Working Out With Weights: How the Glory of God Shapes Us (Exodus 33:12-34:9)
April 14, 2024 • Jared Bridges • Exodus 33:12—34:9
Dear OBC Family,
There's an old adage that goes something like this: "In order to get strong, you have to pick up something heavy." Lifting weights builds muscle, and resistance shapes our bodies and makes us stronger. The weight of God's glory likewise shapes us and strengthens us in ways that we can't do ourselves.
This Sunday, we'll take a brief detour from our series on Genesis to ponder how the glory of God affects us and shapes us. We'll look at Exodus 33:12-34:9, and see how Moses encountered God's glory (or some of it) in the wake of his people seeking glory elsewhere. God's glory is foundational for any covenant relationship with him, and it's also foundational in shaping us from the image of ourselves into the image of Christ.
This week we will be having a time of corporate confession. To help you prepare, we are sharinghttps://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3d1986024976%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7cea5166ddae1046b8e54108dc5b2f41a2%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638485505761255405%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=rg7q18scpris%2fyjjywsarvw6e1hkbv%2bw9mdlkzyvdxu%3d&reserved=0https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3db61b4fad31%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7cea5166ddae1046b8e54108dc5b2f41a2%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638485505761266085%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=wvt4znyajn9tdlqto7zggzojm0%2bm2slrijmhfnff5yw%3d&reserved=0.
For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,
Pastor Jared
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Discussion & Response Questions (Exodus 33:12 – 34:9)
What have been your previous perceptions about glory?
In Exodus 33, Moses asks the Lord to show him his glory? Why was this an impossible question?
The Lord answers the Moses's plea, but not in the way that Moses expected. How did Yahweh's answer (Ex. 33:19) suit Moses better than what he asked for?
What are some ways that the weight of sin and the weight of the world compete with God's glory?
What are some things that cause us to be short sighted in recognizing God's glory?
What are some ways that we often push against the "resistance training effect" that God's glory has upon us?
What are a few tangible ways that the glory of God can shape how we live?
Because of sin, we're ultimately incapable of truly seeing God's glory on our own. How does the grace of God in the person of Christ help us in this respect?
A Song for the Journey (Exodus 15)
August 27, 2023 • Derek Bass • Exodus 15
On Sunday, we look forward to turning our attention from Titus to the glorious Song of the Sea, the victory song of Moses in Exodus 15. In the Bible, God’s plan of salvation always includes judgment. And those who sing most passionately, do so because their sins have been forgiven and the judgment of God has passed. Indeed, in Christ Jesus this is our hope and our song.
And in looking at the lyrics of Moses’s Song, we will see more clearly who God is and what he has done—and is still doing—for his people. If you feel afflicted, discouraged, and defeated, this song of victory will be a great help. And wonderfully, it will be brought to us by Dr. Derek Bass.
Derek and his wife, Elizabeth, are friends from Southern Seminary. Derek has been teaching Old Testament at the https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3d2f378b27eb%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c01%7c%7c5ca5e6b0b32648c39fba08dba5ac126b%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638285930690607837%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c3000%7c%7c%7c&sdata=2t9gvwuyqpushakwo1mis4exw0l5bx5ecfqzei7xahc%3d&reserved=0 for years. And before returning to Amsterdam for the Fall semester, he and his family are joining us on Sunday.
Also, on Saturday evening, at 6:00pm, we will be hosting a dinner for them and they will be sharing about their work, which trains pastors for service all over the world. Please https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3ded8afbb28c%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c01%7c%7c5ca5e6b0b32648c39fba08dba5ac126b%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638285930690607837%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c3000%7c%7c%7c&sdata=ld0udqpy2rkmezcpxspqnsxk6h1q%2bkqbtcsvs5rujqs%3d&reserved=0 before the day is over :-)
To prepare for Sunday, take time to Read Exodus 14–15. Chapter 14 gives you the historical account. Chapter 15 gives us the poetry of praise. Both are needed to understand the historical reality of this event, as well as the typological nature of the event. That is, Exodus 15 foreshadows the salvation that we find in Christ. So read those chapters and pray for Christ to be magnified as we gather on Sunday.
As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing at 10:00am for worship. If you are coming for youth and children’s training, that will happen at 9:00am.
For His Glory and your joy in Christ,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions: Exodus 15
Why do Moses and Miriam sing? Do you think about your singing in this way?
What do these songs emphasize about who God is? About what God has done?
How do God’s enemies compare to Him?
What is the arc of Moses’ song?
Notice the shift from singing (vv. 1-21) to grumbling (vv. 22-24). What does this reveal about Israel, and about God?
What is significant about this instruction (vv. 25-26) following Israel’s redemption from Egypt?
How would you describe the work of God in this text?
How does this text point forward to New Covenant realities?
How ought we to respond to this text?
