Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21 NRSV

Acts 15:1-18 NRSV

Call to Worship: Isaiah 12:3-6 Confessing our Sin: 1 John 1:8-9 Promise of Forgiveness: 1 John 2:1-2 Tithe: Isaiah 60:4-5 Sermon Text: John 6:48-60 Sermon Title: The Heavenly Meal

Acts 8:26-39 NRSV

Call to worship Psalm 145: 1-3 Humbling Ourselves in God's Presence: Galatians 5:22-24: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Rejoicing in God's Mercy: Isaiah 53: 5-6: But he was pierced for our transgressions; / he was crushed for our iniquities; / upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, / and with his wounds we are healed. / All we like sheep have gone astray; / we have turned—every one—to his own way; / and the Lord has laid on him / the iniquity of us all. Tithe: Proverbs 11:24-25 The Passage for my sermon: Isaiah 54: 1-10 Title: Eternal Covenant of Peace Outline: • A Barren Church • A Redeeming Husband • A Steadfast-loving God

Psalm 4 (NRSV)

Sermon Text: Colossians 3:1-11: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all. Sermon Topic: Hidden in Christ Outline: Alive to Christ Dead to Vices Discussion Questions: 1. In what sense can we say that we already have been raised with Christ since our resurrection is yet in the future? 2. What does Paul mean by saying that our lives are hidden Christ in God? 3. What are some of the practical implications of our union with Christ with respect to our fighting against sin?

John 21:1-19 It is the Lord! Summary: Today is Easter Sunday! It is one of my favorite days of the year, when we get to celebrate that Jesus is risen from the dead and reigns as our Savior. Today, let's look at one of the moments when Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection. Let's listen in: Outline: 1. Renewed discipleship 2. Renewed fellowship 3. Renewed mission Verse: John 21:7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord! Discussion Questions: 1. Compare this moment to Jesus' original call of the disciples in Luke 5:1-11. Why do you think they are so similar? 2. How does Peter's response at seeing Jesus help us? How should we respond to Jesus' resurrection? 3. How does Jesus renew his fellowship and mission with His disciples? How should this help you think about your own fellowship with Jesus, and the mission He has given us in the world?

Exodus 8:1-15 Frogs in Your Bed Summary: Today might be one of the most gross sermons ever! Imagine if our town was overrun by frogs! Frogs in the streets, our stores, our homes, even our beds!! It sounds nasty. Today, let's think about a time when God brought a plague of frogs on Egypt, all to show that He was God over all, and to compel Pharaoh to obey. Let's think about it: Outline: 1. Another god bites the dust 2. There is no one like the Lord our God Verse:Exodus 8:1 (ESV)1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. Discussion Questions: 1. Why is it significant that God sent a plague of frogs on Egypt, and not some other creature? What god might He be crushing, and how might that apply to us as well? 2. Why does Moses ask for Pharaoh to name a specific time to end the plague? What should it have shown to Pharaoh, and us? 3. How could a plague of frogs help us understand the Gospel better?

Exodus 7:14-25 Rivers of Blood Summary: God will move heaven and earth to shake us and get our attention! Today in Exodus we'll see God bring a terrible disaster on Egypt, in order to show them His glory and power. Sometimes God will also show us the weakness of the false gods we trust in, so we might trust Him alone. Let's think about those today: God’s desire to is to be known and worshipped God’s power will crush the false gods in which we trust God warns us to flee the wrath to come Verse:Exodus 7:16b “Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness...

Exodus 7 A Heart of Stone Summary: The Bible talks a lot about our hearts. When God speaks of our heart, He means that spiritual place inside of us that either learns to love God, or wants to go our own sinful way. In Exodus 7, God shows us the hard, stony heart of Pharaoh who refused to bow. But it also shows us that God is mighty and powerful, over Pharaoh's heart, and over all other competing powers. Let's think about it: Outline: 1. The obedience of God's servant 2. The weakness of God's enemy 3. The unstoppable power of God 4. The hard heart of unbelief Verse: Exodus 7:13 (ESV)13 Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. Discussion Questions: 1. What is significant about the way Moses and Aaron acted in this chapter compared to the previous chapters of Exodus? Why is this so important? 2. How does God attack the heart and idols of Pharaoh and the Egyptians? How does God still do that today when He confronts our own sin? 3. How do we understand the fact that God hardened Pharaoh's heart? How can God also hold Pharaoh responsible for his sin? (See Romans 9:14-26 for Paul's thoughts on this). What warnings does this give us about refusing God's call to believe the Gospel? 4. How does God's victory over Pharaoh point us to Jesus' ultimate victory over Satan? As you engage in the spiritual battles of this life, pray that God would give us courage and faith to trust Him this week.

I Will Be Your God Exodus 6 Summary: Have you ever had a hard time listening to another person? Sometimes, when I am worn out, feeling sick or worried about other things, it feels impossible to hear someone else. We are often like that with God. The weight of sin upon us can make it hard for us to hear and believe God's promise of salvation. Today as we continue to study Exodus, we'll see how God promises to rescue us, just as He rescued Israel. Even when we sometimes struggle to believe, God's promise never fails. Outline: 1. God's message in our slavery: I am the LORD. 2. God's promise in our slavery: I will rescue You and be Your God 3. God's faithfulness in our slavery: His promise continues Verse: Exodus 6:7 (ESV)7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God... Discussion Questions: 1. Notice how many times in this chapter God identifies himself as

Exodus 5 Competing Kings Summary: How do you act when things don’t go your way? Do you get mad? Do you take your anger out on someone? God wants us to trust that He is the perfect King with a perfect plan for our lives. In Exodus when Moses goes to Pharaoh, he declares that God is king, and Pharaoh must let God's people go. But let’s see how Pharaoh wants to be God (and sometimes so do we!): Outline: 1. Thus says Yahweh... vv.1-9 2. Thus says Pharaoh.... vv. 10-19 3. “Thus says” Moses....vv.20-22 Verse: Exodus 5:1 (ESV): Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’ Discussion Questions: 1. Read Exodus 5 again. How would you characterize Moses' actions in this chapter? Does he obey in the message he delivers to Pharaoh? 2. Pharaoh makes a claim to sovereignty when he declares

Exodus 4:18-31 Preparing For Service Today we are going to look again at the life of Moses as he prepares to go back to Egypt to be God’s instrument for rescuing His people. Every time God wants to use us, He also wants to work in us. Let’s think about how God wants to work in Moses’ life and prepare him for this ministry: 1. Spiritual preparation 2. Moral preparation 3. Relational preparation Verse: Exodus 4:22–23 (ESV): Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” Discussion questions: 1. Why do you think Moses does not tell the whole story to Jethro his father-in-law? What are the important truths that God gives to Moses as he leaves? How is this important in preparing him for his ministry? 2. Why does God seek to take Moses’ life? How does his wife intervene? Why is this important for his preparation to be the deliverer of God’s people? 3. How may God be working in your life? What sin might he want to address so that you might be useful in his kingdom in a greater way?

Exodus 4:1-17 Out of Excuses Summary: Sometimes we just run out of excuses! When we really do not want to do something, we come up with reasons to avoid the thing we fear or dislike. Moses did not want to go to free God's people from Egypt, and gave God many reasons why he should not be the one to take on this big job. But God is the Lord, and His plan will never fail! Let's listen in again to the conversation between God and Moses, and hear God's gentleness and power with Moses, and us. Outline: 1. Moses' objection #3:

David trusts in God as he faces the giant Goliath. While the Israelite soldiers shook with fear David knew his God would protect him and give him victory. 1 Samuel 17:1-50

Exodus 3:11-22 I Am who I Am Summary: What is the big deal about names? Sometimes we get our names because of some family connection. Maybe you are named after someone in your family. But names have meaning, and God's name has great meaning. When God called Moses to lead Israel out of slavery, He told Moses His name. He called Himself

The people of Israel wanted a king to be like the other nations around them. That broke God's heart. God allowed Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's king after warning them it was not a good idea. 1 Samuel 8-11

Exodus 3:1-12 The Burning Bush Summary: Today we get to hear God tell us of a moment when He spoke to Moses through a burning bush. Imagine being alone on a mountainside, and God appears to you in a flaming bush! Moses was in the presence of the holy God. God told Moses His plans to save His people from slaverly in Egypt. Today, let's listen and hear of God's holiness, and his compassion on us that eventually led Him to send Jesus. Outline: 1. Our God is holy. How can we stand in His presence? 2. Our God sees, hears, and knows our affliction 3. Our God is our deliverer Verse: Exodus 3:5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Discussion Questions: 1. What do we learn about God's character from Exodus 3? Why do you think Moses needed to remove his sandals in the presence of God? 2. Why is it significant that Moses hid his face in God's presence? What other places in the Scriptures tell us about

Exodus 2:11-25 From the Palace to the Wilderness Summary: Have you ever been really mad at someone? Today we'll see Moses who took the life of an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Moses had to run for his life, and God used all of it to prepare Moses to save His people. Let's think about it: Outline: 1. Giving up the dream 2. Living in the wilderness 3. Remembering the promise Verse: Hebrews 11:24(ESV) By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter... Discussion Questions: 1. Why did Moses take the life of the Egyptian taskmaster? Was he right in doing so? Why or why not? Are there clues in the text that help us? 2. Read Hebrews 11:24-26. How does the writer of Hebrews describe Moses' break with his Egyptian family and connection? 3. How did God prepare Moses through his time in Midian? 4. When we look at Moses' early life in Exodus 2, how does it foreshadow or contrast Jesus and His own life and work? How can this help us walk in faith this week?