By my Name

Let's talk more about the significance of God attaching his name to his deliverance. In Exodus 6 we see how God keeps drawing attention to himself. "I am the LORD" is his refrain over and over again. I touched on the signficance of that, but how about you? What are seeing?

Also, what difference should that make for us? Is it merely an interesting theological point? What is God meaning to do by attaching his name to his deliverance?

I'm excited to hear what you say.

Pastor Brian


UPDATE: Here's the link to the Compassion Int. story I mentioned this morning.

We are peculiar, aren't we?

There is something really strange about the people of God turning to Pharaoh for help (Ex. 5:15-19). Why turn there? It doesn't seem to make much sense. But such is the wisdom of a heart bent on figuring this thing called life out on its own. I'm so thankful that God pardons such sin; that he doesn't quit on me when I act so foolishly and rebelliously.

What are you seeing in the text? I'd love to hear what God is showing you from our study of Exodus. Be an encouragement to me and to others by pointing something out in the text that we have looked at yet.

Blessings,
Pastor Brian

Lying words

**Before we start, if you're comfortable, please put your name down when you make a comment. Don't be bashful.

First of all, don't hesitate asking questions is you have any. Please know you have permission to ask any question you want.

We finished our sermon this past Sunday by looking at some common lies we are tempted to believe about sin, namely, 1) the warnings against sin are exaggerated, 2) the frontal assault against God's word (i.e. "did God really say?") and 3) deceiving ourselves by thinking we know better than God.

I'm sure there are more. What might some of those be? Help your brothers and sisters about by pointing out a lie or two that you are tempted to believe about God's word and your sin. If possible, contrast the lie with what the Word of God says.

Pastor Brian

I will harden Pharaoh's heart

God says this in Exodus 4:21, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go." As I said in the sermon on Sunday, that's a startling sentence.

This is not an isolated statement. God makes this clear time and time again in the book of Exodus; in addition to that, this is referenced and affirmed in other places in scripture.

God is over all and in all. Nothing escapes his sovereign grasp. While such information is challenging to understand, we need to gladly embrace what is truly revealed of God in his word.

Now, there is a temptation to think something like, "Well, I'm so glad Jesus isn't like this. I'm so glad our Jesus isn't like the god of the OT." Not so fast; Jesus says the exact same thing. Let me show you.

Jesus' disciples were perplexed as to why Jesus would teach in parables; they were just so hard to understand. Along with other things, Jesus quotes an OT passage explaining why he would teach in parables. It says, "You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them" (Read Matt. 13:10-17)

Do you understand what Jesus is saying? He saying, "I speak in parables to keep the hard, unrepentant in the dark. I'm keeping them from seeing and being healed." That's Jesus; kind, meek and tenderhearted Jesus. So, God hardening hearts and keeping people from repentance is not some obscure, isolated OT revelation; its something we all need to come to grips with.

So, any thoughts?

Pastor Brian

Summarizing God's call

This Sunday's sermon (9-27-09) concludes (for the most part) the theme of God's call in our time in Exodus. God is going to do an amazing thing and he wants to use a man (Moses) as his principle instrument. And here's the cool thing: God is going to do an amazing thing in the communities of Medford, Rib Lake, Abbotsford and Athens and he wants to use you, the people of FBC, as his principle instrument.

Of course, along with excitement, such a call produces uncertainty, fear and doubt. We're tempted to shrink in the face of a daunting task. So, in light of that, what message from God over these last two chapters (all of 3 and the first of 4) have been most helpful to you? Or, to think of it negatively, what area do you need the most help in? The categories are below:

3:7-12 ~ God gets his own work done
3:13-15 ~ God sends his servants out in His authority
3:16-22 ~ God guarantees success
4:1-9 ~ God has the power to overcome external obstacles
4:10-12 ~ God's power overcomes our limitations and inadequacies
4:13-17 ~ God is abundant in mercy even in the face of our unbelief

What do you need extra grace believing? Remember, this is a battle of faith so try and answer the question by addressing what you are failing to believe. Or, what else has God taught you as we've discussed this theme? Share with your brothers and sisters; you will all be blessed by the dialogue.

Where is your irreverence coming from?

The holiness of God was front and center in our sermon this Sunday (6-14-09). God's "otherness," his beauty and splendor and magnificence radiates from his presence, which produce in us an acute awareness of sin and unadulterated worship. But the sin and worldliness we feast on and let dwell in us darkens our eyes keeping us from seeing the glory of God. Of course, the remedy is repentance and confession of sin.

So what that might be for you? What's keeping you from seeing the radiant glory of God? Are ready and willing to get honest about your brokenness and sin?

What's clouding your view of the holiness of God? I'll go first: I too often fill and satisfy myself on things other than God. I spoil my appetite. I hate when I do that.

What are you doing that is clouding your view of God's holiness?

Brian

Grumbling and complaining

In the sermon on Sunday, I drew specific focus on the people of Israel finally crying out to God for help and how I/we have a hard time doing that. I mentioned that what we typically do is complain instead.

Do you complain much? I think when we are honest, we tend to complain a little more than we'd like to admit. Why is that? Why do we complain? And what do you find yourself complaining about? And what's the remedy? I'm curious to hear what you think.

Brian.