The Ministry of the Word – Exodus
June 1, 2025
INTRO …Reading Our Bibles in the 21st Century American Suburbs
…We’re Talking about Bible Reading in the Most Distracted Age in Human History!
Bible Reading Lifestyles that are like “Personal Need Junkies” - the conditions, pace, and soulish conditions of our lives can invent a certain “approach” or “default” for our Bible reading. An approach where we treat the Bible like an “antibiotic”. We only take it when we’ve got a “Felt-Need-Infection”
…And we pull up to the Exodus Story
Ex 1-12 …the History & Final Days in the “House of Slavery”
Ex 13-18 …a 3 month (47 day?) journey into the wilderness out of Egypt
Ex 19 - 40 + Lev. + Num. 1-10 …The Mt. Sinai Chapter …a Lot of Instruction! …a Lot of New Concepts
a Covenant
The Tabernacle …with LOTS of Meaningful Furnishings and Procedures
The Levitical Priesthood
The Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation
A Mission - Enter the Promises of God
…SOME of These Biblical Truths Might Not Be What You Run to for a “Life-FIX”!!! …But, If you want to Understand God, His Big Purpose, Your True Need, Earth’s Conditions, and the Hope of Redemption… You Will NEED These Truths!!
D&D Exercise – Bible Study Basics … “The MOUNT SINAI Episode”
? – What Kind of “Life-FIX” Moments Have You Lived Through?
? – How Might the Content/Revelation Given at Mt. Sinai Inform & Impact Your “Life-Fix-Moments”?
Read (Observe), Interpret (Intended Meaning), Apply (How does this Matter to Me?)
Exodus 19
Exodus 20:1-21
…So, What are We Looking for When We Read Our Bibles?
• Does My Bible Reading Feature MY AGENDA? …I’m Looking for a “FIX” …I’m looking for some emotional help (comfort/courage for a moment) …or a “Life-Bandaid” or ANTIBIOTIC
• Does My Bible Reading Feature GOD’s AGENDA?
(1) What Does This Passage Reveal about God?
(2) What Does This Passage Reveal about Redemption? …specifically about THE CHRIST?
(3) What Does This Passage Reveal about Man? (Man’s condition, man’s need, the impact of the fall, the struggles & temptations of humanity …How are human beings vulnerable in this passage?)
(4) What Does This Passage Reveal about God’s PURPOSE in Creation and His PROMISES to His People?
(5) How Does This Passage Help Me Understand the BIG REDEMPTIVE STORY of God from Genesis to Revelation? (What other passages offer insights on what I see in this passage?) [Sys. Theo.]
(6) How Does This Passage Inspire, Inform, Convict, Correct, Equip, or Apply to My Life? (Remember, 2Tim 3:16 and Heb 4:12)
Exodus 19
“MEET GOD”
…This is a Unique Historic Moment of Exchange!
Meet the God Who Isn’t “SEEKER CONTROLLED/SENSITIVE”
…How Will God Speak & Interact with Them? …What topics will he cover first? …What will be his “Pace of Introduction”? …What “topics” are “Off-Limits”??
Exodus 19
v. 4 …Be mindful of what God has done to lead you to this moment in your life! …God has vanquished foes, miraculously provided for you, and Brought You HERE—TO HIMSELF!
?? – How are you “managing your life approach” in light of THIS Calling on Your Life? …Ultimately, You are Called TO GOD HIMSELF!!
[Creation Mandate] …BUT… that calling Doesn’t Mean you’ll Hang Around the Tabernacle All Day Waiting for the Manifest Presence of God …Nor does it mean that you now have the Seraphim’s Job Assignment to ONLY “Tend to the Throne” and Cry out ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord…’
Adam/Eve were “GOD-CENTERED” …and they worked the Garden and Imaged God in their Subduing & Having Dominion over the Earth!!
v. 5-6 …4 Things I Want & Need to See Reading This Passage…
(1) The Call to OBEDIENCE …the Posture of “Will-Deferral” …a Posture of Surrender & Open-Handedness
Sin/The Fall …have made ME the Center of the Universe. My default setting = “MY WILL BE DONE”
The Lingering Problem from the 80’s/90’s Popular Church Culture—
…Does My Walk with Jesus Not Work Very Well—Because my Will Does Not Prioritize OBEDIENCE?
(2) Covenant Keeping …This is like being Mindful of the U.S. Constitution …a Defining Document! …a Way of Life!
(3) A Treasured Possession …Ready?—God is NOT FAIR!! …He Declares that “They Will Receive Special Treatment”
…This Massively Informs Your Theology …while it ‘offends’ our man-defined value system!
…Noah …Abraham!
…Israel gets a “deal” that NO OTHER NATION gets
…NOTE: Why These Things Are This Way—v. 5 “for all the earth is mine”
(4) You Shall Be a KINGDOM of PRIESTS … Destiny & Identity DEFINING!!
(5) You Shall Be a HOLY NATION …NOT just an Individual with an Individual Plan & Preference
1Pet 2:9-12 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
v. 9-11 …a Liturgy of Preparation
v. 17-21, 20:18-20 …the Fear of the Lord— (1st Impressions are Lasting Impressions)
Just as Moses Recognized & Responded to the “Strange-Holy-Nature” of God in the Burning Bush—God’s People are to Be Aware of This Dimension of God’s Nature!!