Opening
If you could change something about how your parents raised you, what would it be? (e.g. going to/not going to language school, swimming lessons)
Prayer
How has God provided for you this week? Share items of thanksgiving and pray together.
Passages
Exodus 19: 3-9
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
Exodus 32: 1-8
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
Sermon Summary
- Following God is a journey that requires not just willingness, but trustworthy leaders and good community
- Moses was called by God to be a leader, and he showed the Israelites God’s power and goodness through many miracles and answered prayers
- Aaron was an eloquent speaker, but he was not firm with the people in obedience to God, so he was influenced by them instead of the other way around
- Our journey in trusting God goes from doubt to peace–as we witness God’s provision for us, we can dwell in his peace and guidance and learn to slow down our lives
- Community is always around us, and we both influence and are influenced by the community around us
- Our journey in following God is done together as a spiritual community; we learn to care for fellow believers as we journey together
Discussion
What reason in the passage is there for the Israelites to obey God?
Put yourself in Aaron’s position. Do you think you would have been able to stand up to the people? What do you think might be an equivalent or similar situation today?
Share about a time when you felt like God was far from you. How did the church community feel like to you at the time?
Who are the top five people you think you are influenced by in your life? Share who they are and how you think they influence you.
Reflect on how you are affecting and influencing the people in your life. How can you help build and be part of a good, loving, and God-fearing spiritual community?
Share and pray for one another.