God Saves His People

A Sermon Series from the Book of Exodus

Theme

“God rescues his people and calls us into a life of holiness in order that we may have a living, personal relationship with him. . . . Salvation is not merely the forgiveness of sins. God’s goal for us is that, having been rescued from the bondage of sin, we might live daily in the glory of his presence and manifest his holy character.”

^{—John Oswalt, introduction to Exodus in the NLT Study Bible, 2nd ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008).}

Objectives

To remind people of God’s great acts in the past and present
To help people experience new life in Christ
To explore some of the connections between the Old and New Testaments
To review and reinforce the importance of God’s law as God’s will for our lives
To grow spiritually
To pursue holiness

Outline and Sermon Titles

Exodus 3:1–22: The Lord Sends Moses
Exodus 12:29–51: God Keeps Vigil
Exodus 13:17–14:31: The Lord Will Fight for You
Exodus 16:2–15: Finding God in the Desert
Exodus 32:1–14: The Lord Remembers His People
Exodus 34:1–14: God of Compassion and Grace

Sermon and Worship Resources

Introductions to Exodus

Exodus, from the NIV Study Bible (Zondervan, 2011)

NLT Study Bible (Tyndale, 2008)

Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006).

Primary Commentary

Terence E. Fretheim, Exodus: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001).

Preaching Resources

“Sermon Starters” at the Center for Excellence in Preaching, Calvin Theological Seminary

“Exodus” at textweek.com

Exodus 3: “No Other Gods” by Jerry Andrews

Exodus 13–14: “Never Alone” by Albert Aymer, “Water, Wind, and Fire: A Meditation” by Laura Smit, “Exodus and Easter” by Sophie Mathonnet-Vanderwell

Exodus 16: “Glory in the Wilderness” by Scott Hoezee

Exodus 32: “God Just in Case” by Neal Plantinga; “When Prophets Please the People” by Michael Nabors

Worship Resources

Program/Worship Book from the 2014 Calvin Symposium on Worship

Exodus resources from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2013).

Song Suggestions

1. Exodus 3:1–22: The Lord Sends Moses/The Burning Bush

“O God, Do Not Be Silent (Psalm 83)”^Kimbrough

“O God, Will You Restore Us?”^{Bifrost Arts Music}

“Alive in You”^{Frye and Walker-Smith}

“Our Help Is in the Name of God the Lord (Psalm 124)” ^{Tel, LUYH 498, GtG 330, PfAS 124A}

“Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord”^{Evans, LUYH 532}

2. Exodus 12:29–51: God Keeps Vigil/The Passover Death of the Firstborn

“O Lamb of God”^Scheer

“At the Lamb’s High Feast”^Reagan

“Let My People Go”^{Redman and Baker}

“Behold the Lamb”^{Townend and Getty, LUYH 840}

“Commit Your Way to God the Lord”^{Perry, LUYH 850, GtG 706}

3. Exodus 13:17–14:31: The Lord Will Fight for You/The Exodus

“He Has Made a Way (Exodus)”^Cobb

“The Day of the Lord (Psalm 37)”^Kimbrough

“He’s on Our Side (Psalm 124)”^Kimbrough

“We Will Not Go”^{Pool and Hartley}

“I Am Not Alone”^Jobe

“The Lord Is My Light”^{Bouknight, LUYH 431}

4. Exodus 16:2–15: Finding God in the Desert/Manna in the Desert

“Our Song in the Night”^{Bifrost Arts Music}

“Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer”^{Williams, LUYH 43, GtG 65, PsH 543}

“Jesus, Priceless Treasure”^{Franck, LUYH 425, GtG 830, PsH 572}

5. Exodus 32:1–14: The Lord Remembers His People/The Golden Calf

“Blessed Be Our God and King (Psalm 124)”^{David Isaac Rivers}

“Have Mercy”^{Sandra McCracken}

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”^{Robinson, LUYH 521, GtG 475, PsH 486}

6. Exodus 34:1–14: God of Compassion and Grace/Covenant Renewal

“Show Me Your Glory”^{Walker-Smith and Frizzell}

“His Mercy Is More”^{Boswell and Papa}

“Better Is One Day”^{Redman, LUYH 506}

“My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone”^{Diephouse, LUYH 435, PsH 62}

Worship Notes

I used a recurring renewal in this series (see below) that involved certain recurring elements including the use of the baptismal font as a visual reminder of God’s saving grace and a review of the Ten Commandments as God’s will. I also prepared a recurring prayer for illumination based on Nehemiah 8:6 (see below). I aimed to relate the communion services to the Jewish Passover feasts as a way of connecting the Old and New Testaments.

Recurring Renewal

Call to Confession: Isaiah 1:18, NLT

Prayer of Confession: Psalm 51:1–2, 10, NLT

Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

blot out the stain of my sins.

Wash me clean from my guilt.

Purify me from my sin.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Assurance of Pardon: Ezekiel 36:25–28, NLT (with the baptismal font)

God’s Will for Our Lives

What is the great and first commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. What is the second commandment like it? Love your neighbor as yourself. What does this mean? Love is the fulfilling of the law. To what does this call us? To a life of faith working through love.

^{—based on Matthew 22:37–40 (The Worship Sourcebook, 2.7.5)}

Recurring Prayer for Illumination

Blessed you are, Lord, Great God!

Blessed you are, eternal God

in times past and yet today!

You have spoken in the past

and your people have been guided

through all kinds of wildernesses

and supported in all kinds of exiles and tribulations.

Speak to us today

in the midst of our own peculiar confusions.

Speak to us through your Law

and give us a sense of order and direction.

Speak to us through your gospel.

Transform us by your grace.

Renew us in hope.

For yours is the future,

even more than the past. Amen.