21 Set forth your case, says the LORD;
bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
22 Let them bring them, and tell us
what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they are,
that we may consider them,
that we may know their outcome;
or declare to us the things to come.
23 Tell us what is to come hereafter,
that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do harm,
that we may be dismayed and terrified.1
24 Behold, you are nothing,
and your work is less than nothing;
an abomination is he who chooses you.
25 I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name;
he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
as the potter treads clay.
26 Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know,
and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?
There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,
none who heard your words.
27 I was the first to say2 to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”
and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
28 But when I look, there is no one;
among these there is no counselor
who, when I ask, gives an answer.
29 Behold, they are all a delusion;
their works are nothing;
their metal images are empty wind.

42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged3
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
5 Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:

Footnotes

[1] 41:23 Or that we may both be dismayed and see
[2] 41:27 Or Formerly I said
[3]

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

(ESV)

Many of us ask ourselves the honest question: Why is making friends as an adult so hard? At this Talkback, Ben Sciacca, Redeemer's Local Ministry Coordinator, dove into how God created us to live in meaningful community with one another. While the desire for friendship is part of God's good design, the reality is that we live in a time of prevailing loneliness and isolation.

Ben was joined by Janet King, Founder of The Gathering Lab. Together, they discussed how to move past small talk into something deeper. They explored what barriers keep us isolated and what fears prevent us from moving beyond our comfort zones. As image-bearers of a loving God, we are hardwired for community, and we hope you'll fight against the digital age that keeps us disconnected.

JOIN THE NEXT STEP
At the end, Ben and Janet announced our Summer Circles, which are opportunities coming later this summer to meet and build meaningful friendships right here at Redeemer. If you want to join these gatherings, sign up at The Gathering Lab now.

ABOUT TALKBACKS
Our Talkbacks are great opportunities to see how our faith engages with the world around us. This summer, we're excited to have four evenings that discuss how the gospel changes how we think about race, politics, the world, and our stories.

Each Talkback, we get a chance to hear from a speaker for about 45 minutes before spending about 45 minutes in a Q&A. We encourage you to come with questions!

MORE INFO
For more info, visit rccbirmingham.com/talkbacks