More Class Part 1

Intro:

The goal of this class is to just have conversations around the previous weeks message

It’s not intended for me to get up and preach another message to you

It’s not even for me to lead everything that we do

So, just a couple of housekeeping kind of things and then we will jump into it.

#1 Ask questions. If you have a question, ask it. I can’t promise to have the answer, but maybe someone else will and if we don’t have an answer then that’s great cause it will give us all homework to do

#2 I’m gonna try to keep us on track. I will have to leave here by 10:15 to be able to get everything ready for the service and so I want to try to keep the conversation around the sermon and in line and keep us moving so we don’t get completely bogged down on one thing.

#3 bring your bibles and something to take notes with

#4 The outline for this class will go like this.

We will kick off around 9:35 or so every Sunday to give enough time to grab coffee and get situated

I will read the Scripture and do a quick recap of last weeks message to catch us all up

Then I will probably ask a question to get the conversation started and let it go from there

I may add in some other Scriptures or commentaries or something but each week will look a little different

Then at the end I want to save about 5-10 minutes for us to go over any prayer requests we might have and then pray before we dismiss

Exodus 13:17–14:2 NIV

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” 20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.

Recap

What are some other examples of God choosing the more difficult way?

The cross

In the middle of the sermon on the mount in matt 7:

Matthew 7:13–14 NIV

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Why would God allow hard things (maybe even bad things) to good people?

1 Peter 1:7 NIV

7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

To test our faith and to prove the genuineness of our faith

And that it may result in praise, glory, and honor to Christ

2 Corinthians 1:8–11 NIV

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul says that his suffering happened so “that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.”

often, suffering is needed to make us rely upon God

Psalm 77 NIV

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm. 1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. 3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. 4 You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. 5 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; 6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: 7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” 10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” 13 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. 16 The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. 17 The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. 18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

What are your thoughts on this Psalm?

The New Bible Commentary Psalm 77. The Tonic of Memory

This psalm records a time of intense but unspecified suffering. Prayer was sustained to the point of exhaustion but brought no comfort (1–3) until finally the trouble outweighed the capacity to pray (4). Sleepless nights (4a) prompted memories of better times past (5–6) but only resulted in uneasy questioning of God (7–9). But then a new approach suggested itself (10): to remember the past works of God, especially his self-revelation in holiness and greatness (11–13), exercising his power over peoples (14), identifying himself with his people (15), both dominating and using the ‘forces’ of nature (16–18), leading onward by his own unseen presence and by agents he raised up (19–20). With this the psalm ends abruptly—designedly so. It is as if the psalmist said to himself ‘That’s it! That’s the way forward—not prayer for circumstances to be changed (1–4), nor fretful recollection that things are not what they used to be (5–9), but remembering the works of God and the God who performed the works.’

The New Bible Commentary Psalm 77. The Tonic of Memory

The progress of his people is traced from their redemption from Egypt (14, 15), through the Red Sea (16), to the awesome storms of Sinai (17, 18; Ex. 19) and onwards under the unseen leadership of the Lord (19) and the guiding hands of his shepherds (20). He is powerful against peoples (14), powerful for his people (15), powerful to deal with every adverse circumstance (16), powerful in using mighty forces for his own purposes (17–18), powerful to protect and provide in the inhospitable wilderness (19–20).

The New Bible Commentary Psalm 77. The Tonic of Memory

It is on this thought that the psalm abruptly ends. Circumstances they would never have chosen—the waters of the Red Sea, the ‘great and terrible wilderness’ (Dt. 8:15)—were his appointment. Indeed it was he who, unseen, led them into these very experiences (19) and provided for them in the thick of them (20). Here indeed is comfort. The holy God is totally free to do what he will and in his will is our peace. Wherever he leads he will also provide.