Hey Everyone!
Well, as you all know, the last few weeks have been a little crazy. Two weeks ago, we didn't have Sunday School due to the Spring Bible Conference and last week we didn't have our regular Sunday School class, but instead enjoyed a time of fellowship with our Quarterly Young Adult Fellowship. So, this week we jumped back into Exodus with a study of the Israelites' journey from the Red Sea to Mt. Horeb, in the southwestern part of the Sinai Peninsula. As you will remember, it was at Mt. Horeb where God originally called Moses and sent him to Egypt, so now Moses has come full-circle.
It's probably easy for many of us to see the complaining and grumbling of the Israelites and realize how foolish it was and become critical of them. However, this is not much different than where many of us find ourselves when we complain about our jobs or finances or relationships, etc. Here, as well as countless other times in the first two books of the Bible, we see God's grace and mercy displayed clearly. Not only did God patiently endure the petty whining of his children, but he also provided for them in spite of it. What an amazing God we serve!!
Outline: Exodus 15:22-17:7
By the way, I also wanted to remind everyone of our class fellowship this Thursday night at my house. We will have a cookout starting around 6pm and then we'll hang out, play some games, and enjoy the evening together. I'll be providing the burgers and hot dogs, but we need you to sign up to help with other things. Follow this link to sign up to bring something. If you can't bring something, please don't let that stop you from coming. We're going to have a great time and don't want you to miss it!! Email me at living2serve@gmail.com if you need directions to the house.
See you then!!!
~~Johnny
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Several Make-up Posts...Sorry!
Well, I have to start by apologizing...for some reason I thought that I had posted last week's outline, but it appears that I saved it as a draft instead of actually posting it, so this post will be a make up post for the last few weeks...now, where to begin...
The last post was after Sunday school on 3/23, so I guess the next thing would have been the Midweek Bible Study on 3/27, The Rebel's Guide to Joy in Exhaustion. What we found is that the hard work in the life of a believer comes in the form of sanctification, the process by which God works in and through us to mold us into the likeness of Christ. This means that our circumstances, both good and bad, ultimately become opportunities for God to work in and through us...and that can be exhausting!!!
Then last Sunday (3/30), we continued our study of Exodus with the Israelites' departure from Egypt, the regulations for observing passover given, and the consecration of the Israelites' firstborn. This happened in Exodus 12-13 and we understood from all the specificity given that we come to God on his terms, not ours.
Last Thursday, 4/3, we finished the next-to-last study in our series, The Rebel's Guide to Joy in Anxiety, and we were challenged by the idea that the sin in anxiety comes from placing our fears, concerns, and stress ahead of Christ and his ability to overcome them. In a sense, when we place our fears and worries as the focus of our life, we remove our focus from God and then anxiety becomes our god. This was a very challenging study for most of us and we found that we all struggle with this from time to time...some of us more than others. In addition, when we allow anxiety to come between us and our relationship with Christ, we suffer not only the strain of that relationship and the stress of anxiety, but we are also resisting the work of God in our lives as he seeks to sanctify us through our challenges.
Finally, today we studied Exodus 14-15, the well-known miracle of the parting of the Red Sea and the song of Moses and the Israelites after they were delivered from the pursuing Egyptian army. We saw how the Lord's hand was with his people and in protecting them from the Egyptians, He ultimately demonstrates his sovereignty and power as the only One who is worthy of glory.
The last post was after Sunday school on 3/23, so I guess the next thing would have been the Midweek Bible Study on 3/27, The Rebel's Guide to Joy in Exhaustion. What we found is that the hard work in the life of a believer comes in the form of sanctification, the process by which God works in and through us to mold us into the likeness of Christ. This means that our circumstances, both good and bad, ultimately become opportunities for God to work in and through us...and that can be exhausting!!!
Then last Sunday (3/30), we continued our study of Exodus with the Israelites' departure from Egypt, the regulations for observing passover given, and the consecration of the Israelites' firstborn. This happened in Exodus 12-13 and we understood from all the specificity given that we come to God on his terms, not ours.
Last Thursday, 4/3, we finished the next-to-last study in our series, The Rebel's Guide to Joy in Anxiety, and we were challenged by the idea that the sin in anxiety comes from placing our fears, concerns, and stress ahead of Christ and his ability to overcome them. In a sense, when we place our fears and worries as the focus of our life, we remove our focus from God and then anxiety becomes our god. This was a very challenging study for most of us and we found that we all struggle with this from time to time...some of us more than others. In addition, when we allow anxiety to come between us and our relationship with Christ, we suffer not only the strain of that relationship and the stress of anxiety, but we are also resisting the work of God in our lives as he seeks to sanctify us through our challenges.
Finally, today we studied Exodus 14-15, the well-known miracle of the parting of the Red Sea and the song of Moses and the Israelites after they were delivered from the pursuing Egyptian army. We saw how the Lord's hand was with his people and in protecting them from the Egyptians, He ultimately demonstrates his sovereignty and power as the only One who is worthy of glory.
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