1. Rising to make a difference Will the church rise again? Copyright © Simon G. Harris Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.

2. Rising to make a difference Hear what God says: Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. ISAIAH 43 will the church rise? Fear not!

3. Rising to make a difference This is YOUR God (Isaiah 40) ISAIAH 43 will the church rise?

4. Rising to make a difference This is YOUR God (Isaiah 40) Lord of human rulers –6-8 Lord of creation –12 Lord of history –13-14 Lord of the nations –15 Lord of religions –16 Lord of competitors –18-20 Lord of the universe –22 Lord of astral powers –26 ISAIAH 43 will the church rise?

5. Rising to make a difference This is YOUR God Isaiah 40:25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. ISAIAH 43 will the church rise? Our God can!

6. Rising to make a difference This is YOUR God Isaiah 43:9 All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, "It is true." ISAIAH 43 will the church rise? Our God can!

7. Rising to make a difference See the new thing! Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. ISAIAH 43 will the church rise? What do you see? What are the signs of hope among us? Where are the streams, in our community, beginning to flow in fresh ways? If God is doing something new, what is it and do you see it?