Bible ReadingExodus 3:1–151. Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
[30:25]2. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
[35:36]3. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
[35:39]4. When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
[35:44]5. Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
[35:48]6. And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
[35:49]7. Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings.”
[35:55]8. “And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”
[36:08]9. “And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.”
[36:30]10. “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
[36:40]11. But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
[36:44]12. He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
[36:52]13. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
[36:57]14. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
[37:00]15. God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘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, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
[37:03]Matthew 16:21–2621. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
[38:34]22. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
[38:53]23. But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
[39:00]24. Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
[39:15]25. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
[39:21]26. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
[39:36]Romans 12:9–219. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
[41:37]10. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
[41:45]11. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
[41:49]12. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
[41:52]13. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
[41:56]14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
[42:03]15. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
[42:08]16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
[42:15]17. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
[42:23]18. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
[42:25]19. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
[42:28]20. To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
[42:30]21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
[42:33]Observation questions- In Exodus 3, what words does God use to describe his awareness of Israel’s situation before he sends Moses to Pharaoh?
- What are Moses’ two main concerns in Exodus 3:11–15, and how does God respond to each one? [36:40]
- In Matthew 16, what does Jesus say will happen in Jerusalem, and why does Peter strongly object to that path? [38:34]
- What kinds of actions make up “genuine love” in Romans 12:9–21, especially toward lowly people, people who are suffering, and even enemies? [41:37]
Interpretation questions- God tells Moses, “I will be with you,” rather than first giving him a detailed plan for every obstacle. How does God’s presence answer Moses’ question, “Who am I?” [36:40]
- Peter’s desire to protect Jesus may sound loving at first. Why does Jesus see Peter’s attempt to keep him from the cross as a temptation away from God’s purposes? [38:53]
- Jesus calls his followers to deny themselves only after he has set his face toward the cross. How does Jesus’ own obedience shape what taking up a cross means for a Christian today? [39:12]
- Romans 12 tells believers both to hate evil and to overcome evil with good. What might it look like to take evil seriously without becoming hateful, proud, or vengeful? [42:23]
Application questions- God sees, hears, and knows the suffering of his people. Where do you see loneliness, oppression, grief, or unmet need around you right now? Is there one person or situation God may be inviting you to notice more carefully? [37:39]
- Moses brought God his fears and questions, and God answered him patiently. What fear or sense of inadequacy makes you hesitate to do something you believe God is calling you to do? How might “I will be with you” speak into that fear? [36:28]
- Pride can feel justified when we believe we are right, more capable, or the one who solved the problem. When has being right mattered more to you than protecting or repairing a relationship? What might humility or a sincere apology look like now? [34:20]
- Going one’s own way can sometimes look like freedom while leading to broken relationships and missed opportunities. In what area are you most tempted to insist on writing your own story rather than seeking God’s direction? [39:40]
- Jesus did not avoid the Father’s costly path, even when it involved betrayal, pain, and loss. Is there a difficult but faithful step—such as telling the truth, forgiving someone, serving quietly, or making peace—that you may be avoiding? [39:19]
- Romans 12 calls believers to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Who in your life needs you to celebrate with them, grieve with them, or simply be present with them this week? [42:08]
- “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” When you are hurt, criticized, or treated unfairly, what is your usual response? What specific good action could you choose instead of retaliation? [42:23]
