Unit 1 - Hickory Grove Baptist Church

Transcription

CHRONOLOGICAL
A.D.
B.C.
Volume 2
WINTER 2015-16: Personal
Study Guide ESV
Ed Stetzer Ge n e r a l E di t or
Trevin Wax M a n ag i ng E di t or
God’s Word to You
A Summary of the Bible
In the beginning, the all-powerful, personal God created the universe. This God
created human beings in His image to live joyfully in His presence, in humble
submission to His gracious authority. But all of us have rebelled against God
and, in consequence, must suffer the punishment of our rebellion: physical death
and the wrath of God.
Thankfully, God initiated a rescue plan, which began with His choosing the
nation of Israel to display His glory in a fallen world. The Bible describes how
God acted mightily on Israel’s behalf, rescuing His people from slavery and then
giving them His holy law. But God’s people—like all of us—failed to rightly
reflect the glory of God.
Then, in the fullness of time, in the Person of Jesus Christ, God Himself came to
renew the world and to restore His people. Jesus perfectly obeyed the law given
to Israel. Though innocent, He suffered the consequences of human rebellion by
His death on a cross. But three days later, God raised Him from the dead.
Now the church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by God to take the
news of Christ’s work to the world. Empowered by God’s Spirit, the church
calls all people everywhere to repent of sin and to trust in Christ alone for our
forgiveness. Repentance and faith restores our relationship with God and results
in a life of ongoing transformation.
The Bible promises that Jesus Christ will return to this earth as the conquering
King. Only those who live in repentant faith in Christ will escape God’s
judgment and live joyfully in God’s presence for all eternity. God’s message is
the same to all of us: repent and believe, before it is too late. Confess with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised Him from
the dead, and you will be saved.
A Word from the Editors
Ed Stetzer
General Editor—The Gospel Project
Executive Director, LifeWay Research
Who is Yahweh? Perhaps you think this a strange question, especially in this
context, but for every person who has a knowledge of God through faith in Jesus
Christ, there are countless more who echo Pharaoh’s words: “Who is the Lord
that I should obey his voice?…I do not know the Lord” (Ex. 5:2). And God is not
content with this situation; nor should we be.
In Genesis, God revealed Himself as the Creator and a Covenant-Maker. In
Exodus through Deuteronomy, God reveals Himself—to Pharaoh, the Egyptians,
and the Israelites—to be a Redeemer and a Lawgiver. Whether through displays of
His power or communication of His law, God’s concern was that the whole world
would know “I am the Lord.” There is no other God!
Nor is there another Savior than the One sent to redeem those who believe. You see, as grand as the
story of the exodus is—and it is a great and awesome historical account of God fulfilling His covenant and
bringing His people out of slavery in Egypt—as great as it is, it is still but a picture foreshadowing the even
greater reality that One would come to free people from their slavery to sin and death! So, experience the
ground-shaking account of Yahweh redeeming His people, but recognize the earth-shaking redemption
from sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and proclaim His freedom to the captives.
Trevin Wax
Managing Editor—The Gospel Project
Author of multiple books, including Gospel-Centered Teaching, Counterfeit Gospels, and
Clear Winter Nights: A Young Man’s Journey into Truth, Doubt, and What Comes After
When I was a kid, I wanted to memorize more than just Bible verses. I wanted to
memorize whole books of the Bible. I remember, around the age of 8, deciding I would
memorize the Book of Exodus. Epic fail. I only got a few verses in before giving up.
But looking back, it’s not surprising that I would choose Exodus. Here was the story of
Moses and his own deliverance and transformation into a deliverer to lead his people
out of slavery. The story fascinated me as a kid, and it captures me still today.
Exodus (and the rest of the books of law) shines a spotlight on God as the
Redeemer. Anytime in the New Testament we come across the words redeem or
redemption, we ought to think back to God’s redemptive work in Exodus. This is
the pivotal moment in Israel’s history that anchors the rest of the biblical storyline
and provides the framework for our understanding of God’s ultimate work of redemption in Jesus Christ.
As you and your group work through these fundamental plot points of the Old Testament (the exodus,
the Red Sea, the golden calf, the giving of the law, the tabernacle), I hope you’ll not only be swept up
in the drama of each story but that you’ll also grow in gratitude for what they teach us about God, His
salvation, and His mission to save His people to be a light to the world.
EDITORS
About the Writers
The Gospel Project®
Adult Personal Study Guide ESV
Volume 4, Number 2 Winter 2015-16
Eric Geiger
Vice President, LifeWay Resources
Ed Stetzer
General Editor
Trevin Wax
Unit 1:
Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei
Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also serves as
associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary. His books include Ordinary
and the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary on the
Book of Exodus, among others. He is happily married to
Kimberly, and they have five adopted children.
Managing Editor
Daniel Davis
Content Editor
Josh Hayes
Content and Production Editor
Ken Braddy
Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies
Michael Kelley
Director, Groups Ministry
Send questions/comments to:
Managing Editor,
The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide,
One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0102;
or make comments on the Web at
www.lifeway.com.
Printed in the United States of America
The Gospel Project®: Adult Personal Study Guide ESV
(ISSN 2330-9393; Item 005573553) is published
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One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234,
Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2015 LifeWay
Christian Resources.
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review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are
taken from the English Standard Version® (The Holy
Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All Scripture quotations marked (HCSB) are
taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®,
copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman
Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Unit 2:
Rick Morton (sessions 7-8) is Vice President
of Engagement for Lifeline Children’s Services in
Birmingham, Alabama, where he leads the ministry’s
partnership efforts to manifest the gospel to vulnerable
children around the world. He is married to Denise,
and they have two middle school sons and a daughter
in college.
Kendell Easley (sessions 9-12) is a professor of
biblical studies at Union University and is the director of
the Master of Christian Studies and Doctor of Ministry
programs for Union in the Memphis area. He also
serves as pastor of McLean Baptist Church in Memphis,
Tennessee. Kendell is married to Nancy, and they have
one married young adult son.
Unit 3:
D. A. Horton is currently serving in the Church
Planting Residency at Summit Church in Durham,
North Carolina. He and his wife, Elicia, and their
three children are preparing to plant a church in Los
Angles, California. He is working on his PhD in Applied
Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
WRITERS
Table of Contents
uggested for
S
the week of
Unit 1: God the Redeemer
December 6
10
Session 1 The Redeemer Responds
December 13
19
Session 2 The Redeemer Reveals His Glory
December 27
28
Session 3 The Redeemer Judges and Saves
January 3
37
Session 4 Worthy of Praise
January 10
46
Session 5 The Wilderness Test
January 17
55
Session 6 Rebellion Against the Redeemer
Unit 2: God the Lawgiver
January 24
65
Session 7 The Loving Lawgiver
January 31
74
Session 8 God of Our Relationships
February 7
83
Session 9 The Lawgiver’s Tabernacle
February 14
92
Session 10 Atonement Sacrifices (Part 1)
February 21
101
Session 11 Atonement Sacrifices (Part 2)
February 28
110
Session 12 The Law’s Blessing and Curse
December 20 Unit 3: Christmas
120
Special Session The Glory of Christmas

THE GOSPEL PROJECT CHRONOLOGICAL
A Journey Through the Storyline of Scripture
Fall 2015
The Story Begins
God the Creator (Genesis 1–11)
God the Covenant-Maker (Genesis 12–50)
Winter 2015-16 God Delivers
God the Redeemer (Exodus)
God the Lawgiver (Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy)
Spring 2016
God the Savior (Numbers, Joshua)
God the Judge (Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel)
Summer 2016
A Kingdom Established
Fall 2016
Prophets and Kings
6
The Promised Land
God the King (1–2 Samuel)
God All Wise (1 Kings, Job, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Proverbs)
God the Revealer (1–2 Kings, Isaiah)
God the Pursuer (Prophets, 1–2 Chronicles)
Winter 2016-17 Exile and Return
God the Sustainer (Daniel, Ezra)
God the Provider (Esther, Nehemiah, Malachi)
Spring 2017
The Rescue Begins
God the Son (Gospels)
God Among Us (Gospels)
Summer 2017
Stories and Signs
Jesus the Storyteller (Synoptic Gospels)
Jesus the Miracle-Worker (Gospels)
Fall 2017
Jesus Saves
Jesus the Savior (Gospels)
Jesus the Risen King (Gospels, Acts)
Winter 2017-18 The Church on Mission
The Spirit Who Empowers (Acts)
The God Who Sends (Acts)
Spring 2018
Letters to God’s People
The God Who Directs His People (Epistles)
The God Who Changes Us (Epistles)
Summer 2018
Come, Lord Jesus
God’s Prisoner (Acts, Epistles)
The God Who Makes All Things New (Epistles, Revelation)

7
How to Use The Gospel Project
Session 8
1
Session
8
God of Our Relationships
In this session we examine the six Commandments
that focus on honoring God in our relationships.
We will see that God calls us to honor Him by
honoring our father and mother, by loving our
neighbors as ourselves, and by cultivating a heart of
contentment. One of the primary ways we show
our love for God is by loving others who are made
in His image.
Voices from
the Church
“We are not called to the
love of Torah but to the
Torah of love.” 1
–Scot McKnight
THEOLOGICAL THEME: God’s law reflects God’s intention for human
flourishing in society.
Read the session in preparation
for group discussion. Record
any insights or questions you
may want to discuss during the
group experience.
1. We honor God by honoring our parents (Ex. 20:12).
In 2014, a reality TV series called Utopia premiered. The show’s premise was simple—
put 15 diverse individuals in a rustic setting and watch them live together with, as the
slogan said, “no leaders, no rules, no plumbing.” The show was a $50 million failure,
and that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Civil society cannot exist without rules and laws.
We are created by God to need structure. We crave order because order is a reflection of
God ‘s character. His orderly nature is seen in everything from the order of creation to
His prescriptions for order in worship.
God’s orderly nature and how it applies to our lives are often misunderstood. Too many
times, Christians see a contrast between the Old and New Testaments as if the Old
is only law and the New is only grace. As we saw in the previous session, this is a false
dichotomy. Exodus 19 shows that Israel was a delivered people living in covenant with
God. God was not telling them to earn His favor through their obedience. He had
already chosen and delivered them. In His Commandments, God was showing the
people what it means to live in grace.
Imagine a society without leaders and rules. What would it be like?
12
Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land
that the Lord your God is giving you.
How we relate to our parents provides a foundation for all our relationships, especially
our interactions with those in authority. Authority brings order to society, and God’s
command to honor our father and mother sets a model for how we are to respond to
other authorities in life.
God calls us to honor our parents in response to God’s redeeming love for us. The
Hebrew word translated “honor” means to make weighty and carries a positive sense of
giving respect in abundance.
Because all human parents are sinful, they may be “worthy” of honor in varying
degrees. But God does not call us to weigh our parents’ worthiness and then decide
whether or not to honor them. He calls us to honor them as a way of honoring Him, of
recognizing His authority in our lives.
How does your relationship with your parents impact how you view God?
What would you like about it? What would be wrong with it?
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Date of My Bible Study:
Session 8
______________________________
3. We honor God by cultivating a heart of contentment
(Ex. 20:17).
2
Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or
female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
75
How is Christ getting glory through how I am living in my circumstances?
17
Coveting is not just an obsessive desire to have something. It is being convinced that we
can truly delight in someone or something more than God and be fulfilled. It is
self-worship by believing that placating our desires will satisfy us.
The only cure for coveting is the gospel. Left
to our own devices, we will always choose to
fulfill our desires over trusting God to fulfill
us. We need rebirth through Christ to stop the
restlessness in our hearts and to give us peace
and contentment.
Voices from
the Church
“Contentment means
wanting what God wants for
us rather than what we want
for us. The secret to enjoying
this kind of contentment is
to be so satisfied with God
that we are able to accept
whatever he has or has
not provided.” 4
Paul said that we learn contentment (Phil. 4:11-13).
That means finding contentment takes work.
We need an education in contentment! We have
–Philip Graham Ryken
to work in the power of the Spirit to shut out
distractions and focus our yearnings on Christ.
Only through Christ can we put our selfishness to
death. Only Christ fills our longing for rest and peace. Only Christ can make us content
with God’s plan for our lives and His provision.
Gather with your group to
discuss and learn together what
God has to say. Contribute to the
conversation and activities.
Daily delving into Christ’s story of redemption is vital. Focusing on our life
circumstances in terms of the gospel is too. Asking questions like these can help us keep
our heart on Christ:
How do my reactions show that I am content and trusting in Christ’s provision?
Whom has God put in my path for me to show and tell the gospel?
What disciplines (prayer, Bible study, etc.) do I need to fill my life with to help me
see Christ more fully?
How is the community of believers I am part of contributing to my awareness of
Christ and His gospel in my life?
How can the time I spend with people help me know Christ more?
Conclusion
How we live with others and value others is a direct reflection of Christ’s presence in our
lives. The Ten Commandments are not merely a list of don’ts. They are an expression of
how Christ transforms us to live as citizens of His kingdom. Through all our relationships,
we have an opportunity to live for the glory of God and to point people to Christ.
CHRIST CONNECTION: As the sinless Savior, Jesus is the only One who has
kept the law perfectly. He demonstrated His love for others by laying down
His life in their place.
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Personal Study Guide
• Winter 2015-16
Session 8
81
Session 9
HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION
3
MISSIONAL APPLICATION: Because we have experienced God’s
great love toward us, we are called to love and seek the good of
our neighbors.
1. How will you seek the good of your parents in order to honor God?
Session
9
The Lawgiver’s Tabernacle
THEOLOGICAL THEME: The tabernacle was built so it would be possible
for a holy God to dwell among a sinful people.
My mother was the quintessential homemaker. As an excellent seamstress, she made
most of the clothes we kids wore. Whenever Mom wanted to sew something beyond
the basics, she’d go down to the fabric department at Sears and thumb through the
Simplicity pattern books until she found what she was looking for. She’d purchase
the fabric and pin the pattern pieces on the fabric; then she’d meticulously follow the
pattern. The clothes always came out beautifully.
2. What are some specific ways we can actively obey the law with a mind-set
of love toward others?
Apply the truths of the session
by working through “His Mission,
Your Mission” with your group or
by yourself.
Times have changed for me. Neither my wife nor I sew, so we wear “store-bought
clothes.” Yet I learned a valuable lesson from Mom—if you want something to come out
right, follow the pattern.
Did you grow up in a home in which an adult was skilled at a craft that
included following a pattern? What was the skill? Did you learn this
craft from him or her?
3. How is our mission supported by being content and generous?
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Personal Study Guide •
Winter 2015-16
What templates do you currently follow in any area of your life
for work or for leisure? How important is it for the pattern to be
followed carefully?
______________________________
83
Visit GospelProject.com/Blog for additional content related to the study.
Visit GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources for links to podcasts, articles,
and blog posts related to each session
8
•
Winter 2015-16
Unit 1
God the Redeemer
Exodus
Memory Verses
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the
Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you
shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
–Exodus 14:13-14
Writer
Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
He also serves as associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Seminary.
9
Session
1
The Redeemer Responds
THEOLOGICAL THEME: God is good and just. He sees the suffering of the
oppressed and promises redemption.
In the 1980s, a song titled “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the Bangles shot up the charts and
led to people of all ages doing the lighthearted “sand dance.” (The move was supposed to
reflect ancient Egyptian art.) Even today, people unfamiliar with the song know the dance.
However, “Walk Like an Egyptian” doesn’t lead you to take Egypt very seriously. For
many in the West, Egypt is known primarily for ancient pyramids or King Tut’s tomb.
In the period of the exodus, however, people feared Egypt. Egypt had mighty Pharaohs,
great building projects, and they were in touch with dark power. Everyone took Egypt
seriously. Israel certainly wasn’t doing the Egyptian sand dance. They were enslaved
to the Egyptians, and it’s the awfulness of their slavery that sets the dark backdrop for
God’s glorious deliverance that takes place.
Why were the Israelites in Egypt?
How would their slavery have affected their view of God’s
covenant promise?
In Exodus 1:8, we read that a new king over Egypt dealt harshly with the Israelites.
As a result, Joseph’s family was brought under political slavery (1:8-10), economic
slavery (1:11-14), social slavery (1:15-22), and spiritual slavery (3:18; 4:22-23; 5:8). They
desperately needed to get out of Egypt.
10
______________________________
© 2015 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.
“Exodus” means “a going out” or “departure.”
This book of the Bible provides the historical
account of God’s deliverance of His people from
Egypt’s cruel slavery. In this session, we see how
God responds to Israel’s terrible plight by listening
to the prayers of His oppressed people, revealing
His character to Moses, and promising to deliver
and redeem them. Watching God reveal Himself
and His justice should inspire us to worship our
Redeemer and pursue His mission in the world.
Voices from
the Church
“God is grieved by the sin,
death, and power of hell
that afflicts His world, and
is sacrificially involved in the
removal of all that destroys
and alienates His world
from Himself.” 1
–Joshua Ryan Butler
1. God responds by listening to the prayers of the
oppressed (Ex. 2:23–3:10).
During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned
because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came
up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
23
God heard. God saw. God took notice. God’s attentive nature is revealed throughout
the Scriptures (ex. Ps. 34:15). God’s people can cry out to their God and trust that
He hears them and cares about their situation. These cries from the Israelites were of
particular interest to God because of His covenant with Abraham (2:24). God’s purpose
of redemption and mission given to Abraham in the Book of Genesis continues in the
exodus story. God cares about His people.
Sinful, evil deeds often remain hidden in the world and in our lives. How
does it comfort you to know God sees every sinful deed done against you?
How does it challenge you to know that God sees every sinful deed you
have done against Him and others?
Session 1
11
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of
Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the
mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out
of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not
consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush
is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw
that he turned aside to see, God called
to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he
said, “Do not come near; take your
sandals off your feet, for the place on
which you are standing is holy ground.”
6
And he said, “I am the God of your
father, the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And
Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to
look at God.
1
God spoke to Moses and called him to take his sandals off as an act of reverence (3:5;
see Josh. 5:13-15). God then identified Himself with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob (3:6), giving Moses a bit of personal history of Himself. The Scripture says
Moses “hid his face” in response (3:6). Why? Because Moses was in the presence of
the Holy One. We should understand Moses’ fear. We should also maintain a sense of
reverence before God. However, as believers, we don’t have to hide from God in terror
because of the work of Christ. We are hidden in Him (Col. 3:3)! Therefore, we can seek
God with confidence because of the work of Christ.
What is the difference between being “terrified” by God and being
“awed” by God?
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•
Winter 2015-16
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt
and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them
up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to
the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and
the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and
I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will
send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
7
In verses 7-10, this holy God responds to the cries
of the oppressed by revealing His plan to Moses.
God’s motive appears in verses 7 and 9. God told
Moses that He was aware of the people’s desperate
situation, echoing the words of 2:23-25 and
showing us that God does indeed hear our cries.
Next, God responded by explaining His purpose to
Moses. God was going to save them from something
(slavery) for something (worship and witness).
That’s exactly what has happened to us through
Christ’s work on our behalf. In Ephesians 2:1-10,
Paul told the Ephesians that they had been saved
(by grace through faith) from wrath and for good
works (see also Col. 1:13-14).
99 Essential
Christian Doctrines
43. Enslaved to Sin
Because of the fall of Adam
and Eve in the garden of
Eden, all of humanity has
inherited a sin nature that
inclines them toward sin and
rebellion. Human beings are
enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:17),
continually living with the
propensity to transgress
God’s commandments
whenever possible. It isn’t
until one experiences
salvation through the work of
Christ that he or she is able to
overcome sin’s enslavement
through the power of the
Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:2).
How does it encourage you to know
that God hears the cries of the oppressed?
Session 1
13
2. God responds by revealing His character (Ex. 3:11-15).
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the
children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the
sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you
shall serve God on this mountain.”
13
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The
God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall
I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the
people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the
people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am
to be remembered throughout all generations.
11
Moses wasn’t eager to go on mission. In the following dialogue, Moses made several
excuses for not obeying God’s call. God responded to each of Moses’ excuses and
questions with statements about His own sovereignty and power.
This section is deeply encouraging. If you feel as though God is sending you to
do something beyond yourself, the key is to take your eyes off of your failures and
weaknesses. Get a vision of God. Moses too had to recognize that God is enough.
Moses’ first argument was about himself—he was an average guy, and he didn’t have
great influence. Yet God responded to Moses by revealing what’s most important—
Himself. God said, “I will be with you” (3:12). Throughout the Bible, this is what God’s
leaders need to lead—God’s presence. It’s the nonnegotiable for serving God.
What are some areas in which you feel unqualified or unable to do what
God has called you to do?
How does God’s presence and His promise enable you to go on?
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Winter 2015-16
Moses’ next big question was “What is Your name?” (3:13). It was obviously important
to know who God is, especially if you are going to tell a group of people that God sent
you! Merely saying, “I heard a voice in a bush,” wouldn’t be very persuasive.
So God told Moses His name (3:14-15). God revealed His name as “Yahweh”
(commonly rendered as “Lord” in English) in verse 15. Great mystery exists here. No
one really knows how to pronounce God’s name, and the meaning is mysterious also, but
the meaning seems to be related to the idea of this verb “to be.” In other words, “God is.”
He is central. He has no beginning. He causes everything to be. He alone is God.
Does it move you when you hear, “Tell them I AM sent you”? God was saying that He
is absolutely central. Paul later said, “For from him and through him and to him are all
things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36). Is God central in your life? Is He
central in your marriage? Is He central in your ministry? God told Moses that the most
important thing about his mission was God Himself!
Behold, the greatness of your God. God is selfexistent and self-sufficient. God needs no air, no
sleep, and no food. He doesn’t need us, but we need
Him! God wasn’t like the Egyptian false gods. He
was and is the one true God on whom all things
depend. God is also majestic in His mysteriousness.
We will never have God totally figured out. He
doesn’t involve us in His work because He needs us;
He includes us because He loves us.
Voices from
Church History
“[God] needs no one, but
when faith is present He
works through anyone.” 2
-A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
When we feel inadequate to obey God’s call, what are some ways we
can move our eyes from the magnitude of the task to the majesty of
God Himself?
Session 1
15
3. God responds by promising redemption (Ex. 3:16-22).
Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of
your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying,
“I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that
I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with
milk and honey.” ’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel
shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has
met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we
may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you
go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt
with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give
this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
22
but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for
silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your
daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
16
In this striking promise, Moses was learning what it means to be a prophet: to declare
God’s message and to trust in God to work in people’s hearts. Consider how God told
Moses that the elders “will listen to your voice” (3:18). This wasn’t the last time God
would promise Moses that people would respond to His message.
Notice also that Moses and the elders were going to say to Pharaoh: “Please let us go
a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God”
(3:18). We see here that Israel wasn’t just enslaved physically, but they were enslaved
spiritually too. They needed to be freed in order to worship (see 7:16; 8:1,20; 9:1,13; 10:3).
Even though the elders would listen to Moses’ message, God reminded Moses that Pharaoh
would not listen, at least not initially. God told Moses that in response to Pharaoh’s refusal,
He would intervene with His “mighty hand” performing wonders (3:19-20).
Moses still wasn’t convinced. In chapter 4, he argued with God and gave excuses, all of
which God answered. God is looking for reporters, not orators. We do not have to make
fine speeches; we just give the news. Moses had to learn, like us, that “it’s not about
you!” It’s about the I AM.
16
•
Winter 2015-16
What are the fears that most hinder you from speaking on God’s behalf?
How can we overcome these excuses with faith in God’s
promised redemption?
Conclusion
The plan was in place! God responded by
revealing His promise of redemption to the
reluctant shepherd-mediator, Moses. And here we
look forward through the Scriptures to Jesus, the
great I AM who gave us an even greater revelation
of God’s goodness and righteousness. He is the
Good Shepherd who would lay down His life
for His sheep in order to lead us out of a greater
slavery into a greater freedom—from the kingdom
of darkness into His kingdom of light.
Voices from
the Church
“Exodus-shaped redemption
demands exodus-shaped
mission. And that means that
our commitment to mission
must demonstrate the same
broad totality of concern
for human need that God
demonstrated in what he did
for Israel…Our mission must be
derived from God’s mission.” 3
–Christopher Wright
As the people of God’s kingdom, we are formed
by God’s deliverance. In this story, we see how
God promised deliverance from (1) socio-politicalphysical-economic slavery and (2) from spiritual slavery. Christians should care about
alleviating both types of human suffering: temporal suffering and especially eternal
suffering. Let’s do both in the power of our self-sufficient, prayer-hearing God.
CHRIST CONNECTION: God told Moses His name “I AM” as a revelation of
His good and righteous character. Jesus is the great “I AM” who gave us an
even greater revelation of God’s goodness and righteousness.
Session 1
17
HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION
MISSIONAL APPLICATION: God calls us to be conscious of the
plight of the oppressed and, in response, to show and share the
love of God.
1. How can we make sure our ears are open to injustice and oppression in our
world so we can respond with good works in Jesus’ name?
2. W
hat are some ways we can increase our sense of reverence for God?
3. H
ow should your redemption from sin through Jesus, the great “I AM,”
change the way you think about your circumstances?
18
•
Winter 2015-16
Notes
SESSION 1
SESSION 6
SESSION 10
1. Joshua Ryan Butler, The Skeletons in God’s
Closet (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2014), 15.
1. Os Guinness and John Seel, eds., No God
but God (Chicago: Moody Press, 1992), 23,28.
2. A. W. Tozer, quoted in 1001 Quotations
That Connect, eds. Craig Brian Larson and
Brian Lowery (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2009), Quotation 495.
2. A. W. Tozer, “The Essence of Idolatry,” The
Alliance [online], 16 September 2018 [cited
15 May 2015]. Available from the Internet:
www.cmalliance.org.
1. “Saint Valentine,” Infoplease [online],
2007 [cited 11 May 2015]. Available from the
Internet: www.infoplease.com.
3. Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of
God (Downers Grove: IVP, 2006), 275-76.
3. Adrian Rogers, in Adrianisms: The Wit and
Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, vol. 1 (Memphis:
Love Worth Finding, 2006), 109.
SESSION 2
1. Adrian Rogers, in Adrianisms: The Wit and
Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, vol. 2 (Memphis:
Love Worth Finding, 2007), 75.
2. Billy Graham, in Billy Graham in Quotes,
eds. Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), 336.
3. Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission
of God, 266.
4. Mark Galli, A Great and Terrible Love
(Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010), 126-27.
SESSION 3
1. W. A. Criswell, Basic Bible Sermons on the
Cross (Nashville: B&H, 1990), 67.
2. John Bunyan, The Work of Jesus Christ as an
Advocate (Minneapolis: Curiosmith, 2010), 25.
3. John Piper, “You Will Be Eaten by
Cannibals! Lessons from the Life of John G.
Paton,” Desiring God [online], 8 February
2000 [cited 20 April 2015]. Available from the
Internet: www.desiringgod.org.
4. Ibid.
5. John G. Paton, John G. Paton: Missionary
to the New Hebrides (London: Hodder and
Stoughton, 1891), 376.
SESSION 4
1. Martin Luther, quoted in Then Sings My
Soul, Special Edition, by Robert J. Morgan
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 15.
2. J. D. Greear, Jesus, Continued (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2014), 175.
3. Lesslie Newbigin, The Household of God
(Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2008), 122.
4. Tim Keller, “Getting Out,” The Gospel
Coalition [online video], 12 April 2011 [cited
22 April 2015]. Available from the Internet:
www.thegospelcoalition.org.
5. Ibid.
6. C. H. Spurgeon, “Israel at the Red Sea,”
The Spurgeon Archive [online], 30 March
1856 [cited 22 April 2015]. Available from the
Internet: www.spurgeon.org.
SESSION 5
1. C. H. Spurgeon, “Marah Better Than Elim,”
Spurgeon Gems [online], 4 April 1889 [cited
23 April 2015]. Available from the Internet:
www.spurgeongems.org.
4. Augustine, On the Psalms, in Nicene and
Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, ed. Philip
Schaff, vol. 8 (New York: Cosimo, reprinted
2007), 477.
5. Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, vol. 2 in The
New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H,
2006), 670.
6. D. L. Moody, “Prevailing Prayer,” in The D.
L. Moody Collection, ed. and comp. James S.
Bell Jr. (Chicago: Moody, 1997), 253.
SESSION 7
1. Christopher J. H. Wright, Knowing Jesus
Through the Old Testament (Downers Grove:
IVP, 1992), 196.
2. Oswald Chambers, in The Quotable
Oswald Chambers, comp. and ed. David
McCasland (Grand Rapids: Discovery House
Publishers, 2008), 258.
3. Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods (New
York: Dutton, 2009), xix.
SESSION 8
2. William Cowper, “There Is a Fountain,”
in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWorship,
2008), 224.
3. John Currid, Nobuyoshi Kiuchi, and
Jay A. Sklar, in ESV Study Bible (Wheaton:
Crossway, 2008), 217-18, n. 1:1-17; n. 1:3-4;
n. 1:5-9; n. 1:10-13.
4. Ibid., 218, n. 2:1-3.
5. Holman Illustrated Study Bible (Nashville:
B&H, 2006), 128.
6. Cyril of Alexandria, “Glaphyra on
Numbers 2,” quoted in John 11–21, ed. Joel
C. Elowsky, vol. IVb in Ancient Christian
Commentary on Scripture: New Testament
(Downers Grove: IVP, 2007), 61.
7. Matt Chandler with Jared Wilson,
The Explicit Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway,
2012), 144.
SESSION 11
1. Elisabeth Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1958), 151.
2. Reformation Study Bible (Lake Mary, FL:
Ligonier Ministries, 2005), 160, n. 5:1-6.
3. NIV
Study
Bible
(Grand
Rapids:
Zondervan, 1995), 1875, n. 13:10; and David
W. Chapman, in ESV Study Bible (Wheaton:
Crossway, 2008), 2385, n. 13:9-11.
1. Scot McKnight, Jesus Creed (Brewster,
MA: Paraclete Press, 2014) [eBook].
4. David W. Chapman, in ESV Study Bible,
2374-75, n. 9:13.
2. Bede, On 1 John, quoted in James,
1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude, ed. Gerald Bray,
vol. XI in Ancient Christian Commentary on
Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove:
IVP, 2000), 201.
SESSION 12
3. C. H. Spurgeon, “Joseph Attacked
by the Archers,” The Spurgeon Archive
[online], 1 April 1855 [cited 14 September
2013].
Available
from
the
Internet:
www.spurgeon.org.
4. Philip Graham Ryken, Written in Stone
(Wheaton: Crossway, 2003), 212.
SESSION 9
1. J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Living
God’s Word (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2012), 55.
2. A. W. Tozer, in Tozer on Worship and
Entertainment, comp. James L. Snyder (Camp
Hill, PA: Wingspread Publishers, 1997) [eBook].
3. Matt Papa, Look and Live (Bloomington,
MN: Bethany House, 2014), 31.
1. Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan
(Downers Grove: IVP, 1991), 143.
2. Charles Spurgeon, The Parables of Our
Lord, vol. 3 in Miracles and Parables of Our Lord
(Grand Rapids: Baker, reprinted 1989), 413.
3. Paul Barker,
369, n. 27:12-13.
in
ESV
Study
Bible,
4. Augustine, On Romans, 75, quoted in
Romans, ed. Gerald Bray, vol. VI in Ancient
Christian Commentary on Scripture: New
Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 1998), 330.
5. Hilary, On Matthew, 4:16, quoted in
Matthew 1–13, ed. Manlio Simonetti, vol. Ia in
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture:
New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP,
2001), 97.
SPECIAL SESSION
1. J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove:
IVP, 1973), 53.
2. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on John,
2015 Edition, Sonic Light [online PDF, 246], 14
February 2015 [cited 17 April 2015]. Available
from the Internet: www.soniclight.com.
2. Clement of Rome, “Recognitions of
Clement,” quoted in The Ante-Nicene Fathers,
vol. VIII, eds. Alexander Roberts, James
Donaldson, and Arthur Cleveland Coxe (New
York: Cosimo, 2007), 87.
3. Matthew Henry, An Exposition of the Old
and New Testaments, vol. 1 (New York: Henry
C. Sleight, Clinton Hall, 1883), 864.
4. Nancy Guthrie, The Lamb of God: Seeing
Jesus in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 107.
129
PLAYLIST
To download this quarter’s recommended playlist of songs,
go to LifeWayWorship.com/GospelProject.
Get the following collection of great songs and artists:
“Mighty Redeemer”—Grace Chapel Worship
“My Tribute / Redeemer”—Nicole C. Mullen
“Beautiful Exchange”—Hillsong Live
“Alive”—Hillsong Young & Free
“Everything Falls”—Fee
“Come As You Are”—David Crowder
“Hymn to His Coming”—Shelly E. Johnson
“No Greater Love”—Matt Maher
“Light of the World”—Chris Tomlin
“Alive and Free”—New Life Worship
“At the Cross (Love Ran Red)”—Passion
“Overwhelmed”—Big Daddy Weave
“Let Us Adore”—Elevation Worship
Also consider searching out this track for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday:
“Good, Bad, Ugly”—Lecrae
130
•
Winter 2015-16
BHPublishingGroup.com
The Gospel Project
God Delivers
According to the plan of God, demonstrated in the life of Joseph,
God’s people left the promised land for Egypt to find relief from
a famine. There they prospered until a new Pharaoh rose up and
enslaved them. Their cries were heard by their covenant-making
God, who began His glorious work of redemption of His people
through a mediator, Moses. Through many miraculous displays
of His power, God redeemed His people and led them out of
slavery, a foreshadow of the greater redemption from sin that
comes through the mediator Jesus Christ.
After God redeemed His people from slavery in Egypt, He led
them to His mountain to receive His law. God made clear for the
Israelites, and for us, His perfect expectations and His desire to
dwell with His people. But because sin separates people from
God, provision was made to atone for sin through a holy place
and holy offerings, both of which point to Jesus. He took up
residence among us and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice
to atone for sin once and for all.
What’s Next?
SPRING 2016
Volume 3: The Promised Land
SUMMER 2016
Volume 4: A Kingdom Established
God the Savior (Numbers, Joshua)
God the Judge (Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel)
God the King (1–2 Samuel)
God All Wise (1 Kings, Job, Eccl., Ps., Prov.)
SOME OF OUR UPCOMING WRITERS
Afshin Ziafat
Matt Boswell
J. D. Greear
WWW.LIFEWAY.COM
Web: GospelProject.com Twitter: @Gospel_Project Facebook: TheGospelProject
WINTER 2015-16