Sermon Tone Analysis

Series Review

We learned back in elementary that water is everywhere.

About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water.: air, rivers, lakes, icecaps, glaciers, in you and your pets.

So it’s not really surprising to find so many stories about water in the Bible.

The Earth is a watery place.

But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet?

About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water.

Water also exists in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers, and even in you and your dog.

This year’s Vacation Bible School theme is also about water: Rolling River Rampage, where will be inviting children on a white-water rafting adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God!

In the weeks leading up to VBS, we will look at stories of water in the Bible, and like any story in the Bible, and see what they tell us about God and what He wants to do in our lives.

Last week I preached a sermon on Noah’s ark and the flood, when, God uses water as a way of judging evil in the world, and creating a new beginning.

Sermon Introduction

A. He draws up the plan of action (Phil.

2:12–13).

B. He removes the obstacles (Josh.

4:14–16).

C.

He never fails to keep His promise (Josh.

23:14).

D. He completes what He begins (Phil.

1:6).

This morning we are going to look at another popular “water” story: The crossing of the Red Sea.

This happens just after Israel, God’s chosen people, have left Egypt.

They had been slaves for over 400 years, and God performed a series of miracles to the point that the Egyptians knew the hand of God was behind all of this, so they begged Israel to leave.

They gave them gold and precious jewels so they would leave.

Israel, who had been slaves, plundered the greatest empire of the day.

That’s where we are in the story this morning.

These are exciting times, but it doesn’t stay that way for long.

A few days later they are facing certain death.

Sometimes we don’t get very long to celebrate a victory:

Have you ever worked hard to clean the house, step back and feel really good about your accomplishment, and then notice how quick it looks just as dirty as it did before?

Have you ever worked hard to clean the house, step back and feel really good about your accomplishment, and then notice how quick it looks just as dirty as it did before?

Have you ever weeded a garden, liked how nice the garden looks, then after a nice rain notice that it is covered with weeds again?

Have you ever been released from the hospital and recovered from an illness - what a relief - and a few days later have a serious injury?

Do you ever feel good about your relationship to God - attending worship, feeling that closeness with God, praying, reading Scripture, giving generously, but then life happens: a death, injury, illness, loss of job, broken relationships, and the God who was walking with you disappears.

Have you ever felt good about your relationship with God: You are praying, reading the Bible regularly, serving, tithing - this is the closest I’ve felt in a long time - then somehow drift away from God?

Same with churches: we want our ministries to grow, but that brings new problems.

Oxon Hill UMC: Multicultural church - Until they realized how hard it is for people with so many differences to work together.

It can be very frustrating to come off the joy of a great victory only to encounter another, perhaps more difficult, challenge.

University UMC prayed for a young adult ministry / college student ministry.

That ministry grew: they had their own service.

The problem: many of them were not giving of their time, talent and treasure.

It was hard enough getting them in the building.

Now they have to develop them into fully devoted disciples.

Sometimes it seems like God doesn’t give us enough time to celebrate our victories, we face an even harder one.

And when we face difficulties, we face difficult choices.

This story is about a people who just experienced an exciting victory - God’s people has been in slavery in Egypt for over 400 years, with no sign of ever being free.

Suddenly God performs miracle after miracle until has liberated them from the misery of slavery, and no sooner have they left they are trapped by the Egyptian army.

I have a serious medical decision to make.

My financial situation is bad.

My relationships are bad.

I need to do something, but I’m not sure what.

Do we rationalize not trying something new for God (list the reasons why it won’t work, rather than why it can., we’ve never done it that way; we tried it and it didn’t work)

It seems when God brings us through one trial, we face another even more difficulties.

And when we face difficulties, we face choices.

The story of Israel crossing the Red Sea is about facing harsh trials and making tough choices.

(e.g.

not about clothing or vacation weeks; neighbor who needs Christ; leadership need in the church;

Israel has left Egypt, and they didn’t even have time to celebrate:

Like the rest of us, they have experienced a great victory, and now they face an even bigger obstacle.

It’s my favorite movie about what we call the Exodus (2nd book of the Bible), but it is hardly accurate.

It may not be completely accurate (what Bible story is?), but I think it is the best movie about this exciting event in biblical history.

The Egyptians try to follow them.

Exodus 13:

This is of the frescoes on the south wall of the Sistine Chapel, which shows Moses crossing the Red Sea.

I like this one, because it captures the gruesome violence of the story.

Normally the focus is on the Israelites crossing the sea, but this one shows the Egyptian army drowning in the sea.

begin the story:

Exodus 14:10-12

The Egyptian army they are trapped.

They face certain death on each side: The Red Sea on one side and the Egyptian army on the other.

They face a difficult choice.

When we agonize over a difficult decision,

1. God’s solution is not our solution.

(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?

It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

Israel quickly looked to solve their problem on their own.

But notice something in 13:18.

It was God that led them into this hopeless situation.

God led them to the sea, where they were now trapped by the enemy.

God has a terrible military strategy.

Common sense would say to find an escape route.

A short cut.

High ground.

But God leads them straight to the sea.

Israel things through all of the available options and comes up with 2 : 1) Fighting, but they realize they are outmatched.

2) Beg Pharoah for mercy and hopefully go back into slavery.

e.g.

teacher I met in rehab, anxious over finding a teaching position (rehab) inner city, could have gone anywhere

Heresies of holiness: Let go and let God

Heresies of holiness: Let go and let God

(NIV): So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

So remember, when agonizing over that difficult decision, pray and seek God’s will.

God’s solution is not always ours, and it is always better.

Continue the story:

Exodus

2. God’s does not work on our timetable.

How many of you like to wait?

Grocery store?