Explore the Bible: Students Preview Guide by LifeWay Christian Resources

FALL .17 EXPLORE THE BIBLE

STUDENT PREVIEW GUIDE

FROM the

EDITOR

EXPLORE THE BIBLE EXISTS TO TEACH STUDENTS THE BIBLE IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY AND EQUIP THEM TO STUDY IT ON THEIR OWN.

If there is one thing you cannot afford to fail at in student ministry, it is the teaching of God’s Word. The Bible is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:13). It is divinely inspired and essential to our spiritual health (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If we hope to see students growing in their love for God and living on mission for Christ, we must not only teach them the Bible, but how to study the Bible for themselves. But how? Does the method with which we teach students the Bible matter? Is there a right and a wrong way to teach God’s Word? In our day of instant information and constant distraction, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that our method of study doesn’t matter—as long as we are teaching God’s Word, we’re doing well, right? If we think our method of study doesn’t matter, we will either fail to understand the Bible or we will twist the Bible to say what we want it to. As you think about how you will teach the Bible to students in your church, we want you to know that Explore the Bible: Students has always and will always operate on this simple guiding principle: context matters. Explore the Bible exists to help you and your students study the Bible in context so that you might obey the text in your context. This is why we study the Bible book by book, to help students understand the story and teaching of each book in context. Then they can rightly and faithfully apply its teaching to the context of their schools, families, teams, churches, neighborhoods, and activities. In our efforts to improve upon this promise to lead students in studying the Bible in context and applying it to their context, we have made several key updates to Explore the Bible: Students. • • • • •

Engage Options - Optional activities and object lessons to help introduce the central truth of each session to students. 6 Distinctives -These are 6 elements that are essential to every Bible study that we promise to emphasize each week: (1) Worship, (2) Gospel, (3) Community, (4) Family, (5) Mission, (6) Student Context. Family Connection - A simple guide to help families connect with their students on what they’ve been studying. Middle-School Option - A digital version of each session’s Leader Guide aimed specifically at middle-school students Discipleship Moments - Each Leader Guide challenges leaders to get personal with their students by sharing specifically about their life and their pursuit of Christ.

If you want to make disciples of Christ, you must teach God’s Word faithfully in context. In so doing you will help students see the greatness of God and begin living on mission for Him. It is my prayer that Explore the Bible: Students will help you do this faithfully and effectively. Drew Dixon Editor of Explore the Bible: Students

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FAITH AND

OBJECTIONS

HOW will this

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

This week’s FOCUS

We would all like to think that, if asked by God to do something dramatic and difficult, we would respond like Isaiah and say, “Here I am. Send me” (Isa. 6:8). If we are honest, however, we might be more like Moses in Exodus 3-4 and respond to God with a laundry list of reasons why we are not the best people for the job. There is, however, a difference between Moses’ and Isaiah’s callings. When God spoke to Isaiah in a vision, calling him to His service, Isaiah fell on his face—he was already aware of God’s perfect holiness. Moses, on the other hand, had to be told that the ground on which he was standing was holy. In other words, Moses did not know God personally and as a result, the task that God set out for him seemed too big. Today we will look at how God responds to each of Moses’ excuses. In so doing, we will see that God’s character, and not our own, empowers us for His service. Even Isaiah was overwhelmed with his own sinfulness until God assured the prophet of His presence and forgiveness. God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

HELP?

Central TRUTH

God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

PSG

EXPLORATION

Exodus 4:10-17

CONVERSATION

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

10 . . . therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt? ” 12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” 13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name? ’ what should I tell them? ” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. 4:10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent — either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant — because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” 13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.” .01 SHARE ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO TAKE ON A TASK THAT YOU FELT WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU. HOW DID YOU RESPOND?

Begin by reading the passage through

.06 WHAT EXCUSES DOES MOSES MAKE IN THESE VERSES (SEE ALSO EX. 4:1-3)? HOW DOES GOD RESPOND TO EACH?

Exodus 3:10-15

.07 GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS MOSES HAS TO THE MISSION GOD HAD GIVEN HIM, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT GOD TO DO?

.03 WHAT WAS MOSES HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE QUESTION HE ASKED GOD IN VERSE 10? WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT MOSES?

.04 WHAT EXCUSES ( V V. 11,13) DID MOSES MAKE IN THESE VERSES? HOW DID GOD ANSWER HIS EXCUSES?

EXPLORE THE BIBLE |

CENTRAL

See vv. 14-15 LITERARY CONTEXT

Talk it out

.02 IF GOD AUDIBLY SPOKE TO YOU FROM HEAVEN, ASKING YOU DO SOMETHING REALLY DIFFICULT, LIKE SELL ALL THAT YOU OWN AND MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD RESPOND?

Session 3 // 17

STUDENTS

EXPLORE THE BIBLE

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE

TRUTH

God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

NOW WHAT?

.11 WHAT EXCUSES DO YOU GIVE GOD MOST OFTEN? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN GOD ANSWER YOUR EXCUSES?

EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

.12 HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT GOD IS THE GREAT “I AM” HELP US OVERCOME OUR ANXIET Y ABOUT SERVING HIM AND LIVING FOR HIS GLORY?

Journal your notes here

By authorizing Moses to say, “I AM” has sent me to you,” God made Moses his ambassador, His representative. Moses was the first prophet, assigned to speak on God’s behalf to the Israelites. They would have recognized, if they perceived the situation correctly, that what Moses said was not of his own making, but was the word of Yahweh, the God of their forefathers.

.08 HOW DO YOU SEE GOD’S MERCY IN THE WAY HE RESPONDS TO EACH OF MOSES’ OBJECTIONS?

.05 WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS “I AM”? HOW DID THAT ANSWER MOSES’ EXCUSES?

Notice what God promised to do in verse 12. He promised that the Israelites would “worship” Him “at this mountain.” When God’s rescue mission was complete, His people would once again gather at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai). God’s purpose for their return to this location was to worship Him. In other words, God was not merely planning a rescue mission, He was redeeming a people for Himself who would worship Him and center their lives around Him.

.09 IN WHAT WAYS DOES GOD’S CONVERSATION WITH MOSES POINT US TO THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST?

.10 WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ABOUT WHO GOD WANTS TO USE FOR HIS MISSION AND KINGDOM?

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Session 3 // 19

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FALL .17

THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT

Personal

CHALLENGE

Dwell

Read Exodus 4:1-9. What excuses does Moses make in these verses in response to God’s call to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt? Write out a prayer of confession to God admitting the excuses you often make for not living for His glory and for not committing to His mission. Ask God to help you stop making excuses and start relying on His power and presence as you seek to build Christ’s kingdom.

Reflect and dwell on Exodus 4:1-9

Memorize Pray Exodus 3:14

Thank God for calling weak, sinful, broken people like us to Himself. Thank Him for loving us even though we don’t deserve it. Pray that God would deepen your understanding of who He is such that you would live confidently for His kingdom and glory. Pray that God would help you to not rely on your own strength, intelligence, or influence, but rather on His perfect power and ever-presence.

.13 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER GOD’S CHARACTER ( WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS LIKE) AS WE SEEK TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY IN OUR SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES?

Read Exodus 3:16-22. Compile a list in your journal or as a group of everything that God told Moses was going to happen. • Why do you think God told Moses all of this? .14 WHAT SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTE OF GOD’S CHARACTER ARE YOU GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK IN ORDER TO COMBAT YOUR INSECURITIES AND FEARS?

• How might knowing how things were about to go down have helped Moses to trust God and press on in doing His will? • What has God promised us about the future? • How might these promises help us trust Him in the present and press on in doing His will and living for His glory? Session 3 // 21

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If you were to spend one hour a week in intentional Bible study with a group of students from the time they start 6th grade until they graduate high school, you would spend roughly 15 days. That pales in comparison to the amount of time your students spend at school, playing sports, or watching TV. Knowing this, we strive to help you make the most of your time with your students by seeking to determine the essential elements of faithful Bible study and incorporating them into Explore the Bible: Students.

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6 Distinctives of Explore the Bible: Students

1. Worship

The goal of Bible study is never merely to know the Bible. The ultimate goal is worship. We want students to catch a vision of the glory, greatness, and goodness of God.

2. Gospel

Every session of Explore the Bible: Students points students to their need for Christ. We are not interested in producing good Pharisees but disciples who see their need for Christ and seek Him daily.

3. Community

5. Mission

4. Family

6. Student Context

It’s not enough for students to study the Bible on their own. God saves us individually but calls us to work out our salvation in the context of community by studying, applying, and wrestling with Scripture together. Parents are called to be the primary disciplers of their children. We recognize this and promise to provide opportunities for parents to exercise this calling.

God has given us a mission that begins where we are and extends to every nation on the globe. Explore the Bible: Students promises to help students to see their part and actively participate in this mission. God loved us so much that He took on human flesh and entered our culture and context. Every session of Explore the Bible: Students helps leaders enter the culture and context of their students in hopes of pointing them to Christ.

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03 2

FAITH AND

OBJECTIONS

HOW it WORKS.

God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

Prepare for your group meeting by reading through the passage two times.

FALL .17 EXPLORE THE BIBLE

Read Exodus 3:10-15.

cover LEADER GUIDE

.03 WHAT WAS MOSES HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE QUESTION HE ASKED GOD IN VERSE 10? WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT MOSES?

When God meets Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3, Moses was living in exile in the wilderness after having killed an Egyptian in anger for beating a Hebrew. By fleeing Egypt, Moses had rejected an opportunity to advocate for Israel’s freedom as a prince in Egypt. While God had sovereignly placed Moses in a unique position from which he could have served God’s people, Moses had utterly failed to use his unique position to serve God. Moses did not see himself as a hero nor did he have a burning desire to rescue God’s people out of slavery. In fact, it seems that he saw himself as the last person that God would want to lead His rescue mission. Nonetheless, God spoke to Moses from a burning bush to inform him that He intended to use Moses for His purposes despite his weaknesses and failures.

EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

.04 WHAT EXCUSES (V V. 11,13) DID MOSES MAKE IN THESE VERSES? HOW DID GOD ANSWER HIS EXCUSES?

.05 WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS “I AM”? HOW DID THAT ANSWER MOSES’ EXCUSES?

4:10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent — either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant — because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” 13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”

COMMENTARY Exodus 3:10-15

3:13-15. God’s statement is worded with a finality that sometimes appears at the end of a conversation, typically to put an end to debate without volunteering information, like Pilate’s statement, “What I have written, I have written” (John 19:22; also Gen. 43:14; Ex. 16:23; 33:19; 2 Sam. 15:20; Esth. 4:16; Jer. 15:1- 2). The statements containing I AM (v. 14) use the same Hebrew verb that God’s promise, “I will certainly be with you,” does in verse 12 (and also 4:12,15). Speaking would be a sign for Moses because he would be able to look back and know that this worship was possible only because of what the Lord had done (Ex. 18:1-12; 24:1-11).

What did God promise the Israelites they would do once they successfully made it out of Egypt (v. 12)?

at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai). God’s purpose for their return to this location was to worship

What is significant about this promise? Check out the Literary Context note in the commentary.

Him. In other words, God was not merely planning a rescue mission, He was redeeming a people for Himself who would worship Him and center their lives around Him.

The divine name Yahweh literally means “I AM.” It occurs 7,000 times in the Bible and is translated “Lord” in English Bibles. By describing Himself this way, God was communicating to Moses that He is everlasting— He has no beginning or end, He always has been and always will be. He is self-sufficient—He has no needs, weaknesses, or deficiencies. He is self-existent—He has no source, nothing or no one who is responsible for His existence. He is immutable—He does not change and no one has the power to change Him—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). God is the one true being. He is the source of all things and the ruler over all things.

.01 SHARE ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO TAKE ON A TASK THAT YOU FELT WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU. HOW DID YOU RESPOND? .02 IF GOD AUDIBLY SPOKE TO YOU FROM HEAVEN, ASKING YOU DO SOMETHING REALLY DIFFICULT, LIKE SELL ALL THAT YOU OWN AND MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD RESPOND?

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

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CONVERSATION 2

Talk it Out

EXPLORATION

Central TRUTH

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

The wordplay with the verb makes it especially prominent and recalls the promise, as if to remind Moses, “The one who promises to be with you is the one who sends you.” Since Hebrew verbs gather much of their temporal meaning from their contexts, the same form can indicate present or future or both at once, depending on the situation. Here the promises in 3:12; 4:12,15 are oriented to the future; so though “will” is appropriate in English, it does not exclude God’s presence with Moses at the time they were speaking. Nor does the English present tense “am” in 3:14 exclude the future.

FOCUS

We would all like to think that, if asked by God to do something dramatic and difficult, we would respond like Isaiah and say, “Here I am. Send me” (Isa. 6:8). If we are honest, however, we might be more like Moses in Exodus 3-4 and respond to God with a laundry list of reasons why we are not the best people for the job. There is, however, a difference between Moses’ and Isaiah’s callings. When God spoke to Isaiah in a vision, calling him to His service, Isaiah fell on his face—he was already aware of God’s perfect holiness. Moses, on the other hand, had to be told that the ground on which he was standing was holy. In other words, Moses did not know God personally and as a result, the task that God set out for him seemed too big. Today we will look at how God responds to each of Moses’ excuses. In so doing we will see that God’s character, and not our own, empowers us for His service. Even Isaiah was overwhelmed with his own sinfulness until God assured the prophet of His presence and forgiveness. God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

TRUTH

God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

NOW WHAT?

.11 WHAT EXCUSES DO YOU GIVE GOD MOST OFTEN? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN GOD ANSWER YOUR EXCUSES? .12 HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT GOD IS THE GREAT “I AM” HELP US OVERCOME OUR ANXIETY ABOUT SERVING HIM AND LIVING FOR HIS GLORY? .13 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER GOD’S CHARACTER (WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS LIKE) AS WE SEEK TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY IN OUR SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES? Like Moses, if we hope to engage in the mission God has given us of making disciples and living for His kingdom, we need constant reminders of who God is. Remembering that God is all-knowing helps us overcome our fear of the future. Acknowledging God’s infinite power helps us do things we never thought we could—things like sharing Christ with people who intimidate us or staying true to our Christian principles when everyone else is compromising. Remembering God’s ever-presence gives us courage in the face of difficulty. Challenge students not to settle for a surface-level understanding of God, but instead to study the Bible carefully so that God’s character might empower them to live for His glory. .14 WHAT SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTE OF GOD’S CHARACTER ARE YOU GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK IN ORDER TO COMBAT YOUR INSECURITIES AND FEARS?

For an expository verse-by-verse sermon outline/discussion guide that complements this session with a study in Mark, see LifeWay.com/ETBFAL17Exodus. For free training, go to

Leader Pack /

ITEM 1: Point out the location of Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai) on the Map of Exodus (Pack Item 1). This mountain would play a significant role in the life of Israel as God would once again use this location to speak to Moses, giving him the

MinistryGrid.com/web/ExploreTheBible.

Ten Commandments (Ex. 19, 34) there. 24 // Explore the Bible: Students

1. Exploration

This portion of the study is designed to introduce you and the students in your group to the passage of Scripture they will be studying and the Central Truth for each session. This Week’s Focus connects the everyday context of students to the context of each session’s Scripture. It ends with Talk It Out questions designed to get students discussing each session’s theme.

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2. Conversation

This portion of the study is built to help you walk through Scripture with your students. You will find the following elements: • Discussion questions that train students to dig into the Bible and look to Scripture for answers. • Each question is numbered in both the Leader Guide and Personal Study Guide so that leaders can help their students follow along. • Four different types of Context notes designed to help students understand the passage of Scripture they are studying. These include: (1) Literary, (2) Historical, (3) Cultural, and (4) Theological Context.

Session 3 // 25

3. Now What?

.01 Inspiration Show students some motivational/inspirational posters. If you don’t have any posters, you can find such pictures online with a quick search. • Do you think these posters are cheesy? Why do people put these posters up in their rooms or offices? • What does the fact that we are always looking for motivation tell us about ourselves? • Who do most of these quotes encourage us to look to for inspiration or motivation? Say, “One of the reasons there are so many motivational posters, quotes, and books is because we often doubt our ability to succeed in life. Most motivational quotes and books encourage us to look to ourselves for the strength necessary to succeed in life. When Moses was tasked with leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he too was overcome with self-doubt. God’s response to Moses’ insecurities, however, was not to challenge Moses to look to himself, but rather to challenge him to trust in His sovereignty and power.”

.02 God’s Criteria Give each student a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Instruct them to list some character traits they look for in a good leader. After you have given students a few minutes to journal their responses, ask for volunteers to share some of the traits on their lists. Ask, “What traits do you think God looks for in those He raises up to be leaders?” Say, “Today we are going to look at how God chose Moses and called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. There is nothing particularly special or impressive about Moses. In fact, he had fled Egypt and refused the opportunity to be an advocate for the Israelite people while they were in slavery in Egypt. And even when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, Moses’ first response was to make excuses. Today we will see how God doesn’t choose people on the same criteria that we do and how this is good news.”

Session 3 // 23

CENTRAL

This week’s

Explore OPTIONS

Personal

CHALLENGE

Dwell

Memorize Pray

Reflect and dwell on Exodus 4:1-9

Exodus 3:14

5 Read Exodus 3:16-22. Compile a list in your journal or as a group of everything that God told Moses was going to happen. • Why do you think God told Moses all of this? • How might knowing how things were about to go down have helped Moses to trust God and press on in doing His will? • What has God promised us about the future? • How might these promises help us trust Him in the present and press on in doing His will and living for His glory? Session 3 // 31

30 // Explore the Bible: Students

This portion of the study is designed to highlight the Central Truth of the passage and help students apply that truth to their daily lives. • This section begins by reminding students of the Central Truth they’ve been unpacking as they work through that session’s Scripture. • Each question is numbered in both the Leader Guide and Personal Study Guide so that leaders can help their students follow along.

4. Personal Challenge

Each session concludes with a call to students to continue processing what they’ve learned and applying the Central Truth to their context as students by dwelling on, memorizing, and praying Scripture.

5. Digging Deeper

Every Personal Study Guide contains a daily Bible Reading Plan. The Digging Deeper section challenges students to use the Bible Reading Plan to continue studying and applying God’s Word the following week.

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STUDENTS

CHARLES SPURGEON

EXPLORE THE BIBLE |

THE DILIGENT READING OF THE WORD OF GOD WITH THE STRONG RESOLVE TO GET AT ITS MEANING OFTEN BEGETS SPIRITUAL LIFE.

FALL .17

Student Personal Study Guide (Sample shown at 75% of actual size)

EXPLORE THE BIBLE

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

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Features

FAITH AND

OBJECTIONS

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

Central TRUTH

16 // Explore the Bible: Students

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God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

EXPLORATION

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

This week’s FOCUS

1\ This Week’s Focus introduces each session to students by helping them connect their context to the context of the passage of Scripture they will be studying.

.01 SHARE ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO TAKE ON A TASK THAT YOU FELT WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU. HOW DID YOU RESPOND?

Begin by reading the passage through

2\ Each session begins by highlighting the Central Truth from Scripture they will be unpacking together. 3\ The Exploration section is where each session truly begins. Each session’s text is included here for your convenience. 4\ These Talk it Out questions are designed to get students talking about each session’s themes on their own level.

Talk it out

.02 IF GOD AUDIBLY SPOKE TO YOU FROM HEAVEN, ASKING YOU DO SOMETHING REALLY DIFFICULT, LIKE SELL ALL THAT YOU OWN AND MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD RESPOND?

Session 3 // 17

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03 1

Features

Exodus 4:10-17

CONVERSATION

.06 WHAT EXCUSES DOES MOSES MAKE IN THESE VERSES (SEE ALSO EX. 4:1-3)? HOW DOES GOD RESPOND TO EACH?

Exodus 3:10-15

.07 GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS MOSES HAS TO THE MISSION GOD HAD GIVEN HIM, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT GOD TO DO?

.03 WHAT WAS MOSES HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE QUESTION HE ASKED GOD IN VERSE 10? WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT MOSES?

.04 WHAT EXCUSES ( V V. 11,13) DID MOSES MAKE IN THESE VERSES? HOW DID GOD ANSWER HIS EXCUSES?

THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT By authorizing Moses to say, “I AM” has sent me to you,” God made Moses his ambassador, His representative. Moses was the first prophet, assigned to speak on God’s behalf to the Israelites. They would have recognized, if they perceived the situation correctly, that what Moses said was not of his own making, but was the word of Yahweh, the God of their forefathers.

.08 HOW DO YOU SEE GOD’S MERCY IN THE WAY HE RESPONDS TO EACH OF MOSES’ OBJECTIONS?

See vv. 14-15

LITERARY CONTEXT Notice what God promised to do in verse 12. He promised that the Israelites would “worship” Him “at this mountain.” When God’s rescue mission was complete, His people would once again gather at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai). God’s purpose for their return to this location was to worship Him. In other words, God was not merely planning a rescue mission, He was redeeming a people for Himself who would worship Him and center their lives around Him.

18 // Explore the Bible: Students

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F 

.05 WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS “I AM”? HOW DID THAT ANSWER MOSES’ EXCUSES?

.09 IN WHAT WAYS DOES GOD’S CONVERSATION WITH MOSES POINT US TO THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST?

1\ The badges used in each of the major sections of the Personal Study Guide are the same across all sessions, helping students get comfortable using and following along in the Personal Study Guide each week. 2\ All Conversation questions are numbered in the Personal Study Guide and the Leader Guide so leaders can easily direct students through each. 3\ Every session of the Personal Study Guide contains Context notes highlighting important information that will help students better understand the Bible in context. 4\ The new Personal Study Guide maintains a cleaner look and design making it easier for students and leaders to read and follow along.

.10 WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ABOUT WHO GOD WANTS TO USE FOR HIS MISSION AND KINGDOM?

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CENTRAL

TRUTH

Features God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

1\ Before diving into the Now What? questions, students will be reminded of the Central Truth they have been unpacking.

Personal

CHALLENGE

Dwell

NOW WHAT?

Reflect and dwell on Exodus 4:1-9

3\ Each session concludes with a Personal Challenge to students to continue processing what they’ve learned and applying the Central Truth to their context as students by dwelling on, memorizing, and praying Scripture.

Memorize Pray Exodus 3:14

.11 WHAT EXCUSES DO YOU GIVE GOD MOST OFTEN? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN GOD ANSWER YOUR EXCUSES?

.12 HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT GOD IS THE GREAT “I AM” HELP US OVERCOME OUR ANXIET Y ABOUT SERVING HIM AND LIVING FOR HIS GLORY?

Journal your notes here .13 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER GOD’S CHARACTER ( WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS LIKE) AS WE SEEK TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY IN OUR SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES?

Read Exodus 3:16-22. Compile a list in your journal or as a group of everything that God told Moses was going to happen. • Why do you think God told Moses all of this?

.14 WHAT SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTE OF GOD’S CHARACTER ARE YOU GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK IN ORDER TO COMBAT YOUR INSECURITIES AND FEARS?

2\ The Now What? questions challenge students to apply the Central Truth to their context at home, at school, and in their weekly activities.

• How might knowing how things were about to go down have helped Moses to trust God and press on in doing His will?

4\ Every Personal Study Guide contains a daily Bible Reading Plan. The Digging Deeper section challenges students to use the Bible reading plan to continue studying and applying God’s Word the following week.

• What has God promised us about the future? • How might these promises help us trust Him in the present and press on in doing His will and living for His glory? 20 // Explore the Bible: Students

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Student Leader Guide (Sample shown at 75% of actual size)

EXPLORE THE BIBLE

WE MUST ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO CONFRONT US, TO DISTURB OUR SECURITY, TO UNDERMINE OUR COMPLACENCY AND TO OVERTHROW OUR PATTERNS OF THOUGHT AND BEHAVIOR.

LEADER GUIDE EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

JOHN STOTT

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Features

FAITH AND

OBJECTIONS

Central TRUTH God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

Prepare for your group meeting by reading through the passage two times.

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Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

EXPLORATION Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

Talk it Out .01 SHARE ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO TAKE ON A TASK THAT YOU FELT WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU. HOW DID YOU RESPOND?

.02 IF GOD AUDIBLY SPOKE TO YOU FROM HEAVEN, ASKING YOU DO SOMETHING REALLY DIFFICULT, LIKE SELL ALL THAT YOU OWN AND MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD RESPOND?

This week’s

FOCUS

We would all like to think that, if asked by God to do something dramatic and difficult, we would respond like Isaiah and say, “Here I am. Send me” (Isa. 6:8). If we are honest, however, we might be more like Moses in Exodus 3-4 and respond to God with a laundry list of reasons why we are not the best people for the job. There is, however, a difference between Moses’ and Isaiah’s callings. When God spoke to Isaiah in a vision, calling him to His service, Isaiah fell on his face—he was already aware of God’s perfect holiness. Moses, on the other hand, had to be told that the ground on which he was standing was holy. In other words, Moses did not know God personally and as a result, the task that God set out for him seemed too big. Today we will look at how God responds to each of Moses’ excuses. In so doing we will see that God’s character, and not our own, empowers us for His service. Even Isaiah was overwhelmed with his own sinfulness until God assured the prophet of His presence and forgiveness. God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

Explore OPTIONS .01 Inspiration Show students some motivational/inspirational posters. If you don’t have any posters, you can find such pictures online with a quick search. • Do you think these posters are cheesy? Why do people put these posters up in their rooms or offices? • What does the fact that we are always looking for motivation tell us about ourselves? • Who do most of these quotes encourage us to look to for inspiration or motivation? Say, “One of the reasons there are so many motivational posters, quotes, and books is because we often doubt our ability to succeed in life. Most motivational quotes and books encourage us to look to ourselves for the strength necessary to succeed in life. When Moses was tasked with leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he too was overcome with self-doubt. God’s response to Moses’ insecurities, however, was not to challenge Moses to look to himself, but rather to challenge him to trust in His sovereignty and power.”

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Explore the Bible now provides three options for introducing each session. Whether you choose to use the Talk it Out questions or the Explore Options, these Options resources introduce students to the Truth. Central Truth 1\ This portion of the study is designed to introduce you and the students in your group to the passage of Scripture they will be studying and the Central Truth for each session. 2\ Explore Options: These interactive activities and illustrations introduce the Central Truth of each session. Each session contains two Explore Options. 3\ Talk it Out: These are discussion questions that introduce each session’s key themes and help students connect the text to their context. 4\ This Week’s Focus: Also included in the Personal Study Guide, this section introduces this week’s theme.

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CONVERSATION

Read Exodus 3:10-15.

.03 WHAT WAS MOSES HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE QUESTION HE ASKED GOD IN VERSE 10? WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT MOSES?

.05 WHAT DOES GOD MEAN BY DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS “I AM”? HOW DID THAT ANSWER MOSES’ EXCUSES?

COMMENTARY

Exodus 3:10-15

3:11-12. Moses’ question— Who am I?—reminds us of the question one of the Hebrews asked Moses in 2:14: “Who are you?” The answer to these questions has nothing to do with Moses’ upbringing or abilities. The Lord’s promise to Moses, I will certainly be with you, depends on who the Lord is for its value; it matters that He is present because He is willing and able to act. This promise gave Moses grounds for authority that was missing earlier (2:11-15) and continues the important theme of God’s personal involvement in the lives of His people (Gen. 28:15; 31:3; 46:4; 48:21; Ex. 33:14-16; Num. 14:43; Josh. 1:9; Zech. 8:23; Matt. 28:20; John 14:16; Heb. 13:5). To worship God with all the Israelites at the mountain where God and Moses were speaking would be a sign for Moses because he would be able to look back and know that this worship was possible only because of what the Lord had done (Ex. 18:1-12; 24:1-11). 3:13-15. God’s statement is worded with a finality that sometimes appears at the end of a conversation, typically to put an end to debate without volunteering information, like Pilate’s statement, “What I have written, I have written” (John 19:22; also Gen. 43:14; Ex. 16:23; 33:19; 2 Sam. 15:20; Esth. 4:16; Jer. 15:1- 2). The statements containing I AM (v. 14) use the same Hebrew verb that God’s promise, “I will certainly be with you,” does in verse 12 (and also 4:12,15). Speaking would be a sign for Moses because he would be able to look back and know that this worship was possible only because of what the Lord had done (Ex. 18:1-12; 24:1-11).

LITERARY CONTEXT Notice what God promised to do in verse 12. He promised that the Israelites would “worship” Him

What did God promise the Israelites they would do once they successfully made it out of Egypt (v. 12)?

What is significant about this promise? Check out the Literary Context note in the commentary.

“at this mountain.” When God’s rescue mission was complete, His people would once again gather at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai). God’s purpose for their return to this location was to worship Him. In other words, God was not merely planning a rescue mission, He was redeeming a people for Himself who would worship Him and center their lives around Him.

1\ All discussion questions are numbered in the Personal Study Guide as well so that leaders can draw student’s attention to particular questions as they follow along. 2\ Leader’s Notes: Every discussion question is answered in the Leader Guide, so that leaders are prepared to guide discussion as students engage the text. 3\ The Context notes correspond to the context questions on the Conversation page. 4\ The Commentary provides added information to help leaders understand the text and give additional insight to the discussion questions.

Leader Pack /

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COMMENTARY

CONVERSATION

continued

THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT

By sharing His name with Moses, God was declaring His perfect, holy character. When we set out to serve the Lord, we too must remember that we serve an everlasting, self-sufficient, all-powerful God who can empower us to accomplish what we never thought possible.

Was God asking Moses to participate in a one-time rescue mission, or was there more to it? What role

own making, but was the word of Yahweh, the God of their forefathers.

1\ We have provided additional context questions that are addressed in the corresponding section in the commentary so that you might challenge students to think through important context issues and to equip you, the leader, to answer those questions.

was God asking Moses to accept? Check out the Theological Context note in the commentary.

Exodus 4:10-13

Read Exodus 4:10-17. .06 WHAT EXCUSES DOES MOSES MAKE IN THESE VERSES (SEE ALSO EX. 4:1- 3 )? HOW DOES GOD RESPOND TO EACH? • Moses said that he was inadequate. God promised to be with Him (Ex. 3:10-11). • Moses claimed that he didn’t know who God was. God proclaimed Himself as the great “I AM” (Ex. 3:13- 14). • Moses worried that the Israelites wouldn’t believe God had sent him. God showed Moses His miraculous power (Ex. 4:1-9). • Moses claimed he could not speak well. God asked Moses, “who made your mouth?” and promised to give him the words to say (Ex. 4:10-13). • Moses begs God to send someone else. God’s anger burned against Moses but nonetheless God mercifully promised to send Aaron to help (Ex. 4:13-17). Discipleship Moment: This would be a great time to share some excuses with students that you have

made in your relationship with God. Share how you have sought God’s help in overcoming them.

.07 GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS MOSES HAS TO THE MISSION GOD HAD GIVEN HIM, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT GOD TO DO? .08 HOW DO YOU SEE GOD’S MERCY IN THE WAY HE RESPONDS TO EACH OF MOSES’ OBJECTIONS?

Moses’ next objection that he was “slow and hesitant in speech” returned to the problem of his personal identity and unsuitability (2:14; 3:11), as if God were dependent on him. God’s answer returned attention to who He is and what He would do. 4:10. Moses began by saying he was not eloquent (literally “I am not a man of words”). Ironically, Moses used 21 Hebrew words arranged in somewhat complicated expressions to say that he could not speak well. He used a figure of speech referring to his mouth and tongue as “heavy” (literally “I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue”). The word for “heavy” also describes ears that do not hear (Isa. 6:10; 59:1; Zech. 7:11) and eyes that do not see (Gen. 48:10). One might think of a tool that is too heavy to be used easily and so impedes the efforts that it ought to make easier. 4:11. The Lord answered by arguing from the greater to the lesser, implying that the Creator of all can deal with the problem of one. His rhetorical questions invited Moses to think and recognize that he was making a mistake by not viewing the situation from God’s point of view. 4:12. The Lord’s command and statement amount to a repeat of His promise to be with Moses (3:12). He applies it specifically to the problem of speaking, saying literally, “I will be with your mouth.” 4:13. This final protest of Moses represents a dramatic departure from all four of his previous protests (3:11,13; 4:1,10), which had the style of ritual, nonliteral demurrers. If Moses were to continue that pattern he would here say something else about his unworthiness and/or the magnitude of the challenge. He did not. Instead, he actually asked that God send someone else to do the job—in other words, he tried to refuse to accept the call.

2\ Discipleship Moment: Each Leader Guide contains at least one Discipleship Moment. These are opportunities to connect with students on a deeper level by sharing personal experiences in your walk with Christ. 3\ We’ve provided more specific verse headings in our commentary to make it easier to use for leaders.

Each of Moses’ objections are answered in the same way—God informs Moses that He will take care of it. This is what makes Moses’ conversation with God truly amazing—Moses didn’t want to serve God. He didn’t want to lead Israel out of Egypt. But God chose Moses anyway, despite all of this.

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COMMENTARY

CONVERSATION

continued Exodus 4:14-17

God didn’t need Moses, He could use anyone to lead Israel out of Egypt. And yet, God not only chose Moses, but He also mercifully answered his every objection by promising to work through, provide for, and be with him. In other words, God responded to Moses’ excuses with more of Himself. When people continually make excuses to us, our natural human tendency is to give up on them. Thankfully this isn’t how God operates. God sees Moses’ weaknesses as an opportunity to display His power and glory. Our God doesn’t look for perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

4:14-16. I will help both you and him repeats again His promise to be with Moses and applies it to Aaron as well. To help them speak well, God promised, “I will be with your mouth and with his mouth.” The promise that God would teach Moses and Aaron what to say and do has New Testament parallels (Luke 12:11-12; John 14:26). The working relationship that the Lord described for Aaron and Moses was analogous to that of a prophet with God. He will be your spokesman (literally “he will be a mouth for you”), and Moses would be like God for Aaron in telling him what to say to the people. Moses had complained of having a defective mouth; he would now have a new one to use.

.09 IN WHAT WAYS DOES GOD’S CONVERSATION WITH MOSES POINT US TO THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST?

Verse 15 makes clear that both Moses and Aaron would speak for God, and this was in fact the case. Moses eventually did the vast majority of the speaking, with virtually no mention made of Aaron’s public speaking beyond the early chapters of Exodus—but at first Aaron was either speaking for him or with him (4:30; 5:1). Presumably, as Moses’ courage and faith increased, the need for Aaron’s close collegial support and/or public representation of his brother lessened. Verses 15 and 16 together also suggest that, from the first, Moses was the true prophet (the one into whose mind God placed his words with the intent that they be passed on to others) and that Aaron was Moses’ spokesperson rather than a direct recipient of God’s revelation. Thus God was the revealer; Moses, the prophet; and Aaron, the public repeater, an arrangement not unlike that in the modern church involving God, the Scriptures as the location of his word, and the preacher as the public repeater. Although at first Aaron primarily would have repeated verbatim what God had said to Moses and would not have exposited upon it as does the modern preacher, the role of priest certainly involved teaching in the sacred assembly, as a number of subsequent texts demonstrate.

.10 WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ABOUT WHO GOD WANTS TO USE FOR HIS MISSION AND KINGDOM?

Jesus did not come to earth to get super holy people to follow Him and do great things through their own power and influence. He came to call sinners to repentance and to heal those who are sick (Luke 5:31-32). According to Jesus, the poor in spirit, those who know they are not powerful or influential or holy, are blessed (Matt. 5:3). The good news of the gospel is woven into God’s conversation with Moses. Moses was not powerful or influential—he had run away from Egypt and was living in exile. And yet God called him. Moses was not religious. Moses was not a great speaker. And yet God called him. Help students in your group to see that no matter who they are or what they have done, God loves them and is calling them to participate in His mission. You don’t need to get your life together or establish yourself as an important or influential person to be used by God. You merely need to respond to His call. You merely need to trust in His greatness, presence, power, and glory. Ask students in your group, “Will you respond to His call?”

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1\ Each session includes at least 10 questions that drive students both to dig into the text and consider carefully how it connects to their daily lives. 2\ We also provide space for leaders to record their own insights and thoughts as they prepare for each session.

4:17. Verse 17 highlights the importance of Moses’ staff, an object that plays a significant role in the exodus story. The staff is the ultimate immediate reassurance of God’s presence with Moses as he enters upon the challenging task to which he has been called.

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03 1

Features

CENTRAL

TRUTH

God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

CHALLENGE

Dwell

Memorize Pray

.11 WHAT EXCUSES DO YOU GIVE GOD MOST OFTEN? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN GOD ANSWER YOUR EXCUSES?

Reflect and dwell on Exodus 4:1-9

Exodus 3:14

.12 HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT GOD IS THE GREAT “I AM” HELP US OVERCOME OUR ANXIETY ABOUT SERVING HIM AND LIVING FOR HIS GLORY?

.13 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER GOD’S CHARACTER (WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS LIKE) AS WE SEEK TO LIVE FOR HIS GLORY IN OUR SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES?

.14 WHAT SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTE OF GOD’S CHARACTER ARE YOU GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK IN ORDER TO COMBAT YOUR INSECURITIES AND FEARS?

Personal

NOW WHAT?

Like Moses, if we hope to engage in the mission God has given us of making disciples and living for His kingdom, we need constant reminders of who God is. Remembering that God is all-knowing helps us overcome our fear of the future. Acknowledging God’s infinite power helps us do things we never thought we could—things like sharing Christ with people who intimidate us or staying true to our Christian principles when everyone else is compromising. Remembering God’s ever-presence gives us courage in the face of difficulty. Challenge students not to settle for a surface-level understanding of God, but instead to study the Bible carefully so that God’s character might empower them to live for His glory.

1\ This portion of the study is designed to highlight the Central Truth of the passage and help students apply that truth to their daily lives.

Read Exodus 3:16-22. Compile a list in your journal or as a group of everything that God told Moses was going to happen. • Why do you think God told Moses all of this?

guide that complements this session with a study in Mark,

• How might knowing how things were about to go down have helped Moses to trust God and press on in doing His will?

see LifeWay.com/ETBFAL17Exodus. For free training, go to

• What has God promised us about the future?

For an expository verse-by-verse sermon outline/discussion

MinistryGrid.com/web/ExploreTheBible.

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• How might these promises help us trust Him in the present and press on in doing His will and living for His glory? Session 3 // 31

2\ Each session concludes with a link to two free resources: (1) A Midweek Bible Study–an additional verseby-verse study that can be used in a large or small group setting that complements each session. (2) Free training videos that help leaders prepare for each session. 3\ The Personal Challenge that is included in the Personal Study Guide is also included here so that you can encourage students to use it. 4\ Keep on Digging, also included in the Personal Studnt Guide, challenges students to use the Bible Reading Plan to continue studying and applying God’s Word to the following week.

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03 O L O

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L D D I

IO T P

FAITH AND

OBJECTIONS

Central TRUTH God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

Prepare for your group meeting by reading through the passage two times.

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Middle-school Option

Middle School Option

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

Talk it Out .01 WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO IS A GREAT LEADER?

.01 Inspiring Posters .02 WHAT MAKES THIS PERSON A GREAT LEADER?

EXPLORATION Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

Explore OPTIONS

This week’s

FOCUS

Of all the traits we expect to find in good leaders, motivation is probably the most important. It doesn’t matter how smart or experienced or well-spoken a leader is if he or she isn’t motivated to lead. Great leaders are passionate about the projects and missions they are seeking to lead others in. However, when God called Moses to the task of leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, he was anything but motivated and passionate. In fact, Moses had a long list of excuses for why he wasn’t the right person for the job. When God called him, Moses wasn’t a great leader. He had refused to use his position as a prince in Egypt to advocate for the freedom of the Israelites and selfishly ran away. He even begged God to choose someone else. We are all a lot more like Moses than we would like to admit. We aren’t as great or as passionate as we would like to be. The good news for us today is that we serve a God who is great and can empower broken people to do great things. God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

Show students some motivational/inspirational posters—like the ones that are often seen in offices and schools. Divide your group into smaller groups of 3-4 students each. Assign each a motivational topic (examples: teamwork, success, attitude, friendship). Give each group three minutes to take a picture that illustrates their motivational/inspirational topic. They will also come up with a tagline for their picture. For example, for friendship, they could take a picture of two friends high-fiving and a tag line that says, “Friends support each other!” Encourage them to have fun with their pictures and get creative. When time is up, have each group share their inspirational picture and tagline. To encourage students to engage in this activity, you might even consider offering some candy to the team with the funniest/most creative picture and tagline. Say, “Today we are going to look at how Moses responded to God’s call to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. As we do so, we will see that Moses needed some motivation. He didn’t think he was up for the task. In fact, he thought he was so unqualified that God should choose someone else. As we look at this story, however, we will see that Moses was mistaken. God isn’t looking for perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.”

.02 Glow Sticks

Show students a glow stick that hasn’t been broken yet (in other words it is not yet lit). Ask them if they think the glowstick is cool like it is. After they tell you to break it to make it glow, talk to them about today’s Central Truth. Say, “We tend to think that God is looking for people who have it all together, people who are really smart or holy. Today, however, we will see that Moses did not have it all together when God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. In fact, Moses wanted God to choose someone else. Thankfully, God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through. Session 3 // 23

A middle-school specific version of Explore the Bible: Students is available for digital download and on the Explore the Bible App and website. The MiddleSchool Option has unique questions and activities aimed specifically at younger students. 1\ The Talk it Out questions in the MiddleSchool Option are uniquely designed for better discussion among younger students while still introducing each session’s theme and Central Truth. 2\ Each MiddleSchool Option contains Explore Options that are uniquely aimed at introducing the Central Truth to middle-school students. 3\ This Week’s Focus is also distinct, helping middle-school leaders better relate the Central Truth to the context in which younger students live.

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Print Options EXPLORE THE BIBLE |

FALL .17

STUDENTS

EXPLORE THE BIBLE

AND

OBJECTIONS

LEADER GUIDE

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

This week’s FOCUS

EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

Central TRUTH

God doesn’t use perfect people who can do great things, but broken people He can display His greatness through.

Explore the Bible Annual Digital Bundle Provides all the resources students and leaders need for an entire year of study.

EXPLORATION

Exodus 3:10-15; 4:10-17

Begin by reading the passage through

STUDENTS

EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

FALL .17

FAITH

EXPLORE THE BIBLE |

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE

Digital Options

Talk it out

.02 IF GOD AUDIBLY SPOKE TO YOU FROM HEAVEN, ASKING YOU DO SOMETHING REALLY DIFFICULT, LIKE SELL ALL THAT YOU OWN AND MOVE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD RESPOND?

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FALL .17 EXPLORE THE BIBLE

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

Session 3 // 17

UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL TRUE STORY LEADER GUIDE

FALL 2016 RONNIE FLOYD: GENERAL EDITOR

EXPLORE THE BIBLE | STUDENTS

Leader Guide A resource designed to help leaders prepare for each session, giving them the essential tools they need to lead students to study God’s Word in its context so that they might apply it to their context.

FALL .17 EXPLORE THE BIBLE

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

Explore the Bible App Contains the same content as Personal Study Guide for both iOS and Android devices.

Explore the Bible Digital Download An ePub that contains the same content as Personal Study Guide and Leader Guide making reading and interacting with the session perfect on the go.

Personal Study Guide A resource designed to help students walk through each session individually and as a group. This resource also equips and challenges students to continue studying and applying the Bible throughout the following week. Leader Pack Contains useful tools to further equip leaders to prepare and teach. It includes a DVD-ROM with training videos designed to help leaders prepare to teach, PowerPoint© templates to help them in presenting the lessons, and a variety of visual aids. A PDF of our Family Connection—a resource designed to help parents disciple their students, is also included. Family Connection We have redesigned our One ConversationsTM to make them easier for parents to use as they seek to connect with their students about what they’ve been learning. We are now calling it the Family Connection. It has two parts: (1) As You Go—simple questions that parents can ask students on the way home from church or on the way to school or practice and (2) a short family devotion that encourages parents and students to study Scripture together. Midweek Studies We added a free additional 13-week study that complements each session of Explore the Bible: Students for those groups who meet more than once each week. These studies work expositionally through another book of the Bible while helping leaders make connections to each session. These studies can be utilized in both small and large group settings. Middle-School Option We have provided a digital middle-school specific version of the Leader Guide that is available for purchase online and on the Explore the Bible App.

study

PLAN

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Fall 2017 Exodus Leviticus

Fall 2018 Galatians James

Fall 2019 Ephesians

Winter 2018 Acts (Part 2)

Winter 2019 Genesis (Part 2)

Winter 2020 Numbers Deuteronomy

Spring 2018 1-2 Corinthians

Spring 2019 Mark

Spring 2020 Romans

Summer 2018 2 Samuel 1 Chronicles

Summer 2019 1-2 Timothy Titus

Summer 2020 Proverbs Song of Solomon

LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES ONE LIFEWAY PLAZA NASHVILLE, TN 37234 CRA74350 // 006167301

VIEW PRODUCTS AND DOWNLOAD A FREE FOUR-SESSION SAMPLE ONLINE AT

LIFEWAY.COM/EXPLORETHEBIBLE

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