Welcome,
We’re delighted you’ve chosen to dig more deeply into the Scriptures and consider what God has for you through this sermon.
These sermon practices are ideally intended to be discussed with others, so find a friend, family member, or roommate to join you. If you haven’t yet joined a life group yet, check out our groups page or stop at the Welcome Center for more info.
EXPLORING SCRIPTURE: The God Who Loves Every Nation
Read aloud Exodus 2:1-25 as a review of Moses as a “man of many nations”
- What was the ethnicity of his parents?
- In which nation did he grow up?
- Which culture did he end up being adopted into later in life?
Read aloud Exodus 2:21-23
The parents of Moses are both descendants of Levi who had lived in Egypt some 400 years earlier. The inference is that his blood line has been purely Hebrew for four centuries. Then Moses married Zipporah, a member of the nomadic tribe of the Midian desert. She is clearly not Hebrew. She is a foreigner to Israel and Moses is a foreigner to her.
- How does the name of their son illustrate the experience of Moses? (v. 22)
Yahweh would soon be sending Moses to rescue Israel. Yet, this inclusion of non-Israelites into the rescue story of Israel gives us some clues about God’s heart for outsiders and his intention for saving the whole world.
- Read Genesis 12:1-3 and discuss the role of Israel in God’s plan to bring his rescue to all nations.
Read aloud Exodus 4:1-7
- Discuss how these first miraculous signs contrast chaos and order.
- Read Genesis 1:1-2 and notice the chaos that God will make into beauty.
- Imagine Adam symbolically as the “scepter of the Great King.” How did Adam’s rebellion empower the serpent who is the enemy of God? How did this bring chaos into the beautiful order of the Garden of Eden? (see Genesis 3)
- Imagine Adam symbolically as being a hand near the heart. How did Adam’s walk away from God’s heart result in disease in his own life? How did the beautiful order of human life descend into chaos as Adam and Eve pushed away from dependence on God?
REFLECTION: Knowing God’s Name
Remember that God has not given up on his plan to have his highest creation -- human beings -- live in a beautiful paradise on this earth. He will not force them to trust him, but he will continue to work to win their trust by blessing every person in the world with his goodness and grace. When God brings order into chaos it brings beauty and thriving.
- Where have you seen God’s goodness poured into very dark circumstances of those who have not yet entrusted their lives to Christ?
- What does this tell us about God’s heart for all the nations of the world?
- What does this tell us about God’s heart for those who do not embrace faith in Jesus?
The Bible teaches that the God of Moses is the God who loves the whole world; and that he is heaven-bent on bringing his rescue to the whole world.
Read aloud John 3:16-17 and discuss God’s heart for people who have yet to trust him.
- If you could carry the rescue of Jesus to any nation or culture that is foreign to you, where would you go and why?
- If God made a way for you to be part of a ministry trip to that group of people, would you do it? What would you most look forward to? What might keep you from going?
- How often do you pray for missionaries in another culture? Why?
- Who often do you financially support missionaries in another culture?
P.S. If you would like to know more about the global ministry supported by Vancouver Church, please reach out to our Missions Action Committee. You can also attend our Mission Impact: International Dinner - this Saturday, June 8th! Check out vchurch.org/events for details & registration.
Wrapping Up
In addition to any prayer requests, spend some time praying for the nations, cultures and missionaries that came up during your discussion. You can also pray for our Missions Action Committee and missionaries (find a list at vchurch.org/partners) If this has sparked a passion or calling for anyone in the group, take a couple minutes to pray for them specifically. Otherwise, ask God to show you his heart for our world, and what your role might be in His plans to bring about beautiful order in our chaotic world.