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: God’s Word Fulfilled
To best understand the beginning verses of Exodus, it’s important to recognize that Exodus is “Part 2” in a five-part series of books called the Pentateuch (The Five Books.) Genesis is “Part 1” and it has several key storylines that carry directly into Exodus. To give ourselves some context, we will look back on a few passages in Genesis as we reflect on the opening chapter of Exodus.
Read aloud Exodus 1:1-7, then read Genesis 1:26-28 & Genesis 12:1-6
In these opening verses we find a small clan of Hebrews who moved to Egypt due to a famine in the Israelite homelands of Canaan (later known as the land of Israel.) They are all related as sons of Jacob, who also goes by the name Israel. Of course, Joseph was already in Egypt as he had been for decades.
- Which phrases in Exodus 1:1-7 echo the Genesis passages you read?
Through Abraham, God said to all the Israelites, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” We see this play out in Egypt with Jacob’s family. After much strife and conflict, Jacob’s son Joseph became a trusted advisor to the reigning Pharaoh, allowing his family to live in Egypt and escape the famine plaguing their home.
- How did the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time bless Israel? And what happened as a result for Egypt? (hint - read Genesis 41:15-36)
Read aloud Exodus 1:8-14
You’ll see a new Pharaoh came to power long after Joseph was gone. His disposition towards the people of Israel quickly turned sour; he is threatened by their power in numbers and attempts to subdue the threat by enslaving them.
- What do you think is going to happen to this Pharoah, since he chose to curse the Israelites instead of blessing them?
Read aloud Genesis 15:13-14
The Lord is speaking again to Abraham about his promise to make him a great nation, give them a homeland and to bless the whole world through them.
- What is the Lord telling Abraham about that future slavery of his nation? What does the Lord promise about that slavery?
- How is this fulfilled in the book of Exodus?
Read also Genesis 50:22-26
- How are the words of Joseph related to the Genesis 15 passages you just read?
- What does this reveal to us about Joseph’s confidence in the word of the Lord?
In John 5:46, Jesus said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” Jesus is definitely referring to the first five books of the Bible.
- How do the passages we’ve studied today speak of Jesus?
REFLECTION: Learning to Trust God’s Word
Learning to Trust
The heroes of faith that we find in the Bible demonstrate a fierce trust in God’s word. On those good days, their lives speak out saying, “Bet your life on every word of God, because he can forever be trusted.” This certainly was the case with Joseph.
When have you deeply trusted God's word?
- Give an example of a promise he has made to us that you held on to tightly. What did you experience during that season of trust? How did things turn out? What happened like you had hoped? What didn’t? How did God sustain you through that experience?
When have you doubted God’s word most?
- Give an example of a promise he has made to us that you did not hold tightly. What did you experience during that season of doubt? How did things turn out? What was your connection with God's life? How did God sustain you through that experience?
Where are you still learning to trust?
- What’s a promise of God that you’ve been holding onto for a long time, but haven't seen come true yet?
Learning God’s Word
In order to trust God’s word, we must first know what they are. On his deathbed, Joseph holds onto the promise God made to Abraham and urges his family to do the same. That promise was a foundational piece of scripture that he likely studied his whole life.
If you are interested in increasing your trust in God, we encourage you to invest in this new sermon series. The series is a study through the first half of Exodus. We will spend 20 weeks focused on this book in some depth.
Are you willing to make a commitment to this study by...
- Making a reasonable effort to join each Sunday you’re in town and watch online when you’re not?
- Joining with others weekly to discuss these sermon practices?
- Committing to a reading plan through Exodus?
Wrapping Up
Discuss your desires for growth through this sermon series study of Exodus. Pray for each other that you would download more Scripture into your head & absorb more of God’s word into your heart. Pray the Holy Spirit will guide your prayers to trust Jesus, and to experience his presence, more everyday.