This week our sermon series moves ahead in the story Moses, where we rediscover the Bible as a reliable witness to the way God reveals himself to us.
Welcome
What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid?
Worship
Each week during the Reliable series we’ll ask the same question to start: During this past week as you read the Bible, did God’s Spirit work with these words to bring order and light, or purpose and capacity, or dignity and rest?
Are there any ways we can pray for each other this week – either in praise or in asking for God’s help? Before you pray, read Psalm 103 outloud.
Word
Read aloud Exodus 3:1-15, listening for any of the ways that God reveals himself to Moses in this story.
What does this encounter between the Lord and Moses reveal about the Lord? (Be sure to share which verse or statement you are looking at to arrive at that answer.)
How would you describe Moses’ reaction or response in this story? Is this what you would expect from an encounter with the Lord?
Read aloud John 14:5-14, listening for any of the ways that Jesus reveals himself in this interaction.
What does this encounter between Jesus and his disciples reveal about Jesus? What does it reveal about his relationship to God the Father?
If you were one of the disciples listening to Jesus, how would you respond to his words?
Which of those things that you have shared that are revealed about God in the stories from Exodus and/or in Jesus’ words to his disciples are especially important today as you turn to God?
Theology Side Note …
This week Pastor Laurie added to ways that the Bible is reliable. God’s word and Spirit are the source of new life (Creation) – the Bible is a reliable witness to God’s promises (Abraham) – and the words of the Bible are a reliable witness to God’s self-revelation to us (Moses). When we see Jesus, we see God – and what we see of the Lord in the Old Testament is also true of Jesus.
Scottish theologian T.F. Torrance asserted there was no fearful, shadowy “Old Testament God” hiding behind the back of Jesus. God is revealed in the Scriptures - and fully revealed in Jesus. The importance of this truth was firmly impressed upon Torrance during his service in World War II as a chaplain for the British army. After an engagement in Italy, TFT went in search for wounded soldiers:
When daylight filtered through I came across a young soldier (private Phillips) scarcely twenty years old lying mortally wounded on the ground, who clearly had not long to live. As I knelt down and bent over him, he said “Padre, is God really like Jesus?” I assured him that he was … As I prayed and commended him to the Lord Jesus he passed away.
Witness
Our words and actions, individually and collectively, reflect God’s character to others. What is one specific way this week that you can ask for grace to faitfully reflect to others the God revealed in Jesus?
Next Sunday is the Fall Festival in Howell Auditorium from 4pm-6pm. Talk as a Connect Group about your plans to attend – is there anyone that you can invite to join you?
Readings
Our readings this week follow God’s revealed character in the Old Testament, alongside Jesus’ “I Am” statements in the gospel of John.
As you read, ask, “How is God revealed in this passage?”
Monday, Oct. 23: Exodus 34:1-9 and John 6, especially 6:35
Tuesday, Oct. 24: Psalm 103 and John 8 especially 8:12
Wednesday, Oct. 25: Jeremiah 32 and John 10 especially 10:9-11
Thursday, Oct. 26: Job 38:1-7, Job 40:1-14, and 42:1-6 – and John 11 especially 11:25-27
Friday, Oct. 27: Isaiah 6:1-8 and John 15:1-17 especially 15:5
Saturday, Oct. 28: Lamentations 3:1-42 and Revelation 1:1-18
Sunday, Oct. 29: Exodus 6:28-7:7 and Luke 4:16-30