Tag: Discipleship

Missions Moment

On By BrianIn Missions Quotes

blue-world-map

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.  Worship is.  Missions exists because worship doesn’t.  Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man.  When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more.  It is a temporary necessity.  But worship abides forever.

– John Piper

Reflections on Exodus 18-20

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God comes down onto the mountain with thunder and lightning, fire and earthquake, to speak to the people.  Observe:

  • God’s authority – God had the right to command the people of Israel.  He created them both individually and as a people.  He redeemed them from bondage.  He is the one true God, and he speaks with absolute authority.  Have you placed yourself under his authority?  Will you submit to God, or are you still trying to do things your way?
  • God’s commands – He gives the people 10 commands that sum up God’s moral expectations.  Throughout the rest of the Scriptures, we see these commands repeated and applied.  Read through them again.  Can you claim to be guiltless?  Can you stand spotless before God?  Remember today how desperately you need a Savior!  And ask God to help you grow in your obedience.
  • Fear the Lord – The people see the smoking mountain and hear God’s voice thunder, and they are justifiably terrified.  Moses tells them not to be afraid (in the sense of being scared), but rather to fear the Lord (in the sense of reverent awe).  Do you have a healthy fear, a reverent awe of Almighty God?

Reflections on Exodus 14-17

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God leads the people of Israel into the wilderness, but Pharaoh and his army chase after them.  Consider:

  • God’s powerful deliverance – God creates a way through the sea for the people to walk through, but he crashes the waters down on their enemies.  How has God powerfully brought you through a sea of troubles?
  • Israel’s praise – After they are saved from the Egyptian army, the people of Israel begin to praise him for what he has done.  Do you praise God when he answers your prayers and helps you in difficult times?  Take some time now to praise God for his help in your life.
  • Grumbling – After so many demonstrations of God’s power and help, you would think that the people would go forth trusting God in all things.  Instead they grumble – indicating a lack of trust in God.  They grumble about no food.  They grumble about no water.  Instead of looking to God, they grumble – as if God was impotent or uncaring!  Grumbling is a terrible affront to God’s character.  Do you see this tendency in your own life?  How might you cut off this evil habit?

Exodus 14-20: Responding to God’s Deliverance

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(14) God definitively defeated the Egyptians and delivered his people at the Red Sea.  What three things did the people do according to verse 31 (notice the three verbs), and how do these actions relate to each other (see also v10-13)?

(15-17) When faced with a lack of food to eat and water to drink, the people grumbled.  What does that tell you about their faith?

When are we tempted to grumble?  What does that tell us about our faith?

(17) What two things does Moses do when the Amalekites attack?  What does this tell you about the relationship between faith and action?

(19-20) God comes down to the people on Mt Sinai to give them the Ten Commandments.  What motivations are given for their obedience? (see especially 20:2 and 20:18-21).

How might these motivations help you to overcome sin and obey God?

(15) In response to God’s deliverance, the people are to trust God and obey God.  They also break forth in praise.  What do you learn about praising God from the song of Moses?

How might you use Moses’ song in your own life?  What verse or phrase is especially significant to you in your current circumstances?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

The Character of the Christian: Generous – Tim Challies
It is the Christian’s duty and delight to hold loosely to wealth and to give generously to the Lord’s work. Any problem with money is not the fault of the money itself but with the sneaky, sinful human heart.

What if you’re not as awesome as you think you are? – Denny Burk
There is often a gap between the reality that God sees and the illusions that I sustain in thinking about myself.

25 Quick Tips and Reminders to Help Your Prayer Life – David Qaoud (GR)
17. Meditate on Scripture before prayer as a bridge into prayer.

Nine Questions to Help You Steward All of Your Life for God’s Glory – Brad Hambrick (BCC)
The main thing is to begin to have a vision for life that involves being God’s servant and actively engaging that vision where you are currently equipped.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating our Lord’s resurrection with your local church!

Passion Week Devos: Saturday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Saturday: Pain of Loss and Failure – Struggling Without Hope
Read Luke 22:31-34, 22:54-62, 23:50-56

Prayer: Father, I cannot imagine this day for Peter.  What was it like for him to lose Jesus and fail him all in one day?  To struggle without hope?  And Father, if Jesus had remained in the grave, I too would be without hope.  All would be lost.  Help me today to remember how hopeless life would be without the glorious news that tomorrow brings.  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What would your life be like if Jesus had stayed in the grave?

Praise: No singing today.  Wait with anticipation for tomorrow.