Here We Are - Send Us

Sermon 7: Here We Are—Send Us

Series: Sent & Rooted: Living the Gospel Together Primary Text: Isaiah 6:1–8

Introduction

Every movement of God has a moment of decision.

It’s not always when people feel inspired— but it is always when they say yes!

Isaiah 6 is not just a call story. It is a pattern: Encounter → Cleansing → Commissioning

And it asks the same question of us today that God asked then:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Isaiah 6:1–8 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Big Idea

When God reveals His holiness and renews His people, He sends them together into His mission. A transformed church becomes a sent church.

I. Mission Begins With a Fresh Vision of God.

Isaiah 6:1–4 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

Key Observations

Isaiah has to see God clearly before he sees himself rightly

God is holy, sovereign, and unmatched

Worship precedes mission

The shaking thresholds remind us:

You cannot encounter the living God and remain unchanged.

Key Truth

A low view of God produces a weak commitment to His mission.

Cross References

Psalm 99:1–5 “1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!”

– The Lord reigns in holiness

Revelation 4:8–11 “8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””

– Heaven’s unending worship

Habakkuk 2:14 “14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

– The earth filled with God’s glory

Illustration

Mission doesn’t start with strategy—it starts with awe. Churches drift from mission when worship becomes casual.

II. God’s Holiness Reveals Our Need.

Isaiah 6:5 ESV

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Isaiah doesn’t compare himself to others—he compares himself to God.

Key Insight

True encounter produces humility, not pride.

Isaiah recognizes:

Personal sin (“unclean lips”)

Communal brokenness (“a people of unclean lips”)

Cross References

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

– All have sinned

Luke 5:8 “8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.””

– Peter’s response to holiness

Psalm 51:17 “17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

– A broken and contrite heart

Illustration

Before God sends us outward, He brings us inward—because unacknowledged sin always weakens witness.

It takes a broken person to reach broken people!

III. Cleansing Precedes Commissioning.

Isaiah 6:6–7 ESV

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

God does not deny Isaiah’s sin—He removes it.

Key Truth

God never sends unclean people—He cleanses willing ones.

The coal represents:

God’s initiative

God’s grace

God’s preparation

Cross References

Hebrews 9:14 “14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

– Cleansed to serve

1 John 1:7–9 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

– Forgiveness and cleansing

Titus 3:5 “5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

– Renewal by the Spirit

Illustration

God does not wait for readiness—He creates it through grace.

IV. God Sends a Willing People.

Isaiah 6:8 ESV

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”… Go and say to this people…

Notice the order:

God asks who

Isaiah responds personally

God’s mission expands corporately

Key Insight

Isaiah volunteers before knowing the assignment.

This is not enthusiasm—it is surrender.

Cross References

Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

– Go and make disciples

Acts 13:2–3 “2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

– The church sent together

Romans 10:14–15 “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

– Sent to proclaim

Illustration

God’s greatest concern is not our clarity—but our availability.

He does not need expertise just enthusiasm!

V. From A “Send Him” To A “Send Us” Culture.

Isaiah speaks as an individual, but the mission of God always unfolds through a people.

This is where the series comes together:

God seeks the lost

God sends the found

God forms disciples

God grows roots

God builds community

God equips the saints

God produces lasting fruit

Now God asks:

Will we go together?

Cross References

1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

– A people sent to proclaim

Philippians 1:27 “27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

– Standing firm in one spirit

Joshua 24:15 “15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

– “As for me and my house…”

VI. The Call to Commitment.

A One-Year Commitment Invitation

Not to perfection—but to faithful obedience.

Personally:

Commit to intentional spiritual rhythms (Scripture, prayer, abiding)

Commit to gospel presence in daily life

Commit to growing as a disciple who disciples others

Corporately:

Commit to biblical community

Commit to equipping and serving

Commit to living as a sent church together

Clarifying Truth

This is not a pledge driven by guilt. It is a response fueled by grace.

Closing Invitation (Response Moment)

God is still asking the same question.

Not “Who is capable?” Not “Who is ready?” But— “Who will go for us?”

The only faithful response is not louder worship or busier calendars— it is surrendered lives.

Here we are. Send us.

Series Completion

This is not an ending—it is a beginning.

The series moves from:

God’s heart → God’s people → God’s mission

Now the church steps forward—not as spectators, but as participants in the redemptive work of God.

Group Questions

When Isaiah encounters God in Isaiah 6, what stands out to you most about God’s holiness or presence? How does that shape the way you think about worship?

Why do you think mission begins with a fresh vision of God rather than a plan or strategy? What happens when churches (or Christians) reverse that order?

Isaiah’s first response is, “Woe is me.” Why is humility such a natural response to encountering God’s holiness? How does this differ from shame or self-condemnation?

Isaiah recognizes both personal sin and communal brokenness (“unclean lips” / “a people of unclean lips”). Why is it important to hold both together rather than focusing only on ourselves?

God doesn’t deny Isaiah’s sin—He removes it. How does knowing you are fully cleansed in Christ affect your willingness to serve or speak about your faith?

The burning coal comes from the altar—God initiates Isaiah’s cleansing. Where do you most need to trust God’s grace rather than trying to “fix yourself” before serving?

Isaiah says, “Here I am! Send me,” before knowing the assignment. What fears or hesitations usually keep us from responding that way today?

The sermon emphasized the move from “Send me” to “Send us.” Why do you think God’s mission is meant to be lived out in community rather than alone?

What does it practically look like for our church to be a “sent church” in everyday life—not just on mission trips or programs? Where has God already placed you to live on mission?

The call was not to perfection, but to faithful obedience. As a group, what is one concrete way you can commit this year to live as a sent people—together?