Pastor Tim Richards will continue the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on Kadesh Barnea.

Sermon Notes:

1. Have you made any big geographical moves? How did you prepare for the move? What excited or intimidated you about the move?

2. Read Deuteronomy 1:22 & 28. What was the difference between what the spies were supposed to do vs what they actually did?

3. Read Deuteronomy 1:26, 34-35 & 41-44. Why wasn’t God pleased when the people went to battle like he had told them to?

4. Has there been or is there a place in your life you could identify as a Kadesh Barnea – a place where God has asked you to do something that was beyond your ability without his help? How did you respond? What did you learn?

This Sunday, Pastor Lance Lewis will continue the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on the Golden Calf.

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1. In your opinion, what makes an idol?

2. What do you think about Calvin's quote that “the human heart is a perpetual idol factory?”

3. Which of the surface idols do you/have you struggled with? What about the deeper idols in our hearts?

4. What do you think of the remedies to idolatry? Which stand out to you and why?

Pastor Tim Richards continues the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on Water From a Rock.

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1. Read Exodus 17:1-7. Massah & Merebah mean Test & Argue in Hebrew. Why do you think Moses named the place in recognition of the people’s arguing rather than the Lord’s miracle? Where are the places in your life where you tend to argue or complain?

2. Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-4. Why do you think Paul chose the rock in the wilderness as a figure representing Jesus?

3. Israel’s physical thirst can be a good parallel for spiritual thirst. In what sorts of things do people try to find soul satisfaction? How can those things leave us still thirsty? What is it about Jesus that is better?

4. What are things you have found helpful in keeping your soul satisfied in Jesus? What gets you distracted, fearful or angry?

Don’t forget to keep reading and writing in your Travel Log!

This Sunday, Pastor Tim Richards will continue the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on Manna.

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1. What was something you ate often growing up? Did you love it, hate it or other?

2. Read Exodus 16:17-18. What lessons do you learn from the equal shares of manna all received?

3. Why do you think some people tried to keep manna left-overs (Exodus 16:19-20) or collect it on the Sabbath when God had told them not to (Exodus 16:22-23)? In what ways can we be like them?

4. Are there any lessons you take from this story of the miracle manna that apply to your daily walk with God?

Pastor Pastor Lance Lewis continues the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on Bitter Waters.

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1.How do you understand the wilderness in your own life? Have you spent time there?

2. What does it mean to live by grace in the wilderness of life?

3. How is living a life of obedience to God true freedom?

BTW, don’t forget the Travel Log project Pastor Tim challenged us to keep as we journey with Israel

Pastor Tim Richards continues the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on Cloud and Fire.

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1. Do you use GPS when traveling? If so, which do you find most helpful – A) reading the on-screen turn directions, B) looking at the map graphic, or C) listening to voice prompts?

2. Israel didn’t have GPS, but they did have a fiery cloud leading them on their journey. Why do you think God chose to lead them in this way? What did the fiery cloud symbolically communicate to them?

3. When the cloud moved, the people moved. When the cloud rested, the people stayed where they were (Numbers 9:18-23). What means does the Holy Spirit use today to lead us?

4. When it comes to knowing if the Holy Spirit is leading you to stay where you are, how do you distinguish between a heart attitude that is patient as opposed to passive? BTW, don’t forget the Travel Log project Pastor Tim challenged us to keep as we journey with Israel

Pastor Tim Richards continues the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness", focusing this week on Crossing the Red Sea.

SERMON QUESTIONS

1. How and why did Israel end up stranded by the Red Sea (read Exodus 13:17-18 and 14:1-4)?

2. Israel had just experienced a whole series of miracles (the plagues on Egypt) that had won their release. Why do you think they so quickly started complaining (read Exodus 14:10-12)? Have you ever found yourself acting in a similar way? What happened? What changed your attitude?

3. What part of the Christian experience would you compare the crossing of the Red Sea to? Why?

4. If you are a follower of Jesus, what was your own “crossing over” experience like? Share it with your group. BTW, don’t forget the Travel Log project Pastor Tim challenged us to keep as we journey with Israel

Pastor Tim Richards begins the series "Long Journey Home: Navigating the Wilderness," focusing this week on Passover.

SERMON QUESTIONS:

1. What is the longest journey you have ever taken? Did you go alone or with someone? Which do you prefer and why?

2. Read Exodus 12:1-14. Which of the instructions given stand out to you and why?

3. Thinking about the instruction(s) that impressed you in this passage, how might you connect them to the Christian life? What parallels or lessons do you see?

4. What step(s) of personal application do you draw from this story?