Welcome From Pastor Justin Greene

Welcome From Pastor Justin Greene!

Welcome to the Fade Blog. I pray that that you are reading this as result of making a personal one year commitment to FADE. It is my hope that you will find the devotions and materials suggested here helpful to you as you pursue a deeper walk with Christ and the life change that will accompany it.

The commitment card you were asked to sign in the third message was a slightly modified version of the one found at the end of the book Radical by David Platt and many of the devotions and application questions that will be posted will be coming from the church at Brook Hills where he is the pastor. Other books that were inspirational to me as these messages were brewing in my mind will also be noted, along with a link to purchase them on Amazon.

It is my greatest desire that each one of you would see the Lord stoke the fire of your first love. I pray that your passion for Christ and the lost would be unquenchable, and that your commitment to the local body of believers will stretch your heart, mind and resources. The goal? That you would agree with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”(John 3:30), and Paul,

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. . . Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”( Phil. 3:7,8,13,14)

They are calling us to FADE.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Week 6 (November 7-13) Discussion and Application Questions

Introduction

This week we will be reading from the book of Exodus 5-28.

God is our Deliverer

· God’s redemption cannot be hindered by evil.
· God’s mighty power will always prevail.
· God’s purposes cannot fail.
· God brings freedom from slavery, death and sin.

Discussion

· Summarize the events of Exodus 7-14.
· Do you think the Israelites ever doubted God’s power during the 10 plagues? Why or why not? Did it ever seem like Pharaoh’s will was stronger than God’s?
· Ultimately why do you think God sent 10 plagues? Couldn’t He have shown His superior power in one plague at the very beginning?
· Think of Pharaoh. Why do people rage against God? Why do wicked men continue in wickedness? What is their ultimate end?
· How does God use evil to accomplish His purposes?
· Read 14:31. What is the Israelites’ response to God’s powerful deliverance?

Application

· How can the story of the exodus encourage and comfort His people today?

· How does the story of the exodus relate to Christ’s deliverance of us? How did He save us? What were we enslaved by? What have we been freed from? What are we freed to do?

· Read Exodus 15:1-21 together in response to God’s great deeds.

God provides for and preserves His people

· God delivered His people through the Passover.
· God preserved His people at the Red Sea.
· God supplied His people with manna and quail and water.
· God knows His people’s needs. They must trust Him.

Discussion

· Read Exodus 12:1-30. How did God provide for His people in the Passover? How is Jesus our Passover Lamb? What are your reactions to this story?
· Read Exodus 14:10-31. In verse 10, of whom are the Israelites terrified? Whom do they fear in verse 31? Why is this significant? In fear, the Israelites cried out to God. Then what did they do? (verses 11-12) What is Moses’ response? Does he put the attention on himself or someone else?
Who will fight for the people? What do the people need to do?
· Read Exodus 16:11 and 17:6. How did God provide? Did He tire of providing? Why do you think the people kept complaining?
· Read John 6:32, 33, 35, 51; John 7:37-38. How do you see Jesus in Exodus?

Application

· Does God know our needs and our circumstances? Why do we fear in trying times?

· What comfort can we draw from these stories of deliverance? What do we need to confess?

· Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. What does the Holy Spirit, writing through Paul, want us to learn from the Israelites’ experience?

· How is Jesus the answer to all our needs?

· How can we learn to be still and trust God?

God Acts on Behalf of His People for the Sake of His Glory Among the Nations

· God will draw people to Himself.
· God will send His people out to bless the nations.
· God will ensure that all nations see His glory.

Discussion

· Read Exodus 12:26-27. How is God drawing future generations to Himself?
· Is it possible that God drew some Egyptians to Himself through the plagues? (see 9:20 and 12:38).
· Read Exodus 15:14-16. How is God gaining fame among the nations?
· Read Exodus 18:1, 9-12. What is Jethro’s response to the exodus?

Application

· Does God act for His people only for their sakes?

· Is God’s plan of redemption only for some people or for all people?

· How do our testimonies serve as a witness to others?

· How does judgment draw people to God? How does mercy do the same?

· How should God’s desire for the nations affect our hearts?

· Why is God worthy of all worship?

God’s Laws are Good and Just

· God does not desire empty obedience.
· God desires a heart that loves His law.
· God saves His people through Christ.

Discussion

· Read Exodus 20:1-21.
· What strikes you as you read these verses again?
· How do these laws reflect God’s perfect character?
· Read Exodus 22:21-27 and 23:1-9. How do these laws reflect God’s character?
· Are these laws difficult to follow? Why or why not? Is perfect obedience possible? Why or why not?

Application

· Since perfect obedience is not possible, what/Who does the Law drive us to? Who alone has perfectly fulfilled the Law? Who alone can save us and give us His righteousness? (Romans 3:19-26; Philippians 3:8-9)

· How can our hearts be changed to be like Christ’s?

· How do these laws relate to contemporary American society?

· How can God’s Word affect our business, our politics, our family life, etc?
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