Chapter 5: Questions

New Commands and a New Covenant

As always, feel free to answer these questions in the comments (especially the "Digging Deeper" ones) and share any thoughts you might have about the "Personal Action." Or, let us know if YOU have a question!

CHECKING YOUR COMPREHENSION
1. How were the people to prepare themselves to meet with God?

2. What does this story of the giving of these new commands tell you about the character of God?

3. What was the purpose of the Ten Commandments?

4. How can God be both the merciful forgiver of sin and the punisher of the guilty?

5. The Israelites became impatient and finally made a golden idol in the shape of a calf for themselves. What are some false gods/idols in our society today?

6. The Lord spoke to Moses "as one speaks to a friend." What steps can you take to gain a deeper understanding of who God is?

DIGGING DEEPER
Think about the Israelites creating the golden calf idol as "Mad Cow Disease." It's an example of people trying to invent their own religion and to create God in their own way. How do people still do this today and how are the results just as disastrous?

God promised that his presence would be with the people and they would stand out in the world because of it. This is still true today. What are some ways Christians SHOULD stand out? What is one way YOU stand out ... or maybe should stand out?

PERSONAL ACTION
Read Matthew 5:17-48 where Jesus talks about the 10 Commandments in the Sermon on the Mount. Does he contradict them? Help them explain them? Do you read them differently now? This week, think about how these "rules" actually bring life and hope.


This is a safe place to be able to share questions and fears and doubts. You can post using your name or not, whichever you prefer. And if you choose to respond to someone's comment, please be gentle with your words. 

REFLECTION: Chapter 4

It seems like when I (Allison) sit down to write one these little reflections (and sermons), I can't manage to get past first page of each chapter before I find a phrase that captures my imagination.

Last week, I was caught up in the story of Abraham and Sarah and the idea of God blessing them (and us) in order that they (and we) may be a blessing to others. [In fact, if you want to see just how stuck on that I got, check this out.]

THIS week, I didn't make it past this sentence (in "The Story," page 43):

"Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt." 

There's something very powerful about this sentence--something about a loss of perspective that makes my heart ache a little bit.

Somehow, history was lost. Memory was lost. Identity was lost.

In the middle of the muddle of everyday things, over the course of years and years, God's people drifted and drifted and drifted. And suddenly they found themselves being ruled by someone "to whom Joseph meant nothing."

The power of Joseph's story meant nothing now. The idea of "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" meant nothing ("The Story," page 42, Genesis 50:15-20).

Perhaps what makes my heart ache the most is that this happens so easily. Time and again we read about the Israelites forgetting about God and all He had done for them. They get so wrapped up in their individual lower stories that they forget all about God's upper story: how God is faithful and loving and chasing after them to bring them closer to His side.

They forget.

And we forget too.

We get wrapped around the axle of our lower stories and lose sight of God's upper story just as easily. (It's that whole darn sin thing again.) We forget who we are (beloved children of God) and to whom we belong (the Creator and Sustainer of the universe) and how we are to live (loving God and loving neighbor).

You know what we need to remember? Not to forget. Not to forget who we are and whose we are and how to live.

I can't say it any better than Deuteronomy 6 says it:

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

Don't forget. Teach your children and grandchildren and the children at your church and in your neighborhood to love the Lord with all their heart and soul and strength. Talk about it at home; talk about it in public; think about it before you go to sleep and when you wake up.

Model it for others.

Whatever you do, don't forget. Please don't forget.

Don't forget the power of Joseph's story--don't forget the power of God using the bad guys for good purposes. Don't forget the amazing story of God delivering his people from the hands of a king "to whom Joseph meant nothing."

Our prayer for you is that these 31 weeks with God and His "Story" will be a time of permanently imprinting His love for you on your heart. Of sealing these words of love inescapably on your soul. Like a tattoo, on the inside.

Enduring words, for all times.

Remember who you are, Whose you are, and how to live.  


TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER
So, what's one thing you can do today to make sure you don't forget and become someone "to whom Joseph meant nothing??"

Chapter 3: Sermon (Tina)

CHAPTER 3: THE STORY

Joseph: From Slavery to Deputy Pharaoh

Scripture review ... 

So…I think that 2 words summarize this chapter:  

Dysfunctional Family.  

Wouldn’t you agree?  

This chapter should make every one of us feel better about our own family of origin.  Let’s face it, no family is perfect and every one of us could probably tell stories about their family; about arguments and who’s not speaking to whom, about the crazy aunt or uncle – or maybe you ARE the crazy aunt or uncle that the rest of the family talks about!  

You could tell stories of cheating, lies, habits, addictions, secrets, and stories that would make the rest of our hairs stand on end.  But the thing is, we don’t tell those stories, do we?  We keep them tucked away in a safe place or we keep them swept under a rug, but we definitely don’t share them.

Chapter 4: Questions

Deliverance

This was a crazy chapter--so much going on! Let's see if you were able to keep it all straight.

As always, feel free to answer questions in the comments (especially the "Digging Deeper" ones) and share any thoughts you might have about the "Personal Action." Or, let us know if YOU have a question!

CHECKING YOUR COMPREHENSION
1. What was significant about Moses' birth?

2. How did God display his concern and love for his people after hearing their cries and groaning?

3. In what was was Moses qualified to lead the people? In what was did he feel he was NOT qualified?

4. Have you ever felt unqualified or unable to do something, as Moses did? How did you handle it?

5. "The Story" notes several amazing miracles in the deliverance of the people from Egypt. Do you believe God performs miracles today? Why or why not?

6. What can you learn about the character of God from the story of the Israelites' deliverance from slavery?

DIGGING DEEPER
What is one area of your life where you tend to focus on your limitations rather than God's ability to work through you? How can WE (the folks following along on-line) pray for you and encourage you in this area?

What connections do you see between the Passover (Exodus 12:1-24, "The Story" pp 51-52) and Jesus' death on the cross?

PERSONAL ACTION
God is calling you to something. By now, you've maybe even figured out what that "some thing" is. Now, get out there and do it! Surrender to God's leading and take action.


This is a safe place to be able to share questions and fears and doubts. You can post using your name or not, whichever you prefer. And if you choose to respond to someone's comment, please be gentle with your words. 

Chapter 3: Sermon (Allison)

[“The Story” page 39, bottom of 41-top 42  

(Gen 45:1-8, Gen 50: 15-21)]

    

SERMON—introduction

We’ve been reading “The Story” now for three weeks. And this chapter about Joseph has proven to be one of those chapters that I couldn’t stop reading. Even though I know how it ends, I couldn’t put it down.

So that makes me wonder. What makes a good story, the kind you can’t put down? What makes something the kind of story that you’ll stay up all night reading? Or so that you’ll read it again?

Or, if reading’s not your thing, what kind of story does it take that you HAVE to buy a movie when it comes out on DVD so you can watch it over and over again?

Or, what kind of story will you listen to grandparent or maybe a great-grand parent tell again and again and again?

What is it about a good story that makes you not want to put it down?

(wait for answers--the story touches you or changes you in some way; you learn something new about life or yourself; it has substance, it’s not just about fluff--usually; it’s the kind of story that’s perfect for you but maybe not for everybody else)

#1

One thing you must, must, MUST have for a good story is conflict and resolution, right?[1]

There’s got to be a conflict between good guys and bad guys. And most of the time, the bad guy (or bad girl) is created in such a way as to be SO evil, SO rotten, SO despicable that it’s OBVIOUS we want to root for the good guy (or good girl), who is usually created to be an underdog, a common person who rises to an uncommon level of bravery or courage or even physical strength in order to swoop in and save the day.

Think Batman and the Joker; the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shredder; Jerry Seinfeld and Newman or the Soup Nazi; James Bond and any of the villains he pursued; Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker … the list goes on and on. You can fill in your own favorite here/villain duo.