A sermon on God revealing himself to Moses in Exodus 33 by Rev. David Camera.

Application questions:

• Have you ever been in the position of mediator between two people?
• If so, what were the circumstances and what was the outcome?
• What is surprising about the Israelite response in vs 4, considering what they just did in chapter 32?
• What is the reason the Lord says he cannot go with His people? What does the metaphor “stiff-necked” mean? How are we tempted to be “stiff necked” at times? What is the opposite of stiff-necked?
• Why did the people respond with mourning?
• If the Lord offered protection and material blessing in this life, but without a personal relationship with Him, do you think most people would take it? Why?
• What is Moses attempting to do in this chapter?
• On what basis does Moses intercede for the Israelites? (v. 15-16)
• How had Moses tried to intercede in chapter 32? (What had he offered? Why was his offer refused?)
• What does it mean to “find favor” with the Lord? How is favor found with God?
• In the Tent of Meeting, Moses spoke with the Lord “face to face.” Which means person to person. Moses was inside the tent, the Lord was outside the tent. So a curtain separated them. What is Moses asking for exactly in v. 18?
• How does God respond to Moses’ request?
• What is rather surprising about God’s response considering who Moses is?
• Look up John 1:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:6. Where do we see the glory of God revealed?
• How do the actions of Moses point forward to Jesus Christ? (cr. Heb. 8:6-12)
• Considering this passage, do we have any hope of a relationship with God apart from a mediator? Why or why not?

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A sermon on the golden calf incident by Dr. Levi Berntson.

Application questions:

• How does Israel’s distrust here mirror the earlier complaints about hunger and thirst (Ex. 16–17)?
• In what ways does this scene echo Genesis 3, where distrust in God’s word leads to rebellion?
• The NT often warns about unbelief in the wilderness (e.g., Hebrews 3:7–19; 1 Corinthians 10:6–11). How do these NT writers use Israel’s story to instruct Christians today?
• Stephen in Acts 7:39–41 reflects on this event. How does he describe Israel’s heart posture, and what warning does he draw for his audience?
• How does the sin of God’s people damage their witness before the nations (v. 25)? Reflect on Ezekiel 36:22–23. How does God ultimately restore His reputation?
• When have you found it most difficult to trust God’s timing or plan?
• Why do seasons of waiting often reveal what we really believe about God’s character?
• How does Exodus 32 challenge our tendency to want immediate answers or visible control?

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A sermon on God's equipping of his people to serve him by Rev. David Camera.

Application questions:

• When you think of ministry in the church, what comes to your mind?
• How would you describe the work of the ministry? Who does it and what do they do?
• Who is the focus of chapter 30? Where do they work and what do they do?
• Who is the focus of chapter 31? Where do they work and what do they do?
• Who called and qualified the priests to do their work?
• Who called and qualified the craftsmen to do their work?
• What implications can we draw from seeing the relationship between the priests who work inside the Tent, and the craftsmen who work on the Tent?
• Look at 31:1-6. List out the ways God has equipped people to do the work He called them to do. What impression does this list make on you?
• What skills, experiences, abilities, and knowledge do you have that can be employed in the work God has called you to do?
• If all that we are is given to us by God what aspects of life are excluded from serving and glorifying Him?
• How can you use your industry, creativity, and imagination to serve the Lord?
• Why is the sabbath commandment restated after God commanded all this work to be done? What is the principle? How might we apply this today?

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A sermon on the purification of the priests in Exodus 29 by Rev. David Camera.

Application questions:

• What is your favorite style of dress and why? (Formal, fancy, casual etc.) Have you ever been improperly dressed for an occasion? What was the occasion and what did you do? How did you feel?
• Why were the priests given special clothes to wear? (Cr. 28:43)
• What does it mean to be consecrated?
• How were the priests consecrated? What was required?
• Have you ever witnessed an ordination of either and elder, deacon or pastor? What stood out to you about the purpose?
• Look at vs. 42-48. What was the purpose of the priesthood and how is this connected to the promises of God we have heard about in Exodus so far?
• Think back over the story of Exodus, if you were one of Aaron’s sons, how would you feel about being ordained as a priest?
• Look up Hebrews 7:23-28. How is Christ the fulfillment of the priesthood?
• In light of the unique access priests enjoyed, through consecration and ordination, reflect on the astonishing statements made in Hebrews 10:19-22.
• Look at 1 Peter 2:4-5 and 2:9-10. How do Christian’s function as priests today?
• What kind of consecration is required of us in light of our priestly ministry? (1 Peter 2:11-12)
• Read Revelation 7:9-14. What is astonishing about this scene? What are the saints wearing in heaven and what are we doing?

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A sermon on the priestly garments in Exodus 25 by Pastor Cody Brobst

Application questions:

• Can you think of a time you needed a representative to stand in your place? How might that change how we view the ministry of the Old Testament priesthood?
• What are the various articles of the High Priest’s outfit? Talk together about what each part signifies (ephod, breastpiece, etc.) as you make your way through Ex. 28.
  • If Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1), what does He make known publicly that we wouldn’t have known about God otherwise?
• Talk about the pursuit of excellence, aesthetic, beauty both in our culture and in the church. Where do these ideas mimic biblical principles & values? Where might these good things turn into an idol? How does this passage dignify our work/gifts?
  • Couldn’t the priest have just made the point that God is glorious & beautiful to the people without the elaborate processes? (Why do we think this way?)
• What burdens did Christ carry for you? Read v. 29 & discuss judgment on his heart.
• What does “Holy unto the Lord” mean (v. 36)? Do we have to be perfect? What are the traits you notice in Christians who are “clothed in righteousness”? (Is. 61:10)
• Encourage one another in where you’ve seen God's beauty & been blessed.

A sermon on the altar, courtyard, and lamp by Dr. Greg Lanier.

Application questions:

• Discuss the location of the altar. How does it remind us of our sin before a holy God? When you’re facing friction with someone, how can the visual symbolism of the altar help you deal with your own heart?
• Discuss the role of the altar. In what way is it a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the work of Christ? Read Romans 12:1—what does it mean for you to be a ‘living sacrifice’?
• How does the church function as the new ‘courtyard’? Discuss the different ways you feel called to serve as the new covenant ‘tabernacle setup crew.’
• Why does it matter that everyone use their gifts, not just the pastors?
• Re-read Revelation 1:13 and 20. How does the tabernacle’s lampstand point forward to Christ? To us?
• Reflect on worshiping at River Oaks. How does our Sunday service (and other activities) function as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for eternal worship and rest?

Find out more at www.riveroakschurch.com

A sermon on the design of the tabernacle in Exodus 26 by Rev. David Camera.

Application questions:

• How would you say the design of a building or a house and its interior influence us?
• Look at a picture of the Tabernacle online or in your bible. How is the Tabernacle designed?
• What was the design of the Tabernacle intended to communicate to us? About God? About ourselves? About access to God?
• What does the fact that God was willing to dwell in a special way in a tent with His people tell you about His character?
• Do you tend to focus on the accessibility of God or His inaccessibility? Do you know why? Where should our focus be? Why? (Hebrews 10:19-25)
• Think back over the Garden of Eden. How does the Tabernacle represent the Garden, both before and after the Fall?
• Read Revelation 21:22. Why will there be no temple in the New Heavens and Earth?
• Look at John 1:14. How does Jesus fulfill the tabernacle?
• In 1 Cor. 6:12-20 Paul says that individual Christians are “temples” because we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. What implications does Paul draw in this passage about our moral and ethical behavior?
• Think about the design of church buildings. What messages are communicated, intentionally or not, by their design? How should church buildings be constructed today? What messages should the architecture communicate and why?

Find out more at www.riveroakschurch.com.

A sermon on the tabernacle furnishings in Exodus 25 by Rev. Dr. David Camera.

Application questions:

• What is your prized possession and why? How did you acquire it? What would it take to cause you to give it away?
• Look at the list of possible contributions to the tabernacle in verses 1-7. What do they all have in common? Where did these former Hebrew “slaves” get some of the most valuable items in the ancient world? (see Ex. 3:22, 11:2; 12:35)
• Where does all that we have ultimately come from? Why does God give us the things we have ultimately?
• What principle of giving do we learn in v. 2? (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7) Look at Romans 12:1-2. What are we to offer to God?
• What were these donations for?
• What is God teaching about worship by asking for these sorts of items?
• What were the Israelites forbidden to make by the 2nd commandment? Why? What are they commanded to make here?
• What can we learn from verse 9 and verse 40 about how we are to worship God?
• The Israelites are commanded here to make 3 primary pieces of furniture that will go inside the tabernacle, the ark, the table and the lampstand.
• What aspects of each piece are described in detail?
• What can we learn about their significance from these details? (think back over Genesis and Exodus for hints to the symbolism)
• The ark was the center of worship. Inside the ark was the Law of God (testimony). What does this tell us about the focus of meeting with God?
• The mercy seat is the place the high priest would sprinkle blood to make atonement for the sins of Israel. Why was the mercy seat placed over the testimony? Look up Rom 3:25 to see how the word for "mercy seat" is used of the work of Jesus Christ. Why is that significant?
• Look up Hebrews 2:17 and 1 John 2:2. How do we find mercy today for our law-breaking?

Find out more at www.riveroakschurch.com