Living Hope

Ben Foust
1 Peter 1:1-12

The Apostle Peter teaches us that we can live well as resident aliens in a fallen world, full of trials, where we can have hope because we are citizens of heaven.

The Role of the Law

Conrad Hilario
Exodus 20:12-17

Because God demands absolute moral perfection, no one can ever be made right with God by following the Law. Even in the Old Testament, people were saved by faith and not by following the Law. Christians are not under the Law because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, but the Law is useful for giving us a moral orientation.

The God Who Is Leads His People

James Rochford
Exodus 12:35-14:31

When God led His people out of the land of Egypt, the people could not see everything God was doing. The people were only thinking of fleeing slavery but God was accomplishing multiple goals. He was guarding the Israelites but not removing all threats, judging the Egyptians, blocking re-enslavement, and bringing His people to faith.

The Tenth Plague

Conrad Hilario
Exodus 11:12

The powerful way God foreshadowed the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross by the tenth plague of the deaths of the first-born sons in Egypt is a prophetic reminder through the ages of God's desire to save us. God gave the Passover message to strengthen our faith in Jesus and to give faith to those who are not yet Christians.

God's Provision for Them and for Us

Dennis McCallum
Exodus 15-17

God provides for His people, then and now. He provides daily what we need for physical sustenance in the way of food and water. But He also gives us what we need for spiritual life. He gives us a beginning point for spiritual life by offering us forgiveness through Jesus and also for ongoing growth. Just like our physical needs, our spiritual needs must be replenished daily.

The God Who Is Forgiving

James Rochford
Exodus 10:28-12:29

Some argue that the God of the Bible is an unforgiving and judgmental god, but the Exodus tells of a God who hates sin and will judge it and yet loves the sinner and offers a way to come out from under that judgment. This God of the Bible prefigures the work of Jesus on the cross through the Passover event where Jews and even Egyptians could paint their doorframes with the blood of the sacrificial lamb and death would pass over their household, sparing their first-born sons.

Relating to God During a Crisis

Dennis McCallum
Exodus 12-15

After God unleashed the plagues on Egypt and Pharaoh let God's people leave, there were still more challenges to the people's faith in God. They still had to cross the Red Sea. As the people panicked, Moses gave three directives to the people:Do not be afraid, Stand firm (the Lord will fight for you), and Be still (stop complaining).

God Prepares Moses

Conrad Hilario
Exodus 4:29-7:6

In the process of preparing Moses for the great he would eventually do, God had to teach him some lessons on failure. Moses needed to learn to not be careless with the words of God, to say exactly what God said. Moses needed to learn to follow God despite rejection, whether from Pharaoh or his own people. Moses learned that fear of failure is opposed to faith, but he can go to God when he does fail. Moses discovered El Shaddai is the God who is sufficient for our personal inadequacies.

Jesus' Conception

Gary DeLashmutt
Luke 1:26-38

The elements of the conception of Jesus mirror the steps to becoming a Christian. Just as God initiated the encounter with Mary, God also initiates a relationship with non-Christians. God offered to Mary to indwell her with the Son of God, so too does God offer the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts. Mary could have refused the offer, but in faith, she accepted it. Our part is to believe God's offer of salvation and accept it.