Sun, 21 April 2024
Could you name the Ten Commandments? Studies done over the years show that the majority of Americans and even Christians struggle to recall them. While memorization is valuable, it's more important for us to grasp the truths embedded within the words spoken by God to His people. Truths that are still relevant for us today. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Why is it important to understand that the commandments are a faithful response to God and not a prerequisite for a relationship with God? Reflect upon modern-day idol worship. How do modern-day idols (anything or anyone other than God that you make the ultimate thing in your life) affect our lives and relationship with God? What idols are you prone to serving? Discuss the significance of the third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." How does our behavior and speech reflect on God's reputation? What would the people in your life say or think about God based upon your interactions with them lately? |
Sun, 14 April 2024
The people have reached Mount Sinai. The mountain where it all began–just as God had promised when He first appeared to Moses in a burning bush: I will be with you, and this shall be a sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain. The promise is being fulfilled. The time has come for them to meet the God they will serve. Will they obey His voice? Will we? |
Sun, 7 April 2024
I am a sucker for survival shows. Shows where people are dropped into remote locations and they have to live off the land. There is a reason why those shows are filmed in non-arid settings. There is no harsher survival setting than the wilderness of the desert where there is no relief from the scorching sun and the parched earth seems to stretch on forever. After the Red Sea event, this is where Israel found themselves. In an existentially threatening environment. The wilderness. They learned some quick lessons in the wilderness—what their bodies needed for survival, basic provisions such as food and water. They were also reminded from whom all provisions come. Morning by morning, God provided them bread from heaven, which was but a foretaste of what was to come. Food and water for the soul. |
Sun, 31 March 2024
There are certain places that one can and should expect to find certain things. For example, if you want good food or quick food, there are right places to look and there are wrong places to look. There is one thing the world is desperately seeking, but will never find no matter how hard they try – life. The world is desperate to be and feel truly alive, but it will never happen, at least not in a way that lasts, because the world is looking for life in all the wrong places. What about you? |
Sun, 24 March 2024
Nothing Jesus ever did was by accident. If you look closely every detail matters. One example of this is the specific date Jesus rode into Jerusalem one final time for a passover celebration. The date of His triumphal entry was just as significant as the day itself. What happened that day tells us that the Jews in Jerusalem believed that Jesus was their long awaited King, but the literal date tells us something they didn't see, something they misunderstood: Jesus was not just their conquering King, the lion of Judah, He was also their Passover lamb. P.S. This week is Palm Sunday where the kiddos of our church will have the chance to wave palm branches. Please be in the sanctuary no later than 10:30A so the kids have the whole body present to cheer them on as they parade through the sanctuary. Seriously, don’t be late this weekend. It’s for the kids! -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Nothing Jesus did was by accident. Reflect on the significance of the timeline leading up to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as described in John 12. How does this timeline relate to the events of the Passover in Exodus 12? What insights does this parallel provide about Jesus as the Passover Lamb? Discuss the reality that Jesus is both the conquering King and the Passover Lamb. How does this challenge conventional notions of power and kingship? How does it redefine victory and hope for followers of Jesus? Consider the current cultural attitudes towards suffering and how they contrast with the Christian perspective. Do you agree that contemporary Western culture struggles to cope with suffering? Why or why not? What about you? Are you more likely to suffer with hope or struggle to cope? |
Sun, 17 March 2024
Fear is an interesting word in the Bible, isn’t it? Its meaning is twofold—in one sense it means dread and in another it means reverence. Unfortunately, these two types of fear are enemies of one another. Mutually exclusive. You can only go with one fear at a time. The former stops you dead in your tracks. The latter leads to life. At the Red Sea, the people made their choice. Which will you choose? -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Look again at the references to Joseph’s charge about his bones in Genesis 50:25, Exodus 13:19 and Hebrews 11:22. What do these references tell us about Joseph’s faith and hope? What do they tell us about our faith and hope? Consider the two types of “fear” in Exodus 14 (v. 10, 31). How does the fear of the Lord differ from other fears? How does the call to “Fear not, but go forward in the fear of the Lord!” resonate with you this week? How does the fear of the Lord free us from other fears we might have? Have there been situations in your life where you felt like the Israelites, trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea? Have there been times when God has stepped in to help you and to make his presence and power known? Discuss what these meant to you at the time. |
Sun, 10 March 2024
Have you ever had an experience that you never want to forget? Or maybe an event that looking back, meant your life would never be the same? Like the thrill of starting fresh in a new city, the excitement of landing your dream job, the magic of meeting the love of your life, or all the feels that fill you when you hold your child for the first time. For the people of Israel, such a moment has arrived, one so monumental that their God reset their entire calendar for it: the Passover. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Why was the first Passover necessary? Reflect on the idea that God is serious about who He is and what He has promised. How does the Passover demonstrate God's character as both just and merciful? Discuss the difference between “passover” faith and passive faith. Which do you feel best describes your faith right now? What’s one way you can grow in active and obedient faith? In what ways did the New Testament writers see Jesus as the ultimate Passover lamb? Does it change your heart/appreciation for the word of God in any way? Why or why not? |
Sun, 3 March 2024
Jeremiah 17:9 reads, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The answer to Jeremiah’s question is “God, and God alone.” He not only understands the heart but is completely sovereign over the heart and is the only one wise enough, good enough, and great enough to use even the most wicked of human hearts in accomplishing His perfect plan and purpose. Don’t believe me? I give you Exhibit A: The Heart of Pharaoh. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion How does the reality of God’s hardening Pharaoh’s heart challenge your understanding of God's sovereignty and human responsibility? Reflect on the implications of God's sovereignty and mercy in your own life. How does understanding these concepts affect your relationship with God and your response to His word? Consider the call to not harden our hearts in response to God's voice. How can we cultivate hearts that are receptive to God's leading and mercy? |
Sun, 25 February 2024
We’ve reached the infamous showdown between God and Pharaoh with a capital “P,” who in a way represents all of us. He is the archetype of the wickedness and stubbornness of the human heart. “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice?” Pharaoh asks. The Plagues are God’s answer to the question. He is God and there is no other. How will we respond? -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion How does God’s purpose in the plagues—that people would know that He is Yahweh—represent the opportunity for Pharaoh and Egypt (and the Israelites, too) to experience His grace and mercy? How was Pharaoh’s false repentance, prompted by the plagues, different from genuine repentance? What are some characteristics of false humility and repentance? Pharaoh’s actions as the plagues progress reveal that we oftentimes qualify our repentance and submission to God. Some of these reservations persist for many years after our conversion. What are some ways God is calling you to move toward complete submission and obedience to Him? |
Sun, 18 February 2024
After Moses and Aaron first confront Pharaoh, things go from bad to worse for the people of God, and understandably, the people can't deal with it. It’s not a question of “if,” but “when.” Jesus once said that we can all expect trouble in this world. How will we ever learn to deal with it? God has the answer to our question. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion When facing the troubles of the world, hatred and/or hardship in life, where do you typically turn for help? How might you better turn to God? The sermon discusses the concept of "Pharaohs" in our lives—things or people that bring hardship. Can you identify any "Pharaohs" in your life currently? How do you typically confront or deal with them? Genuine faith is tested faith. Have you experienced times when your faith was tested? How did you respond? What did you learn from those experiences? Reflect on the "I will" statements of God in Exodus 6:6-8. How do these statements reflect God's character and His promises to His people? How can we trust in these promises during times of trouble? |