Small Group Guide: Seeing God as Holy
Based on Isaiah 6:1-13
Opening Prayer
Begin your time together asking God to open your hearts and minds to see Him as holy and to respond to His call on your lives.
Ice Breaker
Share a time when you encountered someone in authority (a boss, teacher, parent, etc.) and realized you had been too casual or disrespectful in your approach. How did that realization change your behavior?
Key Takeaways from the Sermon

1. God is looking for people who will say, "Here I am, send me" - He is constantly sending rescue missions to people headed away from Him.
2. When you see God as holy, it purifies you of sin and calls you to a God-given mission - Isaiah's encounter with God's holiness completely transformed him.
3. Seeing God's holiness "undoes" or "ruins" things in our lives - But this is mercy, not punishment, because God's ways are better than ours.
4. We can become too comfortable with God - When we know what He says but ignore it, we're like children who no longer respect their parents.
5. God will either purify us when we surrender, or He will prune us when we refuse - Either way, His purpose is to restore us to relationship with Him.

Discussion Questions
Understanding the Passage

1. Read Isaiah 6:1-13 together. What stands out to you most about Isaiah's vision of God? Why do you think the seraphim covered their eyes and feet?
2. The sermon mentioned that King Uzziah's reign brought prosperity, but also spiritual laziness. How does comfort and prosperity sometimes distance us from God?
3. What does it mean that God is "holy"? How is His holiness different from just being "good" or "powerful"?

Personal Reflection

4. The pastor said, "If you can't walk with God frying chicken, you can't walk with God working in the church." What does this mean for your daily life and work?
5. Isaiah said, "I am ruined" or "undone" when he saw God's holiness. Have you ever had a moment when you truly saw yourself in comparison to God's perfection? What was that like?
6. The sermon challenged us: "Have you ever in your life said, 'Here I am, send me'?" How would you honestly answer that question?

Going Deeper

7. The pastor mentioned that we often ask God to "sit right here for a little bit" while we go our own way. What are some areas where you've done this? What idols or priorities have you put ahead of walking with God?
8. God told Isaiah that some people would hear but not understand, see but not perceive. Why do people's hearts become hardened to God's message? What hardens our own hearts?
9. The sermon explained that God will either purify us when we surrender willingly, or He will prune us when we refuse. Can you share an example (without being too personal) of when God had to "cut something down" in your life or someone you know because they wouldn't surrender it?

Application

10. What is one specific thing in your life that needs to be "undone" or "ruined" so you can walk more closely with God? What's keeping you from surrendering it?
11. The pastor said we need to see God as holy AND know that He loves us. Which is easier for you to grasp - God's holiness or God's love? Why?
12. If you were to truly say "Here I am, send me" to God this week, what do you think He might be calling you to do? What scares you about that?

Practical Applications
Choose one or two of these to commit to this week:

• Daily Holy Encounter: Spend 10 minutes each morning this week asking God to show you His holiness. Read a passage about God's character and meditate on what it reveals about who He is.
• Idol Inventory: Make a list of things you spend your time, money, and energy on. Honestly evaluate which of these might be idols that keep you from walking closely with God. Confess one to your group or an accountability partner.
• The "Send Me" Prayer: Each day this week, pray specifically, "Here I am, Lord, send me." Then pay attention to opportunities God may be putting in front of you to serve, share, or show His love.
• Comfort Check: Identify one area where you've become too comfortable with God - where you know what He says but you've been ignoring it. Take one concrete step of obedience this week.
• Vision Renewal: Like Abraham and Terah from last week's sermon, evaluate whether you've stopped "halfway" in your walk with God. Write down what your God-given vision for your life is, and identify what's keeping you from pursuing it fully.

Closing Reflection
Read this quote from the sermon:
"If you won't say, God, I'm ruined, take it from me, I give it to you right now... Smart people choose the easy way instead of the hard way, don't they? But listen, so often I'm not the smart person."

Question: Will you choose the easy way (surrendering now) or wait for God to prune the hard way?
Prayer Requests & Closing Prayer

• Share specific areas where you need God's help to see Him as holy
• Pray for courage to say "Here I am, send me"
• Pray for each other's specific idols and areas of surrender
• Ask God to give your group eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to understand His call

Close by praying together:
"Father, help us to see You as You are - holy, perfect, and loving. Give us the courage to say we are ruined without You, and the faith to say 'send me' wherever You lead. In Jesus' name, Amen."

For Next Week
Come prepared to share how God answered your "send me" prayer and what He revealed to you about His holiness.