Finding Stability in God's Unchanging Promises

Sermon Summary

In our gathering today, we embark on a journey through the Lenten season, a time marked by reflection and transformation. As we hold these stones, we are reminded of the burdens and challenges we face, symbolizing the rough and unyielding aspects of life. Yet, amidst these challenges, we seek the unchanging promises of God, which are as steadfast as if they were written in stone. Life is a journey filled with change, and while some changes are welcome, others can be daunting. However, in the midst of life's uncertainties, we find solace in the permanence of God's word and His promises.

Reflecting on the story of the Israelites, we see a people who, despite their hardships, were guided by God's enduring promise. Their journey from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land was fraught with challenges, yet God's covenant with them remained unbroken. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His people, even when they falter and seek other gods. The Israelites' story is a testament to God's grace and mercy, which are written in stone, unchanging and eternal.

In our own lives, we may not fashion golden calves, but we often place our trust in things that cannot truly satisfy or save us. We chase after security, success, and recognition, hoping these will fulfill us. Yet, it is only in God's presence and His promises that we find true peace and fulfillment. Jesus, the embodiment of God's kingdom, stands among us, offering healing and hope. He intercedes on our behalf, taking upon Himself the weight of our sins and offering us redemption.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us hold fast to what is truly permanent: God's love and grace. These are the truths written in stone, unchanging and eternal. May we trust in His promises and find peace in His presence, knowing that His love endures forever.

Key Takeaways

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2. Israel's Story of Grace: The story of the Israelites reminds us of God's unwavering commitment to His people. Despite their rebellion and the challenges they faced, God's covenant remained unbroken. This narrative is a powerful testament to God's grace and mercy, which endure forever.

3. The Temptation of False Idols: In our lives, we may not create physical idols, but we often place our trust in things that cannot truly satisfy. We chase after security and success, hoping they will fulfill us. Yet, true peace and fulfillment are found only in God's presence and promises.

4. Jesus, Our Intercessor: Jesus stands among us as the embodiment of God's kingdom, offering healing and hope. He intercedes on our behalf, taking upon Himself the weight of our sins and offering us redemption. His presence assures us that we are not condemned but loved and forgiven.

5. The Permanence of God's Love: God's love and grace are the truths written in stone, unchanging and eternal. As we journey through life, let us hold fast to these promises, trusting in His enduring love and finding peace in His presence.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Introduction to Lent and the Journey of Stones
[04:30] - The Symbolism of Stones
[06:02] - The Permanence of God's Promises
[08:15] - Israel's Journey and God's Covenant
[11:59] - The Golden Calf and Human Rebellion
[15:00] - God's Grace and Mercy
[18:30] - Modern Idols and Misplaced Trust
[21:45] - Jesus as Our Intercessor
[25:00] - The Kingdom of God Among Us
[28:30] - The Unchanging Love of God
[31:00] - Trusting in God's Promises
[34:00] - Conclusion and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**

Exodus 32:1-14 - The story of the golden calf and Moses' intercession for the Israelites.
Psalm 136:1 - "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever."
Romans 8:34 - "Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

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**Observation Questions:**

What were the Israelites' actions when they felt abandoned by Moses, and how did they attempt to address their need for guidance? [11:59]
How does the sermon describe the concept of something being "written in stone," and what examples are given to illustrate this idea? [06:02]
In the sermon, what role does Jesus play in relation to God's kingdom and our personal lives? [11:59]
How does the pastor describe the permanence of God's love and grace in the sermon? [11:59]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

What does the story of the golden calf reveal about human tendencies to seek security in tangible or immediate solutions rather than trusting in God's promises? [11:59]
How does the pastor's description of Jesus as our intercessor provide comfort and assurance in the face of life's challenges and uncertainties? [11:59]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern "idols" might manifest in our lives, and how do they compare to the golden calf? [11:59]
How does the concept of God's love being "written in stone" challenge or affirm your understanding of His promises and their relevance in your life today? [11:59]

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**Application Questions:**

Reflect on a recent change in your life that was difficult to accept. How can you find stability in God's unchanging promises during such times? [06:02]
Identify a "golden calf" in your life—something you might be placing your trust in instead of God. What steps can you take to shift your focus back to God's presence and promises? [11:59]
How can you actively remind yourself of God's enduring love and grace in your daily routine, especially when faced with challenges or doubts? [11:59]
Consider a situation where you felt condemned or judged, either by yourself or others. How does the knowledge of Jesus interceding for you change your perspective on that situation? [11:59]
In what ways can you embody the permanence of God's love and grace in your interactions with others this week? [11:59]
How can you create a personal reminder of God's promises that you can refer to when you feel overwhelmed by life's uncertainties? [06:02]
Think of a time when you sought fulfillment in success or recognition. How can you redirect that pursuit towards finding peace and fulfillment in God's presence? [11:59]

Sermon Clips

My assumption is that when people come to worship, that they come with needs. They come with a whole week or maybe a lifetime of distress or upset, but they also come knowing I need what the Lord promises or that I want to hear again, that he has promised this to me. So, welcome again to worship. We come here to hear his word, his revelation. We come to sing, to rejoice, to pray from one another, regardless of what's going on in our lives. It may have been the best week you've had in a long time, and it might have been one of those weeks you just want to forget. [00:00:35] (38 seconds)

What we're going to do today, what I'd like to do today, pray the Spirit's presence in a way that encourages each one of us to talk about change in the midst of our journey. Change, change. Now, I've been around Austin almost, well, yes, 50 plus years. I obviously came when I was very young, right? The White Oak Hill. I remember the White Oak Hill the first time I drove through the, man, this is really nice, peaceful out here. I mean, there was a restaurant, Convict Hill Restaurant. Any of you remember Convict Hill Restaurant? Now, that was a place to eat, way out, way out in the sticks. Things change. 290 has changed. You've changed. [00:01:33] (50 seconds)

Maybe this week a change was very obvious. That is, it could be a change in physical health, a change in your sense of how secure I am based on work or income or reports all over the world, the meetings that people have, and what are they talking about. Man, that's changed. I used to feel more secure, perhaps. Perhaps some of you feel more secure than you did once upon a time, but the fact is we are on a journey in which there is change. Now, there's a phrase that we're going to talk about also as we talk about this journey with stones representing also the hardness of life, the variety of life. This is not a smooth stone, all right? At times, oh, wouldn't that be nice? Just nice, smooth stone. I could just kind of roll around in my hands, and it's just so calming. And I knew a guy that flew bombers in World War II. [00:02:23] (67 seconds)

Now, let's go to Israel's story, and that's the, probably the longest reading that I've ever encountered as a pastor, all righty, I'm sorry, but I was thinking, oh, I hope people follow it, and I'm not going to read it word by word because it's a long, but it is a very important reading. You may have heard along the way this story, the event, and let me put it in the context. It's a story, a part of the history of, quote, the children of Israel. Who's Israel? Israel was 400 years prior to that, the progenitor of all of those people that were called the Judees, the Jews, all righty. They had a history. [00:07:10] (47 seconds)

It started with the two people, Abraham and Sarah, and out of the two, and then they had kids, and then their kids had kids, and the kids' kids had kids, and 452 years later, all of these kids, because they started growing up 400 years before in Egypt, lived in Egypt. Now, Egypt was very powerful, and they were in charge, and they built a lot of stuff, and they need a lot of labor, and as the Old Testament recounts that these children of Israel became the forced labor crews, and it was tough. It's tough work. If you've ever worked outside in the heat, you know that's tough. Well, God had made a promise, though, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It had gone down through the family line. It was the family story. It was their history. It was their heritage, and it was their legacy that they shared with one another. Hey, we're not supposed to be an aegis. We're supposed to be in a place called [00:07:57] (75 seconds)

And now, at a given point in history, they heard from this man named Moses, who was raised in luxury in Egypt in the Pharaoh, the ruler's palace, that he's now organizing folks to get out of Dodge, and on a specific night, it's time to leave. And they left with the Egyptians hot on their tail, but they escaped in a miraculous way. [00:09:29] (38 seconds)

They're in a desert area. There's a mountain called Mount Sinai. Their leader, who had, hey, we're going to follow Moses. We're going to follow Moses. He's going to lead us to this wonderful land where we have security, where we have a future, where we don't have to grub and scrub and work the fingers of the bone every day for us and our kids and our grandkids. Hey, we're going to be where we have been called by our God. [00:10:12] (29 seconds)

So he and Yahweh are on the mountain. Yahweh is giving him what we call the Ten Commandments written in stone. This is permanent. [00:11:45] (12 seconds)

and they worship it and they even say oh thank you that now we have a god we can't figure out where where moses is and it says then they gave themselves up to reverie not revelry reverie what does that mean that means a big party that you stay at as long as you can you know you fall down you get up you keep partying all righty so that's what they're doing yahweh is not as if duh what's going on no he knows he knows he gets upset he gets distressed and he gets very angry it's not it's not it's not a a a juvenile anger it's not a it's not a stomp your feet kind of stuff it's that intense rage when someone that you love kind of the anger that that a parent would feel toward a someone who is abusing their child he says y 'all are my children and now they're following another wanting to create another god and it's it's abusive i'm angry at the whole situation and at that time moses says i know you're angry [00:12:43] (66 seconds)

because they have uh built other gods they said these are our gods now we'll just make one and moses intercedes says yahweh these are your children and i know uh we do not destroy them and yahweh did not destroy them moses comes down the uh mountain he is upset i don't know if you've ever had someone that just didn't appreciate or understand and what you've done and i'm not talking in a selfish way hey look what i've done you know a little martyr complex but um it says they they haven't seen a parent might say the child hasn't seen how much i love them and how much i've sacrificed and it's not like i say look at me i'm the big martyr like i said they just don't understand what it took for me to be able to do for them what i've done i mean that's that does not enhance a relationship so that's what's going on moses comes down upset breaks the tablets now he did go back this is not the whole story obviously he went back up and he and yahweh talked again and yahweh with the in a way the finger of god wrote again on those tablets what it was that was going to create community in this ragtag bunch of people who are trying to establish a new life who pursue their own ways of trying to be secure and safe and have a future and [00:13:51] (121 seconds)

and he's also at the right hand of the father how can it be two places at once well he's god he doesn't have the problems we have with physical distance or loss of nature and he's interceding for us he's sharing with the father these are our children these are your children all as well the debts been paid the past has been healed [00:24:26] (23 seconds)

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