The Wanderers, the story of God’s people brought out of Egypt followed by 40
years of wandering.
One of the most important things we’ve learned as we close this series is that God
wants a relationship with His people. He wants a relationship with me, with you!
He wants to connect with us. He wants to speak with you. Sometimes He’s
subtle. Sometimes He’s obvious.
And one of the most important ways God speaks to us…God speaks to you. Is
through His promises.
The purpose of this last text in our series is for you to understand God, not only
as being One who keeps His promises, but God who is diligent in making sure all
His promises are fulfilled, even when we work against Him.
The things that have resonated with me have been: God’s grace, God’s saving
power, God’s redemption, God’s forgiveness and God’s faithfulness.
 After the Israelites were in captivity for 430 years the Lord used Moses to
lead the people out of Egypt.
The LORD delivered Israel from the hands of the Egyptians through
the plaques.
The crossing of the Red Sea.
The final point of deliverance was God’s powerful display of the
parting of the Red Sea.
We can trust the Lord when there seems to be no way.
Bitter water at the Waters of Marah and Elim.
After three days without water the people were at a point of
desperation.
God was inviting the people to trust Him no matter their
circumstances.
The Israelites arrived at the Desert of Sin and they were hungry.
The Israelites were weeks away from their recent crossing of the Red
Sea and God’s providence of the water, yet they quickly forgot.
2
Even though their complaining, God came through again. His grace is
not dependent on our perfect behavior.
The Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai and God spoke the Ten
Commandments.
God desired a covenant relationship with His people.
Through this covenant, they would be His treasured possession of all
creation.
One loud-and-clear lesson from this series is that we tend to complain.
Our natural self has a bent towards grumbling. And although we grumble, God is
faithful. We can trust God for every area in our lives.
Is there anyone here today that agrees that sometimes your tendency is to
grumble when things are not going your way?
Maybe something is off in your family, or at work, or in a relationship, or there is
something that you want really badly and doesn’t seem as though God is
answering your request. You’re frustrated; You find yourself grumbling about it.
This series has reminded me of when I relocated here from Tampa after living
there for 12 years.
I accepted Jesus in Tampa.
I was actively serving Christ.
I had a good paying career job and a nice apartment.
I loved living in Tampa!
God moved in mysterious ways to make it absolutely clear to me that He
wanted me to move home to Elkton.
I moved home 23 years ago.
The first job I worked after returning home was on the Skyline Drive as a Room’s
Inspector.
I learned quickly that if a housekeeper didn’t report to work then I
was going to clean rooms for the day. It was a hard job.
I remember sitting down on a bed, in one of the rooms that I was
cleaning, crying, and asking God “Why did you move me back to the
valley?”
I had a bad attitude! I wanted to go back to Tampa, to my friends,
good paying job and nice apartment.
3
I couldn’t see God’s plan for my life, so I grumbled. I doubted His call
to move home. How long would it be before I saw God’s promises
come to pass for me?
Not until I surrendered to God’s will, that I didn’t understand, did I
obtain peace.
Immediately upon accepting God’s will, I landed a job at a local bank
as a manager.
Our last area of focus is God’s people FINALLY entering the promised land.
But there was never any doubt.
We can trust the LORD today and for all of our tomorrows. Once the Promised
Land was promised by God to the Israelites, it was theirs.
Today, I am sharing from Joshua Chapters 1-4. In the interest of time, I will not
read the full text. Please make time to read these chapters in their entirety.
The context of today’s message is that Moses has died.
The people are grieving Moses death.
The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the wilderness because they had
refused to obey God.
The disobedient generation wandered until they had all died.
Moses was a great leader and he was a servant of God.
Moses had been mentoring Joshua who was a young man born as a slave
while the Israelites were in Egypt.
Last week we learned that Moses had sent 12 spies into the Promised Land.
There were two different reports. 10 said “the people are giants and
we are as grasshoppers”.
Joshua and Caleb gave the minority report to cross over to the
Promised Land, “it is good”.
Joshua knew what was waiting for the people in the Promised Land. Joshua
trusted God’s promise.
Today the Israelites are on the edge of the Promised Land for the second time.
Let us pray for God’s blessings over the reading of His word and this message.
Joshua Chapter 1: 1-9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of
Nun, Moses’ aide: 2
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these
people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to
them—to the Israelites. 5 …As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never
4
leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead
these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses
gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful
wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will
be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua knew:
Here we have God speaking to His people in the language of a Promise.
“Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give
them…”
They were going to face enemies who were big and strong and they would
experience challenges.
Often we face tough situations, difficult people and temptations. God
promises that He will never leave us.
A heart that trusts God’s promises sees adversity as opportunities for God
to work. The more adversity, the more opportunity.
God’s word tells us to:

1. Be strong and courageous. The scripture repeats this three times. The
   repeating of the scripture is like using an exclamation point.
2. Constantly read and study the Bible.
3. Obey God’s Word. The only way you know how to obey it is to know what
   it says. Blessed is the man who walks in the LORD.
   The land of wandering is the wilderness. Crossing over to the Promised Land is
   moving into the things of God, the place of maturity for the believer.
   Joshua Chapter 2 verse 1
   2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the
   land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a
   prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
   2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look,
   some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.”
   3
   So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came
   to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole
   land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. 8 Before the
   5
   spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know
   that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us,
   so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10We have
   heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea[a]
   for you when you came
   out of Egypt… 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show
   kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. 14 “Our lives for
   your lives!”
   Rahab is found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
   No matter what kind of past we have had, or insignificant we may seem to
   others, God will use simple faith.
   Rahab trusted God. She may not have known Him well, but she knew that
   He was the perfect promise keeper.
   Rahab didn’t let her past prevent her from the new role God had for her.
   She could have said, “Who am I? I’m the lowest of the low…” But she
   didn’t. She had the courage it took to believe God’s promise.
   Joshua Chapter 3
   5
   Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do
   amazing things among you.”
   The Israelites were to perform a purification process. That’s what that word
   “consecrate” refers to.
   The consecration or purification ceremony pictured the importance of
   approaching God with a pure heart.
   Like the Israelites, we need God’s forgiveness for our sins before we
   approach Him.
   6
   Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of
   the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
   8 Tell the priests who
   carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters,
   go and stand in the river.’”
   9
   Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen
   to the words of the LORD your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living
   God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites,
   Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11
   See, the ark of the
   covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12Now
   then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as
   soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set
   foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in
   a heap.”
   6
   Joshua had witnessed God’s promises fulfilled many times in the past.
   Joshua trusted God’s promise.
   When God spoke, Joshua, for one, knew God was trustworthy.
   We have all had promises made to us. We live in a time that we are more familiar
   with promise makers than promise keepers.
   We live in a time when people treat their words lightly.
   People are good at making promises but they don’t really care if they break
   them
   It’s sad. And, even more sadly because people so often break their
   promises, there are those who wonder if God breaks His promises. Why
   should we trust God?
   Several examples of broken promises:
   Sometimes in the heat of a moment we make a promise and we really didn’t
   mean it.
4. Sometimes we say we are going to do something and we never show up.
5. As a manager and as a co-worker, I have experienced jobs where I worked
   with individuals who promised to arrive to work on time, only to constantly
   arrive to work late.
   Do you know anyone that promises to arrive on time?
   Spouses this is not the time to hunch your honey, wait until you get
   home.
6. Everyone is aware of New Year’s resolutions to get back in shape, to eat
   healthier, or simply make time to have more fun and we fail to follow
   through to achieve these goals.
7. Here’s a broken promise that I can still remember at 60 years old…
   When I was child, we use to raise German shepherd dogs.
   As the dog grows, their ears begin to naturally stand straight up.
   I remember as a little girl, probably around 4 years old, taking a
   clothes pin and pinning their ears together so they would stand
   straight up.
   They were puppies and I thought they looked pretty with their ears
   pinned together.
   Over and over, I would promise mom that I would stop doing that.
   A broken promise hurts. Think of the time when someone has made a promise to
   you and then let you down.
   What we can learn from Joshua:
   Focus on God’s power to fulfil His promises and not on the circumstances.
   7
   Joshua knew that God was willing and able to keep every promise to the
   Israelites.
   Joshua knew:
   That as soon as the priests who were to carry the Art of the Covenant (which was
   the Old Testament symbol of God’s presence)
   set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream would stop instantly.
   The Bible tells us:
   That the Jordan was at flood stage during the harvest season.
   God backed the water up like a wall about 20 miles north upstream to the
   town of Adam.
   The people shouldn’t have been surprised, of course, since it’s not the first
   time he parted waters for them.
   To the people, the river seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.
   But to God, it represented a decisive turning point.
   But the priests obeyed God.
   God worked a miracle in response to the people’s faith.
   Often God provides no solution until we trust Him and move ahead with
   what we know we should do.
   The solution sometimes only comes with our first step.
   Joshua Chapter 4
   4 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to
   Joshua, 2
   “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and
   tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right
   where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down
   at the place where you stay tonight.”
   6…in the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7
   tell
   them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the
   LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These
   stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
   The Israelites had witnessed the miracle of the Red Sea and now the Jordan.
   God did not want them to plunge ahead without focusing on Him first.
   As we move about our busy days, always set aside quiet moments,
   times to build your own memorial to God’s power. Time to hear Him
   speak.
   Remember what He has done for you and recognize the blessings of today.
   8
   Be diligent about remembering.
   There are times that we are very much like the wanderers.
   Over the last several weeks we have heard repeatedly that the Israelites
   grumbled when things did not go their way. They said “We want to go back to
   Egypt.”
   But what if they had?
   Imagine all they would have lost.
   All of us, at times, fight discouragement over situations and circumstances that
   we face. God is greater than the highs and the lows! It is a daily choice to trust
   God. He will keep His promise to you.
   We must choose to trust God in every area of our lives. God is bigger than the
   problem and He will go for us.
   He speaks. He speaks often. And He often speaks through promises you can
   bank on.
   Psalm 145:13 says, “The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all
   He has made.”
   This message requires a ‘response of action’. Remember, the priests obeyed God
   by walking into the Jordan when it was flooding. Often God provides no solution
   until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know we should do.
   God desires movement today. Will you rise up, submitting yourself to the
   sovereignty and guidance of God the Father and choose to trust Jesus in all
   situations?
   Although you have experienced doubt, fear, and anxiety and there have even
   been times that you have worked against God, you choose:
8. Not to grumble.
9. To trust God to answer, to provide, and to work in the relationship that
   needs healing. You choose to trust God with the problem.
10. By faith, you believe that God is diligent in making sure all His promises are
    fulfilled.
    Trust God. He is a promise keeper. Today say “Even though I can’t see that He
    is working, I choose to trust God that He is working good for me.”

https://bible.com/events/48917098

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg Campus

Mental Health & The Christian – A Panel Discussion Mental Health & The Christian – A Panel Discussion

This morning we’re taking a break from our series, “The Wanderers” to focus on Mental Health & The Christian. Our panel will include Mark Sensabaugh, LPC, Ashlea Link and Pastor Margaret Michael. Mark is a Licensed Counselor for Journey Counseling Ministries in Harrisonburg. Ashlea is a School Social Worker for Rockingham County Schools and Margaret is Outreach Pastor for COTN. For more information on Journey Counseling Ministries, visit: https://www.journeycounselingministries.org And for more information about Mark, visit: https://www.journeycounselingministries.org/staff/ The American Medical Association recently concluded that the pandemic has triggered a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. No single event has ever had that dramatic effect. One scholar writing in the National Library of Medicine recently wrote that, we are now in a ‘’tsunami of psychiatric illness.’’ Another doctor wrote that, despite all of the time at home, mental health concerns and burnout have skyrocketed in the workplace. Nearly six times as many employers report increased mental health issues among employees since the pandemic began—burnout being among the most common. And in the middle of that, those of us who are believers in Christ find we are not immune. So, what do we do about it? This panel is designed to take a practical approach toward addressing these issues.‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬‬For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬‬Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬‬We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:5-6‬‬Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Mark referenced books in his comments this morning. Those are: Joyful Journey: Listening to Immanuel by E. James Wilder, Anna Kang, John Loppnow & Sungshim Loppnow The Other Half of Church: Brain Science and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by Jim Wilder & Michel Hendricks Journey Into the Divided Heart: Facing the Defense Mechanisms that Hinder True Emotional Healing by Steve Fair

The Wanderers Part 5 “The Spies”Welcome back to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers”

We are taking several weeks to unpack the story of God’s Covenant people as they journeyed from an enslaved people in Egypt, to their inheritance in the promised land. Throughout this story the Lord had one primary desire and that was to be with his people. We saw that come clearly into view last week in Chapter 19 as God extended an invitation to Covenant relationship. Even with the invitation of Covenant, there remains the culmination of God’s promise to his people that is yet to be fulfilled in the story- their inheritance of the Promised Land. As we enter our teaching text today in Numbers 13, we pick up the story about a year after the Mt. Sinai experience of Exodus Chapter 19.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:25-30‬‬At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land. They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” At this early report we already get the sense that the old nemesis of the children of Israel is back after them again- Doubt in the face of difficulty. All except Caleb and Joshua are starting to turn back in their hearts because of the challenge they see ahead in the promised land. On the doorstep of their inheritance, we discover a truth that transcends thousands of years of human experience. What we see, can poison what we believe. As we unpack the story of God’s Children on the threshold of their greatest moment, we will see the faith of an entire generation poisoned by unbelief.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:31-33‬‬But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”The faith of the 10 men was so poisoned by what they witnessed in the land that they come back and begin to give an exaggerated report, starting rumors among the people.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” On the threshold of their inheritance, what they saw poisoned their faith in the Lord’s ability to provide. The people return to their classic response of grumbling and complaining against Moses, and ultimately the Lord. They thought it better to die there in the wilderness than to take the step of faith into the promised land. In this final statement, they decide they no longer want God’s plan, they no longer want God’s leaders, and they don’t want His land either. This was the pinnacle of their unbelief. As the story continues, the faithful leaders they wanted to abandon, begin to plead with them to trust the Lord- to turn back from their faithless ways, but they would have no part of it. Finally, the Lord appears at the tent of meeting and speaks to Moses declaring his judgement upon the people. There the Lord tells Moses that he will strike down this unbelieving people in response to their rebellion and contempt against him. God would give them what they desired, death in the desert. But Moses pleads on behalf of the people that the Lord would spare them, appealing to the Lord’s gracious and steadfast love.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14:20-24‬‬The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. And that’s why they wandered in the wilderness The poison of un-belief would cost an entire generation of people the joy of experiencing the promised land. Scholars estimate that this was around 1.2 million people that would perish in the wilderness over the next 40 years of wandering. I believe verse 24 holds the key for this story, as well as for us. “ 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” If what we see can poison what we believe, then the opposite is also true. What we believe can change what we see. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

The Wanderers Part 4: “The Commandments”

Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Where have you seen the Children of Israel in you? Perhaps in us? These are important to consider because if this is just a history lesson, we’ve been wasting our time. If all the grumbling stories and miracles are just data about the past, we are missing it. If we miss the story, they are telling we will miss the whole point of that long journey- God’s invitation to relationship.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:1-3‬‬On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: We are joining the Children of Israel about 2 weeks after the events in Chapter 16 with God’s miraculous provision of food in the wilderness. For about two weeks now the people have been literally eating at God’s faithfulness every day as they eat the Manna from heaven. In the time between chapter 16 with the giving of the manna and their arrival at Mount Sinai in Chapter 19, the people have done some more grumbling against the Lord, they have engaged in battle with the Amalekites where the Lord provided victory. The arrival and subsequent yearlong stay at Sinai mark a distinct turn in the story of God’s people. This is a pivotal moment for God’s people. As these events un-fold, it becomes clear that this is the point the Lord was leading his people too. Despite their grumbling, despite their desire to go back to Egypt, God has been desiring to be with his people. At Sinai, he will extend them an invitation to relationship.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:4‬‬‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. up to this point in our narrative the Children of Israel have been the recipients of God’s grace, his one-sided love for them, but the Lord is about to offer them an opportunity of response considering all he has done for them.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:5-6‬‬Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. ” The Lord offers his people a way of response in light of all he has done in advance for them. A response of obedience. Let’s pause for just a moment- What’s a covenant? First, a covenant is not a contract. The website Upcounsel.com says “A contract exchanges one good for another, while a covenant is giving oneself to the other.” A contract then is a “if-then” type of agreement. A covenant on the other hand is a relational centered agreement. In our context, Marriage is perhaps the most accessible example. Tim Mackie of the Bible project puts it this way “Covenant means entering a formal, relational partnership to accomplish a goal” The Lord is inviting his people into a covenant relationship, where he will give them all of himself and in return, they would give all of themselves to him. The idea of treasured possession is like a crown jewel, a unique and one-of-a-kind work. “A kingdom of Priests” in a very basic sense, a priest is a person who represents God to other people. So, the invitation to covenant for the children of Israel is that they will be a part of God’s plan for redemption of the whole world. “ Holy Nation” They were to be a people representing God to the world, they were also to be a completely different kind of people, set apart from the world on display of God’s amazing love and transformation in his people. What God asked of the people in response, is what we know as the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments were like a “constitution” of sorts for God’s covenant people. The commandments laid out the kind of people they were to be. God’s giving of himself in covenant would display in his people being a treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The peoples giving of themselves would display in their love for God and their love for their neighbors. For thousands of years the people of God would struggle to uphold their part of the covenant, to be a people wholly committed to God. No matter how hard they tried, despite their best intentions, the fallen nature of sin distorted their ability to live as God desired them to live. Somehow, they knew they couldn’t do it, they needed a new way. God would need to fulfill their part too. Friends that’s exactly what Jesus did- He perfectly fulfilled the requirement of the covenant. Through his life, death, and resurrection he offers us a new covenant, a new way to be in relationship with God. This new covenant of Christ invites us to give ourselves completely to Him- That’s our part. When we give ourselves completely to Christ, in return, in covenant, we receive his very life inside of us through the holy spirit. The life of Christ within us will teach us, guide us, empower us to live as God’s faithful covenant people. As Christ has given all of himself to us, and in return we have given all of ourselves to him in covenant relationship- the promises we read God giving to the wanderers are fulfilled in our lives. Perhaps God’s story for your life has led you to this moment of covenant invitation, will you give all of yourself to him as he gives himself to you?Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

https://my.bible.com/events/48912545

The Wanderers Part 4: “The Commandments”

Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the last few weeks we have traced the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:1-4‬‬And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:7-8‬‬“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12-21‬‬“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. We are called to be a God-centric community. We are called to be an other-centric community.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:36-40‬‬“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We are saved by the One who fulfilled the law. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E