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.

Moses and Me: the long journey to humility

Moses went from a position of significance in the Egypt to obscurity in a foreign land. He wasn't even "good enough" to belong to a group of slaves. That's quite remarkable to think about; he was even rejected by his own people.

You know, Moses could have fought against this descent. Maybe he even did, we don't know all the details of the story. But through the providential circumstances, he had no other option other than accept his rejected lot in life. For Moses, humility meant he stopped fighting for something other than his reality.

Why do you and I fight against our reality (i.e. our brokenness, sin, evil, addictions, weakness, vulnerability)? I have my ideas, but what are yours? And according to the message on Sunday, what do we lose when keep holding tight to the illusion of respectability?

I'd be curious to here your thoughts on anything related to our Sunday message.

Did they lie or not?

In our passage this morning, pharaoh ordered Shiphrah and Ruah, these Hebrew midwives to kill these babies if they were boys. Ex. 1:17 says, "But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live." Then when pharaoh asks the midwives why they didn't do as he commanded they answered (vs. 19), "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them."

What do you think of their response? Do you think they are being dishonest to pharaoh? Do you think there could possibly be an explanation for what they said; maybe we don't have full story? Do you think they lied to pharaoh or not? And does it matter? What might be some of the implications if they were dishonest?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
Pastor Brian

No compromise

Following up from our sermon on Sunday (5-10-09), I'm curious to hear you respond to a couple of things.

1. When I live life by my way rather than Jesus' way, I know I'm missing out seeing God work. What do you think you're missing by doing life your own way?

2. What do you think is holding you back from living fully in the love and grace of God? Are you afraid of what others will think? Maybe you don't know what that means; maybe you are new to this whole Jesus think and you're thinking, "I'm not even sure how to live with God?" Are you being distracted from life with God because of all the clutter around you? Maybe there's another reason (educate me!).

Pastor Brian

No Accidents with God

We learned this Sunday that the people of Israel weren't in Egypt by accident, but instead by the providential hand of a merciful and gracious God.

God has you right where he wants you even if that has come through the unjust actions of others. Nothing escapes the providence of God and being good God is always working good for his children. What do you think about that and why? Is this an encouragement to you or not? If yes, why? If not, why?

Don't be content with you initial reactions, whatever they are. Explore why you think and feel the way that you do. Examine why you might see this as encouraging or discouraging. It's only when we get honest with ourselves do we really begin to grow.

I'm anxious to hear what you say.

Pastor Brian