Exodus Participant Guide

PARTICIPANT GUIDE

FOR CORRESPONDING SERMON CONTENT VISIT LINKS.EMMANUELCC.ORG/EXODUS

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Exodus: The Great Escape is a sermon series purposed to teach us the importance of key biblical moments contained within the Exodus narrative.

Through this series we believe that God is going to lead us into new understanding concerning His Word and His character!

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...Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt...

Exodus 3:10

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) Is it easy or challenging for God to get your attention? What makes it easy or challenging?

2) God heard the cries of His people and desired to partner with Moses to do something about it. Can you think of ways that God wants to partner with you today?

3) God told Moses that "He would be with Moses" to face Pharaoh. In what ways is "God with us" to do something challenging?

4) Moses was reluctant to do the task that God was asking of him. Why might it seem hard to do what God wants us to? How do we overcome our own reluctance?

5) God has a bigger plan for our lives. How does this idea influence your faith?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Take a moment to watch parts 1 & 2 of the Bible projects, The Book of Exodus.

God wants to meet with YOU. Find time to have a burning bush experience with God.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Exodus Chapter 1 Exodus Chapter 2 Exodus Chapter 4

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...But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?

What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” 2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”...

Exodus 4:1-1

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) Moses brings up four excuses to the Lord (insecurity, fear, inadequacy, and reluctance). Is Moses justified to have these excuses? Why or Why not?

2) Which of the four excuses have you seen in your own life? How has the excuse influenced your life?

3) God addressed each of Moses' excuses in a unique way. With this in mind, what can we learn about Gods character?

4) God used what was in Moses' hand for a greater purpose. How might God use what you have for a greater purpose?

5) What are some ways that we can keep our hearts soft towards God? Why is it important?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Take a moment to watch parts 1 & 2 of the Bible projects, The Book of Exodus.

Think about what God may use in life for a bigger plan that He has.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Exodus Chapter 4 Proverbs 29:25 (NLT) Romans 2:5-8 (NLT)

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...With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home...

Exodus 15:13

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) God is always on time, but sometimes it can feel like He is late. Why is it easy to feel this way?

What might help to change our perspective?

2) Have you ever felt like God is leading you in a "roundabout" way? Describe a time when you had to wait on God's timing. Was this difficult or easy?

3) From these passages of the Bible, what can we learn about God's presence and direction?

4) The Israelites trusted in God's promise of redemption and His process of redemption. In moments of challenge, which of the two (promise or process) is the hardest to trust, and why?

5) God helped Moses to become a courageous leader for His people. What are you believing God to help you with? How might your desire be a part of God's plan?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Consider ways to trust in God's promises and His process.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Deuteronomy 31:7-9 (NLT) Psalms 37:23-24 (NLT) Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT)

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...Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands...

Deuteronomy 8:2

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) The Israelites went from praising God to complaining very quickly? Are their complaints justified?

2) How do you think Moses and Aaron felt about the peoples complaints?

3) From these passages of the Bible, what can we learn about God's provision?

4) The provision God gave to the people was contingent upon trusting and following His instructions each day. In what ways can we apply this principle to our own lives?

5) God is ultimately the source for all that we need and He wants to meet your needs. How does this make you feel? How might this truth influence your relationship with God?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Take time to this week to ask the for the provison you need. Also consider the level of trust and instruction God desires from you.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV) Exodus 15:23-25a (NLT) Exodus 17:3-7 (NLT) Exodus 17:8-13 (NLT)

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...[God] said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you...

Exodus 15:26

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) The Israelites complained against Moses again!

What variables seemed to cause their complaint?

2) Instead of arguing with the people Moses cries out to God for help. What can we learn from Moses' response?

3) Describe a time when you did or did not respond to a challenge in a positive way. According to Scripture, why might our response to challenge be important?

4) Aaron and Hur, assisted Moses in a difficult time.

When it comes to teamwork, what can we learn from their example?

5) Aaron, Hur, Moses and Joshua each played a different role during the battle. What kinds of roles can you step into when someone close to you is hurting or in a battle?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Teamwork is important! Pray for those you work with and consider how can you depend on them this week.

Take time this week to consider how to respond to upcoming challenges.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:7-16 (NLT) Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)

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...Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice...

Exodus 18:17-19a

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) What is mentorship? Why might mentorship be important?

2) Moses and Jethro talked about challenges, triumphs and everything in between. What can we learn from their mentoring relationship?

3) Why does Jethro criticize Moses' leadership?

What seems to be Jethro's motive?

4) Jethro told Moses, "The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone." Have you ever felt that what you are doing is to heavy to do by yourself? What are some ways to relieve this kind of pressure?

5) If you were to give mentoring advise to your younger self, what would it be?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Consider ways to be mentored and to mentor someone else.

Ask God to bless you with mentoring relationships

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

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...Then God gave the people all these instructions...

Exodus 20:1

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) Which parental figure gave the rules in your home as a child? Did you ever try to "bend the rules" growing up?

2) Which of the Ten Commandments stands out to you? Why does it stand out?

3) The Law was made up of Vertical commandments (ways to love God) and Horizontal commandments (ways to love people). Which of types of commands are the hardest to keep? Why is it hard to keep them?

4) Pastor Nathan said that, The Law of God is like a thermometer, pointing out and grading our fever (or short falls), but it doesn’t heal it". How does this concept influence or change our relationship with God? 5) How would you now describe the Ten Commandments to someone who doesn't know them?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

Take time this week to show love towards others and to God. This week, ask God to show you an area of your life that you have not fully surrendered to Him.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Matthew 19:16-22 (NLT) Matthew 5:17 (NLT) Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)

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...The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain!... How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live!...

Exodus 32:7a-8

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) What were the motivations that lead the people to approach Aaron? Where the motives right or wrong?

2) Aaron didn't resist the peoples request but embraced it. What can Aaron's actions teach us about resisting sin?

3) Aaron lacked loyalty to Moses and to God. In what ways can we grow in our loyalty to God? 4) What can we learn from the conversation Moses had with Aaron? What stands out to you?

5) Pastor Darin gave simple statements to help us understand repentance: "It's on Me"(taking ownership of the wrong), "God, please forgive me" (asking forgiveness for the wrong), and " I want to change. Please show me how to grow"(asking God to help us change).

Which of these statements is the hardest to say and do? And, why is it the hardest?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

This week, think about ways that you can straighten you loyalty to God. In addition, ask God to show you opportunities to practice righteousness.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT) Matthew 3:7-9 (NLT)

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...So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them...

Exodus 39:42-43

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Read aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) How would you describe faithfulness?

2) Pastor Nate often says, "Success is accomplishing Gods Mission, God’s Way, in God’s Timing". What does this quote mean to you and describe a time when it was rewarding or difficult to do God's Mission, God's Way, in God's Timing.

3) God gave His people the plan, knowledge, materials, and abilities to build the sanctuary. The people just needed to be faithful with the instructions and build the sanctuary! What can this teach us about our partnership with God and fulfilling God's call and purpose in our lives?

4) God's Word is the instruction for our lives. Why might it be important to apply it? What are practical ways to apply God's Word ?

5) What are some challenges to applying God's Word in our lives and how might we overcome those challenges?

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Take time to share prayer requests within your Connect Group.

This week, think about the ways God has equipped you to do good works and consider the "next steps" that God has for you.

Check out the following Scriptures to further growth on themes within the Book of Exodus Scriptures: Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT) Matthew 25:14-30 (NLT)

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