Overcoming Excuses: Embracing God's Call to Action
Summary
In a gathering at Smithfield Methodist Church, Dean Libby leads a service that emphasizes the importance of faith, community, and the transformative power of God's grace. The message delivered focuses on the theme of overcoming excuses and taking steps of faith, as exemplified by the biblical figure Moses. The congregation is reminded that despite the cold weather and the challenges it brings, the warmth of the sanctuary and the community's spirit provide a haven for worship.
The service begins with a call to worship and a reminder of the church's ongoing activities, including the upcoming Wednesday night dinner and studies for all ages. The community is encouraged to participate in the life of the church, both in-person and online, and to share prayer requests through connection cards or digital platforms.
The core of the message revolves around the story of Moses, as recounted in Exodus chapters 3 and 4. Moses, while tending his flock, encounters God in the form of a burning bush that is not consumed by the flames. This miraculous sight leads to a dialogue between God and Moses, where God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses, however, responds with a series of excuses, questioning his own abilities and worthiness for the task. Each of Moses's five excuses is met with God's reassurance and promise of support, demonstrating that God's calling comes with the provision for its fulfillment.
The narrative of Moses serves as a metaphor for the congregation's own journey of faith. Individuals are encouraged to recognize their own excuses and hesitations in answering God's call. The message underscores that everyone, regardless of their perceived inadequacies or past, is equipped by God to fulfill their purpose. The congregation is challenged to take steps of faith, trusting in God's guidance and provision, rather than succumbing to self-doubt or fear.
The service also includes a celebration of communion, where the community is invited to partake in the sacrament as a symbol of God's love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The act of communion serves as a reminder of the unity and shared faith among the congregation, as well as the personal relationship each individual can have with God.
The service concludes with a benediction, sending the congregation forth with a charge to live out their faith in the world, to love and serve God, and to embrace the calling God has placed on their lives. The message of taking steps of faith, rather than making excuses, is reiterated as a guiding principle for the week ahead.
Key Takeaways:
- The story of Moses and the burning bush teaches that divine callings are often accompanied by feelings of inadequacy, but these moments are opportunities for faith to overcome doubt. Just as Moses was reassured by God's presence and promises, individuals today can trust that they are not alone in their endeavors and that God equips those He calls. [40:26]
- True worship and service to God involve more than just ritualistic practices; they require a heart willing to respond to God's call with action. The example of Moses, who was called to liberate the Israelites, serves as a reminder that faith is active and often calls for stepping out into the unknown, trusting in God's guidance. [38:59]
- The act of communion is not merely a tradition but a profound experience of grace that connects believers to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is a reminder of the covenant relationship with God and the unity of the church body, as well as an assurance of the forgiveness and new life offered through Christ. [01:05:42]
- The concept of "And yet" highlights the tension between human imperfection and God's perfect plan. Despite flaws and failures, God can redeem and use individuals for His glory. This principle encourages believers to see beyond their limitations and to embrace the potential that God sees in them. [30:22]
- Answering God's call often involves confronting and overcoming personal excuses. The message challenges individuals to identify and set aside the excuses that prevent them from stepping into their God-given purpose, trusting that God will provide clarity, provision, and the ability to fulfill His call. [48:29]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Exodus 3:1-15 (NIV)
> Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose 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?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say 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, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Moses doing when he encountered the burning bush? (Exodus 3:1)
2. How did God identify Himself to Moses from the burning bush? (Exodus 3:6)
3. What were the three signs God gave Moses to convince the Israelites that He had sent him? (Exodus 4:1-9)
4. What were the five excuses Moses made to God, and how did God respond to each one? [39:28]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Moses was hesitant to accept God's call despite the miraculous signs? [38:38]
2. How does the story of Moses and the burning bush illustrate the concept of "And yet" as discussed in the sermon? [30:13]
3. What does God's response to Moses's excuses teach us about God's provision and support for those He calls? [45:07]
4. How does the act of communion, as described in the sermon, connect to the theme of overcoming excuses and taking steps of faith? [52:41]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate for a task you believed God was calling you to. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [45:07]
2. Moses made several excuses to avoid God's call. Identify one excuse you often use to avoid stepping out in faith. How can you overcome this excuse? [39:28]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of community and shared faith. How can you actively participate in your church community to strengthen your faith and the faith of others? [09:40]
4. The concept of "And yet" highlights God's ability to use flawed individuals for His purposes. How can you embrace your imperfections and trust that God can still use you? [30:13]
5. Communion was described as a profound experience of grace. How can you prepare your heart and mind to fully experience this sacrament the next time you partake in it? [52:41]
6. The sermon challenged the congregation to take steps of faith rather than making excuses. What is one specific step of faith you can take this week to respond to God's call in your life? [51:32]
7. How can you support others in your small group or church who may be struggling with feelings of inadequacy or fear in answering God's call? [45:07]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Divine Sufficiency
God equips those He calls, transforming feelings of inadequacy into opportunities for faith. When faced with a divine calling, it's common to feel unprepared or unworthy. Yet, these moments are designed to deepen one's reliance on God, who provides the necessary support and reassurance to fulfill His purposes. Trust in divine sufficiency allows for the overcoming of self-doubt and the embracing of one's God-given potential. [40:26]
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 - "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel inadequate, and how can you allow God's sufficiency to work through your insufficiency?
Day 2: Faith Calls for Courageous Action
True worship requires a heart ready to act on God's call, stepping out into the unknown with trust in His guidance. The story of Moses liberating the Israelites exemplifies that faith is not passive but demands courageous action. It's about moving beyond comfort zones, confronting fears, and undertaking the journey God has set before us, assured that He will lead the way. [38:59]
Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Reflection: What is one step of faith you've been hesitant to take, and what can you do today to begin that journey, trusting in God's guidance?
Day 3: Communion as Covenant Renewal
The act of communion is a profound expression of grace, connecting believers to Christ's sacrifice and the covenant with God. It's more than a tradition; it's a sacred moment that reaffirms the unity of the church body and the personal relationship with the divine. Through communion, believers are reminded of the forgiveness and new life offered in Christ, and the shared commitment to live out this truth. [01:05:42]
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 - "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf."
Reflection: How does participating in communion shape your understanding of your relationship with God and with other believers?
Day 4: "And Yet" - Embracing God's Perfect Plan
The tension between human imperfection and God's perfect plan is encapsulated in the concept of "And yet." Despite flaws and past failures, God redeems and uses individuals for His glory. This principle encourages believers to look beyond their limitations and to embrace the potential that God sees in them, trusting in His ability to work through their imperfections. [30:22]
Isaiah 43:1 - "But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'"
Reflection: What are some personal limitations or past failures you need to surrender to God, trusting that He can redeem and use you for His purposes?
Day 5: Overcoming Excuses to Fulfill God's Call
Answering God's call requires confronting and setting aside personal excuses that hinder stepping into one's purpose. Believers are challenged to identify the barriers they create and to trust that God will provide the clarity, provision, and ability needed to fulfill His calling. It's a call to move from hesitation to action, from uncertainty to faith-filled living. [48:29]
Jeremiah 1:7-8 - "But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, "I am too young." You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the Lord."
Reflection: What excuses have you been using to avoid answering God's call, and how can you begin to address them today?
Quotes
1) "God calls us to make steps of faith, not excuses. Each excuse that we make gets toppled by a promise from God." [48:29] (Download)
2) "God has uniquely called each of us. We each have a call on our life through our baptism. Our baptism draws us to God and God sends us out into this world." [48:29] (Download)
3) "We are each uniquely called. And God calls us to make steps of faith, not excuses. Because as we see with Moses and as we should see in our own lives, each seeming lack that we might have gets corrected by a provision from God." [48:29] (Download)
4) "God calls us to trust him every single day. God calls us to make steps of faith, not excuses." [50:23] (Download)
5) "Stop making excuses for why you can't do what God is calling you to do and just make a step of faith." [51:38] (Download)
6) "I found people who were flawed and yet God used them. I found myself reflected in the pages of scripture. And I was like, I am flawed just as much as they are. And yet God is using them and God is using me." [30:22] (Download)
7) "God acts in salvation. Verse eight tells us in chapter three that the word that he has for Moses to take to the Israelites is this. I have come down to deliver them, to deliver them out of the hand of Pharaoh, that God has seen what is going on with them and he has come to make it right." [35:46] (Download)
8) "God knows who Moses is. He knows the one that he is calling to go to Pharaoh and to say, let my people go. He knows his shortcomings. He knows all the things about Moses. And yet God will use him to enact the movement of the people from Egypt into the promised land." [35:46] (Download)
9) "God shows up in a bush that is on fire but not burned up, he stops Moses from getting too close because the ground that he was about to step on is holy. The very presence of God made that area of land holy." [35:46] (Download)
10) "Moses begins to make excuses, but God is calling him to take some steps of faith." [38:59] (Download)
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