Introduction

• Luke 1:32
• Ephesians 1:19
• I Peter 1:3
• Titus 2:13
• Hebrews 13:20
• God is great!

Greatness is striving to keep and teach every single part of God’s word.

• Matthew 5:17-20
• James 2:10-11 – We must keep all of God’s laws.
• Galatians 5:19-23
• II Peter 1:5-8
• We don’t want to fall into hypocrisy.
• There are many, many people who follow part of God’s law.
• Find your weakness and work on it!
• We might need to restore our conscience. We must grow it like a muscle.

Greatness is serving with humility.

• Matthew 18:1-4 – To God, the humble are great!
• Matthew 20:24-28 – Service is greatness!
• John 13:5, 12-17
• How can I serve my family with humility?
• Ephesians 5:25-29
• Titus 2:3-5
• Ephesians 6:1
• I Timothy 5:4

Greatness is going to Heaven.

• Luke 6:22-23
• Matthew 25:34
• Hebrews 10:35

I Corinthians 11:2-16 – Head coverings

First view – The covering is long hair and it does apply today.

• The passage starts by talking about God’s arrangement.
  • Notice that this goes all the way back to the beginning.
• What is the covering under discussion?
  • This seems to be referring to long hair – not some sort of clothing or artificial covering. I Corinthians 11:15 specifically says the woman’s long hair was given to her for a covering.
• Was Paul stating a universal truth or just referring to a Corinthian custom that doesn’t pertain to us today?
• When is this passage binding?
• What does nature mean in I Corinthians 11:14-15?
• What is meant in I Corinthians 11:16?
• How long should our hair be?

Alternate view – This covering is something placed on the head, and this passage applies today.

• I Corinthians 11:6 – This implies that two coverings exist – a symbolic covering and hair.
• This was not simply a Corinthian custom.
  • Universal truths are stated throughout the passage (I Corinthians 11:7-12).
  • I Corinthians 11:10 – Angels are not unique to Corinth.
  • I Corinthians 11:14 – “Nature” is not Corinthian custom, but human nature, which exists outside of Corinth.

Third alternative view – Whatever the covering was, Paul is talking about a Corinthian custom and this does not apply today.

• This is the only place in the whole Bible that talks about this, although the concept of woman’s subjection is found in numerous places.
• A man being covered or a woman being uncovered is a disgrace (I Corinthians 11:4-6). But why? Paul is not appealing to an established scriptural principle. Perhaps he is referring to it being a disgrace in their culture.
• “Nature” (I Corinthians 11:14-15) is not referring to a universally recognized principle (example: Samson).
• I Corinthians 11:16 – We have no such custom (of women being covered – this is what the context has been talking about).
• There is a difference between God’s law and a custom that is one way to fulfill that law.

Introduction

Bad news

• Romans 3:23 – We’re guilty of sin and lost.

Good news

• Luke 19:10 – Jesus is my savior!

Bad news

• Romans 1:18, 29-32; 3:21-24
• “sin is lawlessness” – I John 3:4
• Mark 16:15-16
• Acts 2:23, 36
• Ignoring the problem of sin is not a good option!
• Sin destroys our relationship with God.
• Matthew 13:47-50
• “the day of the Lord will be just like a theif in the night” (I Thessalonians 5:3)

Good news (“gospel”)

• John 3:16
• John 12:42
• We must do more than just acknowledge that God exists.
• Matthew 7:21
• Romans 3:23-24, 27-28
• “for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift ofGod; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Romans 5:1-2 (Romans 1:5; 16:26); Romans 6:3-7, 11-13
• “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38)
• Matthew 25:31-33

Flight to Midian

• Exodus 2:11-15
• Moses tries to reconnect with his people
  • Seeks to deliver
  • Furtive
  • Unappreciated
  • Pharaoh seeks to avenge
  • Moses flees to Midian
• Exodus 2:16-22
• At the well
  • Seven daughters of Reuel (Jethro)
  • Mean shepherds – Moses helps
  • Early return
  • Duty of hospitality

God remembers His promise

• Exodus 2:23-25
• No doubt Israel had already been praying for deliverance
• Here, it is time for God to deliver as He had planned
  • Leads us to the burning bush
  • Reads Moses in on the plan

Moses and the burning bush

• Exodus 3:1-8
• The attention getter
  • Who can resist a burning bush that doesn’t burn
• God introduces Himself to Moses
  • He is holy as the ground around Him
  • Moses reacts – hides face
• This is why I am here
• This is where we are going

Who am I?

• “I will send you to Pharaoh …”
• Objections of Moses
  • Who am I
    • Seeks to minimize self
    • Who better to be the negotiator?
      • Israelite
      • Raised in Pharaoh’s household
    • Well educated
  • Former failure stifled his enthusiasm?
    • Tried to deliver
    • Rejected by his own
    • Those who had raised him sought to kill him

I AM THAT I AM

• “I Am” in its simplicity
  • Not dependent on time
  • Depends not on anyone’s ideas
  • 1st century Jews – understood
  • John 8:58; Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13

God’s prediction of success

• Exodus 3:16-22
• You will inherit the Promised Land
• Pharaoh will refuse you
• I will compel him – let you go
• You will plunder Egypt as you leave

Signs for Pharaoh

• Exodus 4:1-9
• What if they won’t believe me? (Exodus 4:1)
  • Staff to serpent and back to staff (Exodus 4:2-5)
  • Hand to leprosy and back to normal (Exodus 4:6-8)
  • Water of Nile to blood (Exodus 4:9)
  • But even after all that …

God’s anger burns

• Exodus 4:10-17
• Moses – not eloquent (I Corinthians 1:17; I Corinthians 10:10)
• God – Who made your mouth?
• Moses – Send someone else!
• God -
  • Aaron your spokesman
  • I’ll put words in both of your mouths
  • I’ll direct your actions

Moses leaves Midian for Egypt

• Exodus 4:18-23
• Takes his leave from Jethro
• God informs Moses of death of Pharaoh
• God reminds Moses of the task
• Reminds Moses that Pharaoh’s heart will harden

First stop, then Aaron

• Exodus 4:24-31
• Rest stop
  • God seeks to kill Moses
  • Zipporah intervenes
• God sends Aaron
  • It’s been forty years
  • Moses reads in Aaron
  • Gathering of the elders
  • Aaron does the spokesman thing
  • They believe – for now

Get your own straw

• Exodus 5:1-23
• Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh – Let my people go
• Pharaoh – Who is he, and no
• Moses and Aaron
  • Three days’ journey for sacrifices
  • Or bad things happen
• Pharaoh
  • Back to work
  • No straw for bricks
  • Make quota

The Kingdom is coming

• Isaiah 9:1-7 – Prophecy of the coming of Jesus.
• Matthew 4:12-17
• Luke 1:31-33
• Daniel 2:31-45 – Prophecy of Babylon, Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans. As prophesied, Jesus came in the days of the Roman Empire.

The Kingdom is at hand.

• Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; 16:18-19, 28 – The Kingdom was coming in their lifetime!
• Acts 1:6-8 – The apostles would receive power.
• Luke 24:49

Acts 2

• The apostles receive power to speak in the necessary languages and deliver the gospel.
• Acts 2:29-38
• Now people can enter Jesus’ kingdom through baptism.

The Kingdom is here now.

• Colossians 1:13-14
• Revelation 1:9 – John was partaking of the kingdom.

Why this matters

We must obey King Jesus!

• Mark 6:27 – Human kings have tremendous authority.
• Acts 12
• Matthew 16:19
• Acts 8:17
• The apostles received delegated authority.

We must honor King Jesus!

• Revelation 1:4-7, 13-18; 5:11-14; 17:14

We must thank King Jesus!

• Matthew 25:31-40
• II Timothy 4:18
• A good king rewards those who serve him. Jesus is a good king!