MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM EXODUS: PEOPLE OF PILGRIMAGE 27/9/09

Sunday was our last in the series on 'People of Pilgrimage'. We looked at Exodus 33:7-24 and talked about different views of God in culture: Old Man – harmless and uninvolved; Dictator – thunder bolt from heaven if you do something wrong Distant and unreachable – clockmaker (wound up universe letting it run); Plural – not a God but many gods; Impersonal - God is seen as karma or a moral force -. What do you think the most common view of God is among your friends?

The passage undermines all these views of God. It focusses on one of God’s attributes: Friendship.
Matt looked at two main headings:

1) Moses’ friendship with God
2) Gods’ friendship with us

1) Moses Friendship with God
Main part of this passage is a conversation between God and Moses.  God speaks to Moses (verse 11) ‘face to face as a man speaks to a friend’ and God graciously responds to Moses’ prayers for the people of God.
Therefore, not only does the passage give us an insight into friendship with God but you have Moses willing to risk everything so that ALL the people could experience friendship with God.
He wanted access for all and he knew the journey was pointless without friendship.

Practically, it raises many questions:
Is your spirituality life giving or dead?
Have you settled for religion without friendship?
Have you missed the friendship of God and settled for less.
Do you know what it feels like to know you have met with God?
Do you feel heard by him?
Or do you relate to God through the religious professionals?
Or do you think he just tolerates you, deep down you feel guilty and alone.
How does God reveal to you his grace and compassion (like he does to Moses in verse 19)

2) Gods friendship with us
Friendship isn’t just the outcome of salvation but it is also the means of salvation.  Jesus comes to earth, takes on human flesh and befriends the lost, vulnerable and the poor.
At the cross, we see the ultimate expression of friendship. 

Because Jesus was our ultimate friend we can be friends with God and true friends with one another.
How does knowing Jesus make you a better friend?
How does knowing the Ultimate friend help you overcome insecurity and self centeredness?
What can you do practically to become a less needy friend?
What friends can you introduce to our Ultimate friend, Jesus?