The House You're Building

  Introduction Sometimes when a group of moms go out together, they start recounting their labor experiences.  These are never my favorite stories as the bones of the story are all roughly the same, there was lots of pain and then a baby.  Moses’s mother on the other hand had a unique story to tell and we are privileged to hear it again in this section of Exodus.  Instead of showers and visitors, she broke the law by giving birth and keeping her son.  She hid him for months and then made the courageous decision to set him adrift on the river, hoping for a miracle.     And one did come, God had plans for Moses to lead His people from Egypt.  No matter what is happening around us, what are circumstances may be, God in His sovereignty looks ahead and positions us right where we need to be.       Scripture Read Exodus 2-4:17   Chapter 2:1-22 Moses Born and Flees to Midian Moses was born to parents...

Introduction :   If you’ve ever been to a performance, you know there is a certain amount of anticipation before the curtain rises.  Attendees find their seats and settle in their coats and handbags.  They may make conversation with those around them or check the programs.  Ushers roam the isles and children make last minute visits to the restroom.  When the curtain rises, hushed attention now shifts from the waiting to the experience you have come to see.  The same can be said of the first chapter of Exodus.  The first paragraph serves as a transition, a summary of where the people have Israel left off from Genesis.  The curtain rises and we see what God has planned next for His people.     Scripture :  Read Exodus Chapter 1.    v. 1-7 …they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong When we pick up the narrative at the end of Genesis, the sons of Israel were already in Egypt. ...

This week I’m introducing a new series that we will be in for quite some time.  Last spring and summer I completed an epic study on Exodus and it has probably been my favorite study of all time! I’m so excited to write about it some of what I’ve gleaned and share it with you.  This post is to share some information about Exodus as a whole so the sections you read each week have more context.  In a broad sense, Exodus is God’s people leaving Egypt after 430 years of slavery.  To best understand it, you have to look at the larger storyline of books surrounding it.  Exodus is the 2 nd  book of the bible and included in the Pentateuch, five books of history that read like a series.  Genesis, which comes before, is the story of individuals, where Exodus covers the story of a nation.  The next three books, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, expand on Exodus by covering more covenant instructions, the journey toward the pr...

  During advent season, many pastors retell the Christmas story to their congregants.  It is a blessing to hear afresh the narrative of how our Lord came to earth, answering the long-awaited hopes of His people.  After 400 years of silence, the angels sang praise of His immanent arrival to shepherds.  One my favorite decorations I set up is the nativity.  I’ve collected pieces over the years that visually express how the story unfolds in the synoptic gospels.   This year, I’m reflecting on a more distant part of the Christmas story, the one that started in Genesis 3, where our ancestors ate of a tree in disobedience and sin entered the world.  The curse was upon the earth and humanity has suffered in sin ever since.  Genesis 3:15 predicts the enmity between humankind and its oppressor to end when the Offspring will come who will crush his head, rendering the snake, one symbol of Satan found in scripture, ineffective....

    [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with...

  22  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  23  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  24  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  26  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  27  so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [ a ]   28  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  29  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,  30  because...