1. What do you love most about the Christmas season?  What do you find challenging?  

2. Read Exodus 12:3–13.  These verses contain a series of instructions for Israel to follow in preparing the Passover lamb. Why do you think God didn’t simply pass over the Israelite houses automatically? 

3. In Exodus 12:12, the Lord says Passover is a judgment ‘against all the gods of Egypt.’  What emotions might the Israelites have felt as they prepared for this highly unusual event, designed as an affront to Pharaoh’s authority and state religion?  

4. Read Heb 2:14-15.  How does Jesus’ death relate to our experience of God’s power?

5. In Exodus 12:13, the word translated ‘pass over’ can also be translated ‘hover/protect’.  Read John 16:6-7.  How does Jesus’ death relate to God’s remaining presence today?  

6. In what way does promise/fulfillment framework of Exodus contribute to the Passover story?  To Jesus’ story?  Why do you think God chooses to work in a promise/fulfillment framework, where promises often take a very long time to come to fruition?

7. Like Passover, Advent is a season of remembering God’s past work while also looking forward to promises yet to be fulfilled.  What promise are you most eager for Christ fulfill at his next coming?  

For more info on the American Dialectical Society’s ‘Word of the Year’, visit: https://www.americandialect.org/woty/all-of-the-words-of-the-year-1990-to-present

1. This morning we watched a video of the invisible gorilla experiment,where the distraction of passing balls can keep viewers from noticing a gorilla walk into view.  In real life, what distractions most often keep us from being aware of life’s biggest, most important things?

2. Read John 1:1-18, and mark any reference to light or seeing.  What does this passage have to say about spiritual sight as it pertains to Jesus?  To us?

3. In John 1:5-12, the theme of Light is prevalent, but there is no reference to seeing.  What verbs does John use instead of ‘see’ to describe how people interact with the light of Christ?  What do these verbs tell us about what it means to ‘see’?

4. John 1:19-34 is an account of John’s testimony.  According to v31, why did John come baptizing with water?

5. In John 1:34, what did John do before bearing witness?  What would it look like for us to follow his example this advent season?  To whom might you bear witness if the Lord opens your eyes to new spiritual realities?

6. End with a time of intercession and thanksgiving.  Consider singing a carol like “O Come All Ye Faithful”

Split into 4 groups.  Each group examine one of the 4 passages below.  If you don’t have enough people for 4 teams, you can cover fewer passages or have each group cover multiple passages. 

• 9:1-12

• 9:13-35

• 10:1-18

• 10:21-29

For each passage, locate the following, then come back together and share with one another:

• Purpose statements (“So that”, “in order that”, etc)

• Judgements (plagues)

• Examples of mercy in the midst of judgement

• Evidence of Pharaoh’s heart condition

Most people think of Jesus as focusing on the heart in a revolutionary way, vs the OT pattern of rules and regulations. What do we make of this constant narrative about the heart, before the law is given?

A hardened heart is one that does not listen, and does not let go.  When do you think it is hardest for you to listen or let go?  If you have a family member present, ask them to check your answer!

How is God portrayed as supremely sovereign in Exodus 11:1–3? What does he control? How does this inform our understanding of our own salvation?

Hebrews 3 is a chapter encouraging Christians to be soft-hearted.  What truths and commands does the author of Hebrews give to help us fight against hardened-heart-syndrome? 

1. Do you have a “bucket list” of things you’d like to experience it accomplish in your lifetime? Share a few items with one another and explain how they ended up on your list. What are the most basic motivations behind the things you want out of life?

2. In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh says he doesn’t know the LORD. What do you think kept him from bending his will to God?

3. According to Exodus 9:14–16, why did God bring the plagues against the Egyptians? What is therefore the ultimate goal of God’s judgment of his enemies? What sort of emotional response do you have to these verses? How do they make you think of God?

4. At various points, certain Egyptians recognize God’s power throughout the plagues. After the magicians fail to replicate the plague of gnats, they exclaim, “This is the finger of God” (Ex. 8:19). During the plague of hail there are some who “feared the word of the LORDamong the servants of Pharaoh” and rush their slaves and livestock inside (9:20). Some of these servants also later implore Pharaoh to release Israel, saying, “Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” (10:7). In light of Pharaoh’s attitude, what do these responses contribute to the story?

5. What does it mean to know the Lord according to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:3? How can we partner with him in accomplishing that purpose in our context today?
   
   
   PS: Someone approached me after the services yesterday and asked, “What did Andrew say when asked why he was in Turkey?”  In court, his answer was, “I love Jesus.  I love Turkey.”  

   You can hear more from Andrew and his wife in this interview held at their home church in Montreat NC:

   https://stonetablemedia.podbean.com/e/andrew-and-norine-brunson-homecoming/

1. In Exodus 7:8–13, in order to validate his and Moses’ message before Pharaoh, Aaron casts down his staff so that it becomes a serpent. Earlier this same sign had caused Israel to believe (see 4:1–5, 30–31), but here Pharaoh refuses to listen and believe. What do these different responses reveal about the effectiveness of miraculous signs for bringing about faith?

2. In ancient Egypt, the serpent was a symbol of Pharaoh’s power. What does this introductory section therefore imply about the plagues that will follow?

3. In Exodus 1-2, we saw how Israel’s flourishing in Egypt was part of the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3). How do the plagues of Exodus 7-13 relate to the Abrahamic covenant?  See Gen 12:3 for a hint.

4. Although this section is primarily concerned with God’s judgments against Pharaoh and Egypt, on several occasions Moses intercedes with God on behalf of Pharaoh (Ex. 8:12, 29; 9:33; 10:18). Why might these intercessions be recorded throughout this section? What do they contribute to this narrative filled with judgment?

5. Tim Keller says, “to practice idolatry is to be a slave.”  What would you say are the most common idols in our culture today?  In our church culture?  What would it look like if we were to faithfully topple these idols?  

6. Spend some time sharing honestly with one another about the idols that threaten your own freedom in Christ.  Pray for one another to walk in the freedom that Christ has bought for us.

Adapted from  Matthew R.. Newkirk’s Exodus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible)  Crossway. 

Sermon summary: Our greatest problems are oppression under “Pharaoh” and resulting doubt/not trusting God. Our solution is remembering and trusting the promises of God and the hope of the gospel.

1) What problems arose for the Israelites in chapter 5? 

2) How did the Israelites respond to this oppression and injustice?

3)  Can you relate to Moses and his response to what seems like God failing  his people?

4) When do the immediacy of your circumstances, your pain, or your burdens seem more real than God himself? In verse 4, Pharaoh says, “Get back to your burdens.” When do you feel the pressure to get back to your burdens?

5) Take a look at God’s response to Moses in chapter 6 beginning in verse 1. What stands out to you about God’s response? Why does he respond the way he does? 

6)  Which of the promises listed give you hope? Do you struggle with “amnesia of the heart?” 

7) Read Hebrews 11:24-27.  What connections do you see between Moses and Jesus? What kind of a shepherd is Moses? What kind of a shepherd do we have in Christ?

8) Read Matthew 11:28-30.  Spend some time praying that we would remember and trust God‘s promises and find freedom from our burdens in Christ. Pray also for non-believing neighbors who have been “born into slavery“ to find this freedom

Read Exodus 4:1-17

1. What is Moses’ main protest in v1? Do you think it is a legitimate concern? In light of Exodus 3:18, what does 4:1 tell us about Moses’ faith?

2. The Lord provides Moses with three sign miracles in Exodus 4:2-9.  How would you describe Moses’ response to the signs in v10?

3. What causes you to doubt God’s promise, power & presence? Is there anything in this passage that can help you to counter those doubts?
   

Read 4:18-31

1. Jethro is a source of safety and provision in Moses’ life.  What does their interaction in v18 tell you about Moses and how he understood his journey?

2. Has God ever called you to leave a situation, person, place, or particular life pattern?  How did it make you feel to ‘cut the ropes’?  What was the result in your life?

3. How does the last verse of Exodus 4 relate to the first?  What does it tell us about who God is?

4.  How are you experiencing God’s call in this season of your life?  In what ways is God calling you ‘in’ right now?  In what ways is he calling you ‘out’? Spend some time praying for one another in the group. 

1. Moses was 80 years old when God finally sent him on this important mission.  Is there a time in your life when you questioned God’s timing?

2. Think through Moses’ life up to this point (the burning bush).  Was there any merit in Moses that should warrant his appointment as Israel’s leader?  How should this inform your posture toward God?

3. How does God answer Moses’ question in verse 11?

4. How does God answer Moses’ question in verse 13?  (Hint – I told you this morning!)

5. What is your response today to I AM’s call on your life?

Sermon Discussion Questions – Exodus 1-2

1. Read Exodus 1:1-7, 8-14, and 15-22.  What obstacles do the Hebrews face in each section? Why does the narrator reiterate in each section that the people kept multiplying (vv 7, 12, 20)?

2. How does the failure of Pharaoh’s plans to extinguish Israel encourage you as you look at what is happening in the world today?  

3. Describe the seasons of Moses’ life in Exodus 2.  How are his personal experiences preparing him for the task God has for him in the future?  What does his experience tell us about God’s providence?

4. Fear is an important theme in Exodus 1-2.  What does Pharaoh fear?  Midwives?  Moses?  What are some common ways we can obey fear rather than God?  In what ways are you being called to act in courageous obedience by trusting the promise, power, and presence of God?

Some questions used or adapted from Tim Chester’s Exodus For You: Thrilling you with the liberating love of God. The Good Book Company.