What’s Your Excuse? (Exodus 3:1 – 4:17) The call of Moses is one of the more detailed calling stories in the Bible. It is certainly the most excuse ridden call in the Bible. That’s right, the great leader/prophet Moses was among the most reluctant in the Bible. When his call came, he was living a peaceful shepherd’s life in the wilderness. His career was the reverse of Joseph’s, who had led his people into Egypt. Moses went from a place of privilege, to fugive, to nomad. Joseph went from shepherd, to prison, to a place of privilege. They were both condemned to die, but one was drawn from water, the other from a pit. Before we even get to the call of Moses we know that he will play a role in leading God’s people out of Egypt. Now, we are not all going to lead a naon from slavery to freedom, but as members of the Body of Christ we are sent into the world to lead people from the slavery of sin to the freedom that is in Christ. And the language God uses to describe himself to Moses and the language Jesus uses in the great commission in Mahew 28 are eerily similar. This morning we are going to look at Moses’ five aempts at declining the work that God had for him to do and challenge each one of us to choose to be a part of leading people from the slavery of sin to the freedom of Christ. And before we are too hard on Moses, we might consider that his reluctance may have as much to do with the nature of the work than cowardice on the part of Moses. First Refusal – Why me, I can’t do this. God’s answer – “I will be with you.” Second Refusal – “I don’t know your name” God’s answer – “I will be-there howsoever I will be-there.” (From The Schocken Bible – vol. 1). Third Refusal – “They won’t trust me or listen to me.” God’s answer – I will give them evidence that I have sent you. Fourth Refusal – “I am no man of words.” God’s answer – “Who made your mouth?” Fiſth Refusal – “Find someone else!” God’s answer – Nope, you are going, but you will have help with speaking. I expect that our list of excuses could find homes in Moses’ list. And our task is not nearly as difficult as that of Moses. We have been called in order to be sent to tell others the good news of Christ. We also have the advantage of a local congregaon. We do not need to have all the answers. We do not need to be well versed in how to conduct a Bible study (although that is certainly useful). We have the body here at Pennyrile, we have each other’s strengths to lean on. For us it is simply a maer of inving for people to come and see. And “the one who will be with us” will be with us. Pennyrile CHURCH OF CHRIST May 26, 2013 On the web: www.pennyrilechurch.com Follow us on twitter: @pennyrilechurch Email us at: [email protected]
Transcript
What’s Your Excuse?
(Exodus 3:1 – 4:17)
The call of Moses is one of the more detailed calling stories in the Bible. It is certainly the most excuse
ridden call in the Bible. That’s right, the great leader/prophet Moses was among the most reluctant in the
Bible. When his call came, he was living a peaceful shepherd’s life in the wilderness. His career was the
reverse of Joseph’s, who had led his people into Egypt. Moses went from a place of privilege, to fugitive, to
nomad. Joseph went from shepherd, to prison, to a place of privilege. They were both condemned to die, but
one was drawn from water, the other from a pit. Before we even get to the call of Moses we know that he
will play a role in leading God’s people out of Egypt.
Now, we are not all going to lead a nation from slavery to freedom, but as members of the Body of
Christ we are sent into the world to lead people from the slavery of sin to the freedom that is in Christ. And
the language God uses to describe himself to Moses and the language Jesus uses in the great commission in
Matthew 28 are eerily similar.
This morning we are going to look at Moses’ five attempts at declining the work that God had for him to
do and challenge each one of us to choose to be a part of leading people from the slavery of sin to the
freedom of Christ. And before we are too hard on Moses, we might consider that his reluctance may have as
much to do with the nature of the work than cowardice on the part of Moses.
First Refusal – Why me, I can’t do this.
God’s answer – “I will be with you.”
Second Refusal – “I don’t know your name”
God’s answer – “I will be-there howsoever I will be-there.” (From The Schocken Bible – vol. 1).
Third Refusal – “They won’t trust me or listen to me.”
God’s answer – I will give them evidence that I have sent you.
Fourth Refusal – “I am no man of words.”
God’s answer – “Who made your mouth?”
Fifth Refusal – “Find someone else!”
God’s answer – Nope, you are going, but you will have help with speaking.
I expect that our list of excuses could find homes in Moses’ list. And our task is not nearly as difficult
as that of Moses. We have been called in order to be sent to tell others the good news of Christ. We also
have the advantage of a local congregation. We do not need to have all the answers. We do not need to be
well versed in how to conduct a Bible study (although that is certainly useful). We have the body here at
Pennyrile, we have each other’s strengths to lean on. For us it is simply a matter of inviting for people to
come and see. And “the one who will be with us” will be with us.
Pennyrile CHURCH OF CHRIST
May 26, 2013
On the web: www.pennyrilechurch.com Follow us on twitter: @pennyrilechurch Email us at: [email protected]
“For the Record”
May 19, 2013
Bible Class: 93
AM Worship: 159
PM Worship: 64
Contribution: $4,722.55
Wednesday: 75
Thank you for worshipping with us today!
Please introduce yourself by filling out an information sheet located in the maroon
binder at the pew ends. You may place that in the contribution plate as it passes. You are also welcome to include any prayer requests
or any needs that we can help meet.
We’re happy you’re here.
Please come back!
Order of Worship
For Today
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Worship Leader: Randy Travis
Call to Worship: Ronny Stubblefield
Congregational Reading: Matthew 28:18-20
#3 Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
#26 God Moves In A Mysterious Way
Prayer: Barry Webb
#366 Until He Comes (By Christ Redeemed)
Lord’s Supper
Dan Rust Kenneth Ashby
Larry Stone Pete Shoulders
Tim Scott Curt Frederick
Presiding: Kenneth Ashby
Worthy Is The Lamb
Contribution
Dismiss for Children’s Church
#812 The Name Of God
#215 O Lord, Our Lord
Scripture Reading: Steve Stoltz, Exodus 3:1-6
Sermon: Sean Niestrath
Prayer: Quincy Stephenson
Great I Am
Benediction: Isaiah 43:1-3a
ALTERNATES:
Please meet
in case you are needed
to serve as a substitution for the Lord’s Supper:
Darin Swaidner
Brock Shoulders
Privileged to Serve
Sunday May 26, 2013
Monitor: Daniel Davis
Nursery: Diana Adams
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Worship Leader: Randy Travis
Call to Worship: Roger Matheny
Prayer: Joshua Lee
Prayer: Clay Williams
Scripture Reading: Eric Seesengood
Monitor: David Stubblefield
Nursery: Rian McGuyer
Serving the Lord’s Table
Ronny Stubblefield Byron Pruitt
Daniel Davis Kivil Brown
Danny Lutz Darin Swaidner
Presiding: Ronny Stubblefield
Prepare communion:
June: Elizabeth Webb
Youth WILL NOT meet tonight!
WEDNESDAY please attend the auditorium class.
Anyone interested in attending a St. Louis baseball game on July 7th, let Bryce know TODAY. Willie Robertson
from Duck Dynasty will be speaking at the game. Holiday World will be moved to July 23rd game.
Grapevine Elementary Weekend Backpack Program
The Family Resource Center will continue to distribute 27 backpacks with weekend food per week.
Please continue to bring in your items! Juice and Main Meal items are especially needed!
Services tonight at 6 pm: the Encouragement Group will meet at the building; Quincy Stephenson will lead the meeting in the auditorium.
TONIGHT at 6:00 pm, all small groups will begin meeting in the auditorium together. Sean will begin a new class
on “Spiritual Disciplines” . The Honduras Mission Team will meet TODAY AND NEXT Sunday, June 2, after
morning services. REMEMBER our mission team as they prepare to leave on June 7th, and as
they travel and work in Honduras. Members are Barry & Elizabeth Webb, Randy & Donna Travis, Bryce Kittinger, Sean Niestrath, Dan Rust, Terry & Dianne Goodale, Sarah & Sam Curry, Terry & Karah Brown.
Please excuse omissions or inaccuracies in the bulletin while
we are out of the office. Krista is out of the office until June 9th;
Bryce will be out today through May 30th and in Honduras from June 7th thru June 13th ;
Sean will be in Honduras from June 7th thru June 16th.
Remember in Prayer:
*Jeanine Oglesby is still in Baptist Health room 316. They are not seeing much improvement.
*Jewell Mooney, Rita’s mother, should move to rehab by the weekend after a blood clot in her leg earlier this week.
*Louis Stanley had hip replacement at St. Mary’s on Thursday and hoped to come home on Saturday.
*the Qualls family for the loss of their mother
*Byron’s mother, Edna Pruitt, is still in a lot of pain. *”Tip” Herrin, Teresa Herrin’s father, lung cancer *Michael Skultety, cancer *Pat McCoy Partain *Len Obryant, cancer *Marcie Winstead, 25 year old from Webster County, breast cancer
*David Bowles, health issues *Eunice Randolph, lung cancer *Ellen Sloop, friend of Phyllis Gunkel’s, lung transplant *Janice Higgins, cancer *Terry & Faye Rakestraw *Larry & Bonnie Sims, friend of Allen’s, health issues *Dr. Scott Gaines, cancer *Aaron Reding, friend of Keith Tapp, late stage ALS *Denise Baxter, Reva McConnell’s niece *Sue Payne, cancer
