The Bible 20/20 - Week 4: "Birth of a Nation"

At first glance, the story of the Israelites in the desert can feel distant and difficult to relate to our current situations, but if we take a step back, we can see that the issues that the Israelites struggled with are still pervasive in our culture. However, by openly expressing our gratitude, surrender, and striving for purity, we can shape our lives and stories into lives that are in communion with God instead of constant grumbling against Him. Key Verses: Exodus 19:3-8, 16:2-3. 27-30, 32:1-4, and 34:5-9 Bible Reading questions/discussion prompts: 1. Have a member of the group summarize one key story from the reading until you have covered them all for the week: who are the main characters, where does the story take place, what are they doing, and why. 2. What does this week’s reading teach you about God? 3. What does it teach you about mankind? 4. How does this reading point to Jesus or our need for Him? 5. What did you learn this week about God or about the Bible that you didn’t know before? 6. What did you learn from the sermon that you maybe missed or didn’t know from the reading? 7. What lessons can you take from this reading and apply to your own life today? 8. What remaining questions do you have about this passage? Sermon Questions: 1. What was the reason that God was giving the Israelites the laws? How did it help shape their identity? 2. Do you agree with the statement, “A Complaining Mouth sows the seeds of Bitterness which grows into a Hardened Heart” have you seen that in your own life? How can you change your actions to avoid a hardening heart? 3. We often laugh at the Israelites who gathered extra manna on the day before the sabbath when God told them it would spoil, but how do you do the same thing with your own circumstances? What are the things that you desperately try to control instead of allowing God to fulfill His promises to you? 4. What image of God have you created for yourself? How have you made your own golden calf to try to fit God into an image you understand?