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Exodus

June 3rd, 2018

June 3, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Passage: Exodus 40 Theme: God dwells with his holy people What we learn about God from the end of Exodus: • God immanently resides • God transcendently abides • God providentially guides What we learn about us in contrast to Israel from the end of Exodus: • We permanently display God’s glory. • We continually access God's presence. • We confidently walk by God’s guidance. Main Idea: As God’s holy people, we possess and reflect God’s presence individually and corporately. Application Questions: 1. How is it that one receives God’s presence in their lives today? Can we lose God’s presence in our lives? 2. Read Exodus 34:29–35 and 2 Corinthians 3:12-18. What contrast does Paul make between Moses’s display of God’s glory and the way God’s glory is displayed in the lives of believers? In what ways is this comforting to you? What applications does Paul make for us in 2 Cor. 4? 3. Compare and contrast the presence and worship of God in the tabernacle with his presence and worship in the church today. 4. How does the knowledge that God guides his children give you confidence to approach life?

May 27th, 2018

May 27, 2018 • Pastor Josh Kee

Passage: Exodus 34 Title: God’s Glory Revealed Through Mercy Summary: This week we will look at perhaps the most significant passage in Scripture in regards to God’s relationship with mankind. Join us as we stare into one of the most glorious statements ever made by God, asking ourselves where our hope finds its foundation and where our worship finds it source. Outline: I. Moses’s Request (33:18-23) — “Show me your glory" II. God Reveals His Glory (34:1-7) — Proclaims His name a) God’s Glory is His Character (vv. 6-7) b) God’s character is the basis of His covenant (vv. 1-5) c) God’s character is affirmed in five statements (vv. 6-7) d) God is holy and will not pardon the wicked (v. 7) III. Moses’s Prayer (34:8-9) — “Go with us and undergird a stiff-necked people" IV. God’s Response (34:10-28) — “I will make a covenant with you" V. Moses speaks to the people (34:29-35) — The glory of the word of the LORD Questions: 1. What do verses 6-7 reveal about God’s character? 2. What is the basis of your hope as a Christian? Are you experiencing hope? 3. What is the basis of your worship as a Christian? Do you struggle to worship God? Why? 4. Are you trusting anything besides God’s character, promises, and faithfulness for your security? What else are you trusting? 5. Is your joy rooted in God’s mercy toward you? Are you enjoying God’s mercy toward you? Are you assuming God will be merciful toward you without turning to him? 6. If you have received God‘s mercy, how quick are you to extend that mercy to others who need it in your life?

May 20th, 2018

May 20, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Passage: Exodus 32–33 Theme: The Golden Calf: Israel’s Rebellion and God’s Response Basic Movements of the Story: • Rebellion (32:1–29): People Create worship according to their own design rather than God’s plan • Mediation (32:30–33:17): An innocent one pleads on the people’s behalf for God to be merciful • Renewal (33:18–23): God chooses to act out of his goodness and grace to enter into relationship again. Main Idea: God responds to his mediator by demonstrating his goodness to rebels who deserve his wrath. Application Questions: 1. Look at Exodus 32:1–8. From the text, describe what sin(s) the people are committing. What commands are they breaking? What does this indicate about their relationship to God? 2. Why do we rebel against God when he has clearly worked to save us? 3. Compare and contrast the mediation that Moses accomplishes in this text with what Christ has done for those of us who have placed our faith and trust in him. What NT passages describe Christ’s work in this way? 4. What does this story teach us about God and how he relates to us?

May 6th, 2018

May 6, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Theme: God's Providential Presence Passage: Exodus 23:20-24:18 1. God fights for his people (23:) o Our response:  Heed what he says (21-24)  Worship him alone (24-27) o His provision:  He will provide everything you need for life (25b-26).  He will accomplish his will and plans for you (27-33). 2. God desires fellowship with those who are his (24:1-18). o Submission and Sprinkling (3-8) o Access (9-18) Main Idea: God has provided everything necessary for his holy people to enjoy life in relationship with him. Application questions: • In 23:20–33, what does God say he will do for his people? What does this look like for us today? • What responsibilities do we have in these same verses? • In chapter 24, what is God trying to teach his people by limiting access to his presence? • Why did the people need to be sprinkled with blood in verse eight, what does this demonstrate to us? • What encouragement can we take today from this text?

April 29th, 2018

April 29, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Theme: The Book of the Covenant Passage: Exodus 20:18-23:19 Outline: • Transition and Introduction: The Fear of God and Worship (20:18–26) • Case Laws (21:1–22:17) • Individual Regulations (22:18–23:9) • Laws concerning Worship (23:10–19) Key Themes • All people are equal before God. • Human life is valued above all else in creation. • God sovereignly watches over and cares for all aspects of life. Main Idea: God wants his holy people to love and worship him while treating others as they would want to be treated. Application Questions: 1. How does Exodus 20:18–26 affect your view of God and how he should be worshipped? 2. Read through Exodus 21:1–23:19. As you do, mark which laws seem as if they could easily be applied to our lives today or address situations found in society today. Also mark laws that don’t seem like they apply at all. Do you think it is valid to apply some but not other laws from this passage to our lives today? 3. From the way that Paul speaks of and uses the law, what do the following NT passages seem to indicate about the validity of the law for us today: Romans 10:4; Ephesians 6:1–3; 1 Corinthians 9:8–12?

April 22nd, 2018

April 22, 2018 • Pastor Josh Kee

Title: Coveting: Pay Attention to Your Desires Passage: Exodus 20:17 Summary: Proverbs 30:15 // “The leech has two daughters; ‘Give’ and ‘Give,’ they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, ‘Enough’: Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, ‘Enough.’” This week we will look at the tenth commandment, “You shall not covet.” Many have called this the root of all other covenantal infractions and there is perhaps no more important heart issue to give our attention to that that of coveting. Join us this week as we look at what the command means, why breaking it is devastating to the individual as well as the community, and how to guard our hearts against it by God’s grace. Outline: Definition :: Coveting = an inordinate desire for something that is not ours The Relationship between Command #10 and Command #1 The Supreme Issue of the Heart and the Radical Call to Vigilance What Coveting Does: :: Leads to all other sin :: Breaks relationship with God and with others :: Destroys community :: Causes us to waste our lives on the wrong things :: Prohibits us from enjoying God’s gifts How to Discern Covetousness: Q’s we must ask ourselves about our desires Fighting Covetousness :: How to Cultivate a Vision for Glory Discussion Q’s: 1. What causes you to be most discontent? 2. What do you crave most in this life? 3. Does the object(s) of your desire have any hope of lasting? 4. What is your attitude towards others who possess what you don’t? 5. Do you spend more time thinking about the world or the kingdom of God? What are you willing to sacrifice more for? 6. How are you cultivating a vision for God’s glory?

April 15th, 2018

April 15, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Passage: Exodus 20:16 Theme: Do not Bear False Witness Old Testament Understanding of the 9th Commandment False Testimony in legal contexts Extension to include lying more generally Jesus’ Teaching on Truthfulness for his Followers (Matthew 5:33–37) We shouldn’t swear by oaths at all. Our words should be fully truthful. Main Idea: God’s holy people should be marked by truth in all we say and do. Application Questions: Take a look at the following passages to discuss how the OT extends the 9th commandment to include lying: Deut. 5:20; Lev. 19:16; Josh. 7:11; Hos. 4:2. What are the dangers of justifying false statements? Is it ever appropriate to lie? How do you apply Jesus’ statements about truthfulness in Matt. 5:33–37? How can we use our speech to constructively build one another up through our speech (list scriptures that you can recall)?

April 8th, 2018

April 8, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Passage: Exodus 20:15 Theme: Do Not Steal OT Understanding of Stealing: 1. Kidnapping (21:16) 2. Theft of property (22:1–9) 3. Any form of dishonest gain (Deut. 25:16) 4. Mistreatment of those in need (Ezek. 18:7) Principles that must be kept in mind: 1. Stealing degrades God’s gift of work to humanity (Gen. 1:28–29; 2:15–16). 2. Stealing includes the amassing and hoarding of stuff when poverty is ever-present (Isa. 3:16–26; James 5:1–6). 3. God expects his people to love their neighbor by treating them and their possessions with respect (Exod. 23:4–5). 4. Our possessions belong to us by the grace of God, not by our own right or merit (Deut. 8:18). Main Idea: God’s holy people must treat others and their possessions with the dignity that God has bestowed on them. Application Questions: • What practical applications can we draw from the commands and laws given in Exodus 22:1–15? • How do the mandates that God gave to humanity at creation (Gen. 1:28–29; 2:15–16) inform our understanding of work and possessions? • What picture is painted by the following OT passages: Isaiah 3:16–26; Amos 8:4–6; Micah 3:1–3)? • What should change in our lives based on James 5:1–6?

March 25th, 2018

March 25, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Theme: 7th Commandment: Do Not Commit Adultery Passage: Exodus 20:14 The Old Testament Understanding of the 7th Commandment. What this prohibition included. What this prohibition didn’t include. Jesus’ Teaching on Adultery in Matthew 5:27–30 Even the lust that motivates adultery is sin. You must take drastic measures to remove the source of temptation from your lives. Your very souls are at stake. Main Idea: By his grace and empowerment, God’s holy people seek to remain sexually pure in thought and deed. Application Questions: What are the similarities and differences between the way that the OT law described adultery and how we define it today? Is it even possible to stop “lusting?” What sort of drastic measures have you used or are you presently using to remove the source of sexual temptation from your life? Why do you think Jesus stated that it is better to lose a body part than your whole body go into hell? Does this suggest that a person that sins in this area will automatically go to hell? What do you think that he meant here, and what does this mean for us today? How might heart idolatry fit into this?

March 18th, 2017

March 18, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Theme: Sixth Commandment: “Do Not Kill” Passage: Exodus 20:13 The OT understanding of the commandment What “Do not kill” meant What “Do not kill” didn’t http://meanhttps://dashboard.thechurchapp.org/7792/#/library/media/series/7796f222-990e-4f0a-aff1-74e8db00215c Jesus’ Application of the commandment for his followers (Matt. 5:21–26) The spiritual motivation: anger and hatred (21–23) The remedy: reconciliation (24–26) Main Idea: As God’s holy people, we must resist the temptation to harbor anger and hatred toward others by seeking reconciliation quickly. Application Questions: What is meant and not meant by the commandment “do not kill” in the OT? Consider the following verses in formulating your response: Exodus 20:13; Genesis 9:3–6; Exodus 22:2; Deut. 19:5; 2 Sam. 12:9; 1 Kings 21:19). How does Jesus reinterpret/apply the commandment to his followers in Matthew 5:21–26? Discuss ways in which we can resist anger. Is all anger wrong? Have you ever had to reconcile with a fellow believer? If so, share your experience. Why do we struggle with doing this today?

March 11th, 2018

March 11, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Theme: Honoring Parents Passage: Exodus 20:12 Command: Honor your father and mother A broad and open-ended command More than simplistic obedience Reward: So that you may live long … Point of the Passage: In order to live in God’s will, we are to respect the parents he has allowed us to have. Application Questions: What does honor your father and mother mean? Why do you think that God doesn’t provide any exceptions to this command? Does this mean that a child must obey their parents no matter what they tell them to do? How is Paul’s command in Ephesians 6:1–3 similar yet different from the fifth commandment? Can we apply the promise at the end of the command to our lives today? How? Do we ever grow out of this command?

February 25th, 2018

February 25, 2018 • Pastor Josh Kee

Passage: Exodus 20:8-11 Title: Remember the Sabbath: A Call to Rest Summary: God's command for Israel to remember the Sabbath was an invitation to rest. It was to be a privilege rather than a burden. The Sabbath was to be a sign of God's covenant with Israel as given on Mt. Sinai. Join us this week as we look into the fourth commandment and consider what it means for believers today. Outline: I. What did the Sabbath mean for Israel (vv. 8-11) - Remembrance (v. 8) - Representation (vv. 9-10) - Rest (vv. 10-11) II. What does the Sabbath mean for the Church? - Receive - receive God's grace and be blessed by God - Rest - quit striving, trust God, restore your soul - Rejoice - celebrate God's goodness and his provision and anticipate your ultimate rest in Christ Discussion Q's: 1. Where are you prone to be self-reliant? 2. When is the last time you truly rested? What do you do to rest and be refreshed? 3. Do you see God's command to rest as grace ("get to") or burden ("have to")? Why? 4. How does rest help keep us from idolatry? 5. What drives you refuse/ neglect stopping to rest? 6. Do you see your typical busyness as noble or rebellious?

February 18, 2018

February 18, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Passage: Exodus 20:4–7 Theme: Idolatry and God’s Name Second Commandment: Worship nothing but God (4–6). • Two aspects to this command: o Do not worship created things rather than God. o Worship God according to his terms. • Reason: God jealously desires the faithfulness of his people. • Result: Punishment and Blessing Third Commandment: Respect the name of the Lord (7). • Speak rightly about God. • Use his name properly. • Represent his name well. Main Idea: God’s holy people demonstrate their loyalty through their worship and representation of him. Application Questions: 1. Discuss what is meant by idolatry according to Exodus 20:2–6. What form does idolatry take in your life? 2. How can we fail to worship God according to his terms? 3. What do you think about the fact that God jealously desires you to be faithful to him? 4. What are ways in which we can fail to respect the name of the Lord?

February 11th, 2018

February 11, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

Outcomes for the Ten Commandments: • Loyalty to relationship with God • Moral integrity of individual • Health of covenant community Prologue to the Ten Commandments (1–2): Basis for obedience • Obedience stems from a genuine relationship with God. • Obedience follows freedom not bondage. First Commandment: Remain loyal to God (3). Main Idea: God demands those who belong to his redeemed community of faith remain loyal to him. Application Questions: 1. Are we required to obey the Ten Commandments today? Be able to provide reasons for your answer. 2. What benefit does obedience to the commandments have for the individual? What benefit does obedience have for the covenant community? 3. How do verses 1 and 2 influence how we should interpret the commandments? 4. How can you restate the first commandment found in v. 3 into a positive command? What does obedience to this command look like in real life?

February 4th, 2018

February 4, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff

1. The covenant community of faith reflects who they are (1–8): • We are the recipients of God’s saving activity. • We are God’s treasure possession. • We are a kingdom of priests. • We are a holy nation. 2. The covenant community of faith responds rightly to God’s holiness (9–25). • Understand that contamination separates us from God. • Trust and follow his means of approaching him. Application Questions: 1. Discuss the sequence of God’s activity and the outcome for his people that is described in Exodus 19:4–6. What is the significance of obedience and covenant faithfulness found in v. 5? 2. What is one of the purposes for God’s approach according to v. 9? How do we apply this today? 3. What do you think the significance was for all of the rules and ritual purification that takes place in vv. 10–15? How do you think this made the people feel? 4. Why do you think that God seems to be repeating himself in this chapter, especially vv. 20–25? 5. Read and discuss how 1 Peter 2:4–12 and Hebrews 12:18–24 apply this passage to our lives today.

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