BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is celebrating the greatness of God. God gave us rules to show that He is holy. Sin keeps us away from God, but Jesus came to bring us back to Him. Jesus never sinned. We can trust Him to forgive our sin. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
As the rescued people of Israel traveled toward the promised land, God met with Moses at Mount Sinai and made a covenant with the Israelites. We refer to this covenant as the Mosaic covenant. God promised five things in this covenant: 1) Israel will be God’s own possession; 2) Israel will be God’s kingdom of priests; 3) Israel will be a holy nation; 4) God will defend Israel from her enemies; and 5) God will be gracious, merciful, and forgiving to Israel. Unlike His covenant with Abraham, God’s covenant with Israel was conditional: “Carefully follow every command I am giving you” (Deut. 8:1). “Be careful that you don’t forget the LORD your God by failing to keep his commands” (Deut. 8:11). “If you ever forget the LORD your God … you will certainly perish.” (Deut. 8:19). Isn’t it interesting how remembering God and obeying Him are so closely linked? You spend the most time thinking about that which you most care about. What occupies the most space in your mind? If we aren’t thinking about God, we aren’t loving Him. And if we aren’t loving Him, we aren’t obeying Him. We can group the Ten Commandments into two categories: The first four deal with a person’s relationship with God (love God), and the last six deal with a person’s relationship with others (love others). These laws encompassed every part of the Israelites’ lives and showed what righteous living looks like. Some people think of the Ten Commandments as a burden, but God’s rules are good and are meant to help us. The Bible is clear that we are all sinful and fall short of God’s standard for holiness. Why should we seek to obey God? Consider Jesus’ words: “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15). Read the Ten Commandments with Jesus in mind. Our obedience cannot earn us God’s favor, and our disobedience does not separate us from Him. God is pleased with us because He looks at Jesus, who never sinned. Because of Christ, we have a right relationship with God. He gives us power through the Holy Spirit to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37,39). GOSPEL APPLICATION
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BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is celebrating the greatness of God. God provided water and manna for His people’s physical hunger. Later, He provided His Son, Jesus, for our spiritual hunger. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). The Israelites needed bread to live for a little while, but whoever has Jesus will live forever. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
The Israelites had personally experienced God’s faithfulness as He directed them out of Egypt, fought for them as He parted the Red Sea, and then delivered them into the wilderness with the promise of a land of their own. What happened next is retold as a cautionary tale in both the Psalms and Book of Hebrews. The Israelites tasted freedom for the first time in 400 years, but their stomachs still rumbled. Maybe the Israelites had expected to go straight to Canaan. Instead, they were in a dry wilderness without water or food. They began to think of Egypt in a warmer light. Maybe slavery hadn’t been that bad. Isn’t that the lie that causes us to doubt God’s goodness? God saves us from slavery to sin; is following Jesus worth it? We know the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” But when life is hard and sanctification is trying, we— like the Israelites—sometimes stop trusting God. We grumble and complain. God, the faithful keeper of promises, did not bring His people out of Egypt to let them die in the wilderness, nor does He abandon His children today. God sent His own Son, who gave up His life to free us from sin. He promises us a new home with Him forever. If you had been among the Israelites, how do you think you would have responded? Can you think of a time your own circumstances had you questioning God’s goodness? Let the truth of Psalm 95:7 comfort you: “For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.” Israel’s history is given to us in the Bible because it reflects the Christian experience. We are to learn from it. (See 1 Cor. 10:1-11.) God cares for His people. He is faithful and keeps His promises. Our journey toward our new home of eternity will be challenging and trying, but we can rely on God—trusting His leading and provision. The Lord is worthy of our trust and worship. The Israelites needed this reminder, and so do we. Trust Him and obey Him because His way is better than any plan you can conceive. He is a providing shepherd who will lead us. GOSPEL APPLICATION
Last Sunday was our VBS Day 5 lesson and we learned that God is surprising! Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and never saw his family again for many years. After 21 years he was finally reunited with his brothers. They didn't recognize Joseph because he was a high official in Egypt in charge of all the food during a severe famine. God was in control working out His plan to recue His people even through the actions of Joseph's brothers. Jesus experienced the hardest most painful thing that anyone could experience for us. Jesus died on the cross taking the punishment of the sins for the entire world bringing salvation to all. Everyone who trusts in Jesus as their Lord and Savior are saved from the punishment of sin and have the hope of eternal life. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
Throughout his whole life, Joseph said, “I can’t do that…but God can!” Joseph didn’t take credit for the good things God was doing. “God is stronger than anything.” Everything God said through Pharoah’s dream happened. After 7 years of plenty, there was 7 years of famine. It was so severe everywhere and everyone came to Joseph for food, because he was in charge. One day Joseph’s brothers came too. And he recognized them! They were his brothers! Now that’s a surprise! After 21 years, here they were! God is surprising. And they didn’t even recognize him! Like everyone else, they bowed down in front of Joseph. Joseph’s dream from God came true! His brothers bowed before him. God was in control and working out His plan to rescue His people even through the actions of Joseph’s brothers. Joseph didn’t realize all God was doing while it was happening, but he was able to look back and see how God provided a way for his family to thrive in Egypt. And God used Joseph’s position for good. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food. Without his help, their family would have died. God also used the famine to bring Joseph’s family back together. What Joseph’s brothers intended for harm, God intended for good. Our great God- full of love, joy, and hope- continually lavishes surprises on us. Some may be as big as Joseph’s family showing up one day. Other times, a surprise treat from someone when you really need that extra boost. God’s good surprises – big and small- are gifts from a loving, faithful God. Joseph went through lots of hard things. Jesus experienced the hardest most painful thing that anyone could experience for us. Without Jesus there’s no hope for a friendship with God. We would stay in our darkness and sin. When Jesus died on the cross He didn’t stay dead. 3 days later He rose from the dead, He didn’t just conquer sin and make our hearts clean, He also conquered death. Sin in our lives may at times feel strong but we can be free because Jesus is stronger than anything. He beat death and gives us a new life. That dark day changed into something amazing and joyful. God is surprising! Now we can celebrate that we are forgiven and have new life with Jesus! GOSPEL APPLICATION
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December 2023
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