He renews our strength, helps us rise above life’s storms, and empowers us to endure faithfully.
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
- What does it mean to trust God when you feel tired or scared?
- How does God help us when we don’t feel strong?
- What picture does the Bible use to show how God gives us strength?
For Students & Adults
- Which part of God’s character in Isaiah 40 is most encouraging to you right now?
- How do fear or fatigue affect your faith and trust in God?
- What does it look like to “wait on the Lord” in a practical, everyday way?
Application: This week, identify one area of your life where you feel weary or discouraged. Each day, intentionally bring that need to God in prayer and choose to trust Him instead of relying on your own strength.
Life Group
Scripture: Ezra 4-6; Haggai 1-2
Christ/Gospel Connections:
All of Scripture points back to Jesus. In our study each week, every age group’s lesson includes a note about how the message connects to Christ. Use these Christ/Gospel Connections as a springboard for meaningful discussion about who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Preschool – God's people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people on earth. When we trust in Jesus, He is with us wherever we go.
Kids – God's people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Jesus provides something better than the temple; He gave us Himself.
Students – God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Jesus provided something better than the temple; He gave us Himself.
Adults – God made the rebuilding of the temple possible so the people could see His faithfulness to them, resulting in joy and celebration. God’s faithfulness is revealed ultimately in His provision of His Son, Jesus Christ, which results in ultimate joy and celebration for believers today.
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
Christ/Gospel Connections:
All of Scripture points back to Jesus. In our study each week, every age group’s lesson includes a note about how the message connects to Christ. Use these Christ/Gospel Connections as a springboard for meaningful discussion about who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Preschool – God's people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people on earth. When we trust in Jesus, He is with us wherever we go.
Kids – God's people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Jesus provides something better than the temple; He gave us Himself.
Students – God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Jesus provided something better than the temple; He gave us Himself.
Adults – God made the rebuilding of the temple possible so the people could see His faithfulness to them, resulting in joy and celebration. God’s faithfulness is revealed ultimately in His provision of His Son, Jesus Christ, which results in ultimate joy and celebration for believers today.
Discussion Questions:
For Kids
- Why was the temple important to God’s people?
- What made rebuilding the temple hard?
- How does Jesus help us worship God today?
- What challenges did God’s people face while rebuilding the temple?
- How does this story encourage you to trust God during seasons of waiting or difficulty?
- In what ways does Jesus provide something better than the temple for believers today?
Pray Together
- Thank God for His strength and faithfulness, even when we feel weak or discouraged.
- Commit to waiting on the Lord and trusting His timing instead of relying on our own plans.
- Ask God to renew our strength and help us persevere faithfully in the days ahead.
Activity
Strength from the Lord
Supplies:
Instructions:
- Paper
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Instructions:
- Give each person a piece of paper and ask them to draw a picture of an eagle flying high above a storm.
- As they draw, talk about how God promises to give us strength when we trust Him, even when life feels hard or scary.
- On the back of the paper (or with help from an adult), write one thing they want God to help them trust Him with this week.
- Pray together, thanking God for His strength and asking Him to help each person rely on Him.
- Place the drawings somewhere visible at home as a reminder that God renews our strength when we wait on Him.
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