2026 Media

Please note that, due to the nature of the topics covered, some sessions were not recorded. Recordings also available on https://GrowInGrace.com

Opening Address

Br. Tim Hadley

THEME: The True Servant of God – Learning to Imitate Him

INTRODUCTION:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Our theme for MIF 2026 is “The True Servant of God – Learning to Imitate Him.” There is no other theme sweeter than that of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Eternal Son of God, “Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

This stands in stark contrast to the self-centered world you and I live in today. We are surrounded by a “me first” society, where the very idea of serving others is a foreign concept. We live in the days of which Paul spoke when he wrote to Timothy: “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Isaiah initially identifies God’s servant as Israel (41:8; 44:1-2), who should have served as God’s witness (43:10) and as a light to the Gentiles. Yet Israel could not fulfill this mission: The nation was deaf, blind (42:19), and in need of God’s forgiveness (44:21-22). Israel failed again and again. By contrast, God’s True Servant, the Messiah, faithfully completes all the work He is given to do (Luke 13:32; John 17:4).

We want to focus our attention on this perfect Servant as He is seen in the Servant Songs of Isaiah. Here we get a glimpse of what true faithful service for God looks like. We will learn of the character of the true Servant of God in Isaiah 42, and of His Mission in Isaiah 49. We will study together of the daily disciplines of this perfect Servant of God in Isaiah 50; and finally we will focus our attention on Him as the Suffering Servant of God in Isaiah 52-53. Along the way we will consider the heart of the True Servant of God from Mark’s gospel, and spend time seeing Him as the true Bondservant from Exodus 21, Deuteronomy 15, Psalm 40, and Hebrews 10.

Things to consider this week:

In Acts 3:13 (in the NKJV and other translations), Peter calls the Lord Jesus the “Servant” of God. That verse says, in part, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus.” Peter’s description of Jesus as a “servant” is accurate for at least five reasons:

  • The Lord Jesus always did the will of the Father (John 4:34; 6:38).
  • He never sought to please Himself but always to please the Father (John 5:30).
  • The Lord Jesus finished the work that the Father had sent Him to do (John 17:4).
  • This Servant came to glorify the Father (John 13:31; 17:4).
  • He left us an example of what true service looks like (John 13:1-17).

His example is not only for our amazement, but it is given to us as a pattern to follow. May our week looking at the Perfect Servant cause us to become more like Him.

Lord’s Day Morning Addresses

Br. Paul Meijer

Lord’s Day Evening Addresses

Br. Hilvert Wijnholds

Monday Keynote – The Character of the True Servant

Br. John Redekop

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!” (Isaiah 42:1)

The book of Isaiah is easily laid out into two sections: chapters 1-39 form the first section and chapters 40-66 the second. Some have suggested that Isaiah is like the Bible itself, divided into two sections—the Old Testament having 39 books and mainly illustrating the failure of man, the judgment which follows, and mankind‘s need of salvation; while the 27 books of the New Testament display‘s God‘s provision for salvation. The word salvation actually appears 28 times in the book of Isaiah, and 21of the 28 times are in the second section (chap. 40-66). Isaiah‘s name means ―salvation of the Lord.‖ In order for there to be salvation, there must be a Savior, a deliverer; and this brings us to our Servant Songs.

Leading up to chapter 42, this second section of Isaiah (chap. 40-66) begins by setting the greatness of our God before the readers. In Isaiah 40:1-11 we read of the tenderness of our God in His attitude toward His people and the forerunner that He will send. In 40:12-31, we read of our God as transcendent in His attributes (with at least 15 attributes mentioned in these verses). In chapter 41 we read of the willingness of our God to help a wayward and rebellious people. In fact, in chapters 41-44 we hear Him say ―Fear not‖ at least seven times. We also read of the futility of idols and how God looked for a man among them to be their counselor or one who could answer.

All this leads us to hearing Jehovah Himself contrast everything in chapter 41 with the opening of chapter 42: ―Behold My Servant!‖ We suggest four things to consider in Isaiah 42:1-9

  • The honor in the character of Jehovah‘s Servant (v. 1)
  • The humility in His Servant (vv. 2-4)
  • The hard fast faithfulness of this Servant (v. 4)
  • The hope of His ministry to the world as the light to the Gentiles (vv. 5-7)

As we look at this passage, compare these New Testament passages:

  • Luke 2:49; John 5:36
  • Matthew 12:18-21; John 12:37-41
  • Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42
  • Philippians 2:5-8

Monday – From The Heart

Br. Hani Boulos

Tuesday Keynote – The Mission of the True Servant – His Calling and Work

Br. Daniel Bubenzer

Isaiah 40-66 is divided into three sections (chapters 40-48, 49-57, and 58-66). Each section has nine chapters, and the divisions between them are clearly marked by the phrase, “There is no peace for the wicked” (48:22; 57:21).

Chapter 49 begins the theme of Redemption through the Suffering Savior. Here the Servant Himself speaks with absolute authority. We see that His call was from birth, and we learn of His fitness for service. Some feel this could very well be part of what the Lord Jesus discussed with the two on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. Isaiah 42 would have helped them recognize who He was, and Isaiah 49 would have revealed His glory to them.

From the opening of chapter 49, we learn of how the Servant was predestined for His mission and of His readiness to do the work of Jehovah (vv. 1-2). Isaiah 42 began with, “Behold My Servant,” and chapter 49 begins with “Listen.” We are to listen to the One who speaks with absolute authority. His message knows no geographic barriers, no national barriers, no social barriers, no intellectual barriers. This perfect Servant understands His mission. This is seen in verses 3-4 and throughout the chapter, as He speaks of “my mother,” “my name,” “my mouth,” “my strength,” “my just reward,” “my work,” and “my God.”

His mission is to display Jehovah’s glory:

  • Consider John 1:14, 17:4.
  • Examine the connections in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 10:31; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Romans 15:5-6; John 21:19.
  • His mission included bringing Jacob back to the Lord (Isaiah 49:5-6).
  • He would bring light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:7).
  • Consider His rejection by man, His reign over men, and His preeminence in the world.

Suggested focus:

  • As the perfect Servant of God, the Lord Jesus was always aware of the acceptance of His God.
  • He is seen as the Servant testifying to the nations, calling upon them to acknowledge and accept the work which God has given Him.
  • He was both called from the womb (v. 1) and formed from the womb (v. 5) to be the Servant of God. See also Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:34-35.
  • The mission of the Servant was to bring back Israel (Isaiah 55:7, Jeremiah 4:1) and to be a light to the Gentiles.

Tuesday – From the Heart – The Missionary’s ABC

Br. Alex Schneider

Wednesday Keynote – The Devoted and Learning Servant

Br. Philip Svetlik

The Servant Song in Isaiah 50:4-9 is like Isaiah 49 in that it is autobiographical, meaning that the Servant Himself is speaking. But the contrast is seen in the one to whom the song is addressed.

The song in Isaiah 49 was addressed to the coastlands and the ends of the earth (Isa. 49:1, 6); but here in Isaiah 50:4 it is directed to him who is weary. This might remind us that the Servant who bears the title “Savior of the World” (Jn. 4:42) still made time to speak to individuals:

  • Nicodemus (Jn. 3)
  • the woman at the well (Jn. 4)
  • blind Bartimaeus (Mk. 10)
  • Zacchaeus (Lk. 19)

The Servant’s message was to the one who is weary (Isa. 50:4), which we clearly see in the Lord Jesus when He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30).

In this song we learn that discipline is the path to genuine servanthood. Here we see the voluntary commitment to Jehovah as a disciple or learner. We see the blessed Lord Jesus as the perfect Servant of God submitted to a training process. The very One who would have 12 disciples of His own was first a disciple Himself. This would remind us of what we read in Hebrews 5:8-9: “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” There it is clearly speaking of His suffering, but we see His willing submission to learn.

We further learn of the Servant’s commitment to discipline. This is seen in the way He addresses God. Four times in this Servant Song we read of the “Lord GOD,” meaning “Adonai Jehovah” (Isa. 50:4, 5, 7, 9). The authority stressed in this name is the basis of the Servant’s submission. He willingly commits His pathway to the Sovereign Lord. We also see His submission in His disciplined tongue, the tongue of the learned (v. 4). The speech of the Lord Jesus was always in full subjection to the Father. “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things” (Jn. 8:28). The Lord Jesus was always in control of His speech, and others noticed (Luke 4:22; John 7:46, 12:49).

Suggested Focus:

  • His commitment to obedience (v. 4)
  • His commitment to suffering (vv. 5-6)
  • His commitment based on His confidence in the Lord GOD (vv. 7-9)
  • How His example should affect us with our tongues (James 3)

Wednesday – Open Ministry

Br. Ehab Mekhail & Br. Hansruedi Graf

Thursday Keynote – The Suffering Servant

Br. Manuel Dietermann

The fourth Servant Song of Isaiah is found in chapter 52:13–53:12. It presents the perfect servant as the Suffering Servant, giving us a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus as the One who redeems God‘s people through voluntary, substitutionary suffering, bearing the sins of many. We see Him despised and rejected, yet ultimately exalted, whose death as a sin offering brings both justification and reconciliation with God. In this song we read of the opposition which the Servant faced and how it culminated in His death and burial (Is. 53:7-9), all in accordance with God‘s will (Is. 53:10). The suffering which is laid out for us in this song does not hinder the Servant‘s success but rather actually facilitates it (53:10-12).

This song is quoted more in the New Testament than any other of the Servant Songs. It is directly quoted about seven times, and it is alluded to about forty more times (for example, Lk. 22:37; Jn. 12:38; Acts 8:26-35; Rom. 10:16; 15:21; 1 Pet. 2:21-25).

  • Isaiah 53:1 is quoted regarding disbelief in the Lord Jesus (John 12:38; Romans 10:16).
  • Isaiah 53:4 is quoted regarding healing (Matthew 8:17).
  • Isaiah 53:7-8 is quoted by Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:32-33).
  • Isaiah 53:9 is alluded to regarding sinlessness (1 Peter 2:22).
  • Isaiah 53:12 is quoted by the Lord Jesus regarding His crucifixion (Luke 22:37; Mark 15:28).

This song has been called the capstone of the Old Testament. As in Isaiah 42, Jehovah addresses the Servant here as —My Servant” (Isa. 52:13), then adding —My Righteous Servant” (Isa. 53:11).

There are five stanzas in this song, each covering three verses:

  • The Servant Exalted (Isa. 52:13-15)
  • The Servant Rejected (Isa. 53:1-3)
  • The Servant Wounded (Isa. 53:4-6)
  • The Servant in Death (Isa. 53:7-9)
  • The Servant Satisfied (Isa. 53:10-12)

Suggested Focus:

  • The Servant‘s exaltation, humiliation and glory (52:13-15)
  • The Servant seen as a Lamb: the Lamb‘s life (53:1-4), death (53:4-9), and glory (53:9-12)
  • The vicarious nature of His suffering (53:4-6)
  • Six references to what He bore: He bore our griefs (53:4), He carried our sorrows (53:4), the chastisement for our peace was on Him (53:5), the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all (53:5)

Closing Address

Br. Steve Campbell