MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM EXODUS: PEOPLE OF PILGRIMAGE 20/09/09
On Sunday, Matt Hatch took us through Exodus 32 and Acts 7 looking at how the people of God had fallen into idolatry - placing a golden calf at the centre of their world.
Matt broke it down into four helpful titles:
Define Idolatry:
At it’s heart, Idolatry, is a rejection of God, v39.
“A God is whatever we expect to provide all good and in which we take refuge in all distress… what ever you set your heart on and put your trust in, that, I tell you, is your true god” Martin Luther
Q - talk about this quote - do you agree?
Q - What does a rejection of God look like?
Q - Where else can you see rejections of God (Scripture, culture, society, etc.)
Describe Idolatry:
Matt described how in the New Testament, our idols are called sinful desires. Things like approval, sex, power, money - these aren’t in and of themselves sinful - but we can make a good thing an idol. Basically an idol is anything that takes the throne in the centre of your life.
Are you on your throne? Is Jesus on your throne? - We will always choose what we believe to be the best, to bring us most delight!
Q - What or who is on your throne?
Q - Take a few moments to thing about what things in your life battle for the throne.
De-construct Idolatry:
In Acts 7:42 we see how God gives us what we really want. If we really want something other than God on our throne, He gives it to us. But when we take the other, we lose Him in the process.
Q - What do you really want?
Q - Is God at the centre?
Defeat Idolatry:
In the book of Exodus Moses Intercedes, mediates and atones for the peoples sin. In the New Covenant, Jesus, intercedes for us, mediates, and atones for our de-throning of God in our lives. Jesus is the true and better Moses. The only way to defeat idolatry is to place God at the centre of our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit in us - we cannot do it by ourselves.
Q - Why do we need a true and better Moses?
Q - How can you be free from idolatry?
Matt finished by asking the question: How do i know what an idol is in my life? Answer: Luke 6 - it will produce bad fruit.
Comments
Mark Russell
Its interesting why we take these things (idols) so seriously when God has shown us (christians) a better life? Yet we can try and ignore his guidance. I think I have a few that cause me some stress and bother. For example, I feel inadequate about relationships at times. Also I get motivated to do a project, such as landscape photography and think that has to be number one!
I think God understands our strengths and weaknesses and he just wants to know that we are putting him at the top. Then our fears, hope for the future and what we feel now will be at peace. However, I think we have to be on guard for things such as, pride, (competition in anything eg. career, self confidence, money, our place in church and society) Lack of charity and looking only for our own needs.
Hopefully we can look out for people older and younger who we see at church, mission group, etc and love them!! I think you could consider those who you would not naturally relate to as of some importance. Jesus hung around the rejects often. (tax collector, prostitute and beggar)
For example to say that being a faithful light for christ is more important then my personal needs or position in society.
Mark