Introduction

• Ephesians 6:1-4

Stay focused on the bigger picture.

• Hebrews 11:8-10
• God’s people have always been those who can look past present troubles and see the end goal.

Be proactive instead of reactive.

• Joshua 1:6-9
• John 16:1-4 – Jesus told his apostles what to expect once He left.
• The whole Bible is preparing us for the future.

Address the root issues, not just the symptoms of the moment.

• Hebrews 10:25; 3:12
• Luke 12:13-15 – Jesus saw that the root issue was greed.
• I Peter 2:11-12

Keep feelings in their proper place.

• Proverbs 28:26 – It is possible for us to lead ourselves astray.
• Psalms 119:105 – God’s word is the source of truth.

Make them do good things, even when they don’t feel like it.

• Genesis 22:1-12 – Abraham surely didn’t feel like sacrificing Isaac.
• Luke 17:4
• Luke 18:9, 14 – Some today might say the Pharisee was living his truth, but Jesus said he was wrong.

Teach the value of truth over feelings.

• Genesis 37:3-35 – Jacob was deceived – his feelings were false.
• Proverbs 3:5,1, 6-7 – We must mold our heart to fit God’s commands.
• Psalms 19:14
• James 1:2
• You can change your feelings to fit God’s truth.

Who was Jethro?

• After Sarah died
  • Abraham takes Keturah as wife
  • Keturah bears him sons
  • One son was Midian
• Midianites settled “to the east” (Genesis 25:6)
• Joseph’s brothers sold him to Midianites (Genesis 47)
• Joined Moabites in hiring Balaam (Numbers 22)
• Fell into idolatry with Moabites (Numbers 25)

Names attributed to Jethro

• Jethro – Exodus 3:1; 4:18; 18:1-12
• Reuel – Exodus 2:18; Numbers 10:29
• Hobab – Numbers 10:29; Judges 4:11
• Putiel – Exodus 6:25
• Heber – Judges 4, 5 (Jael’s husband)

Jethro the priest

• Exodus 2:16 – “… the priest of Midian …”
  • No mention of idols
  • No mention of what kind of priest
  • On the other hand, Melchizedek is identified with God (Genesis 14:18)
• What kind of priest?
  • Tradition
    • Idolatrous priest, won over to God through the miracles done for Israel in the Exodus (Talmud)
    • Priest of God (secular historians)
      • First to teach Moses of God
      • The originator of monotheism among Israelites via Moses
    • Depends on who traditions you choose
    • Brings us to the problems with following traditions
  • Scriptural indications
    • Simple and straightforward
    • Called a priest of Midian with no mention of idolatry
      • Midianites were into idolatry – Numbers 25
      • So were Israelites – Exodus 32
    • His words praise only God – Exodus 18

Jethro (and his aliases) in scripture

• First found in Exodus 2:15-22
  • Moses about age 40
  • Flees Egypt, winds up at Midianite wel
  • The Jethro family encounter
• In Exodus 3, first called Jethro
  • Identified a father-in-law to Moses, priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1)
  • Again in next chapter, as Moses asks his leave (Exodus 4:18)
• Not seen again until chapter 18
  • Sends word that he is visiting

Jethro’s visit to the encampment (Exodus 18:1-12)

• Greeted outside the camp
• Taken into the camp
  • Hears recount of the Exodus from Egypt
  • Rejoices over God’s lovingkindness over Israel
  • Blesses God
  • Makes sacrifices to God
  • Dines with Aaron and elders of Israel

Jethro organizes Moses (Exodus 18:13-27)

• Jethro observes a day in the life of Moses
  • Sunup to sundown
  • Counsels Moses
    • Too much for one man
    • Set priorities
    • Delegated actions
    • Gives qualifications
    • Stipulates God’s approval
  • Moses follows through
• Jethro takes his leave

Other possible encounters

• Numbers 10:29 – Hobab
  • Same as Jethro?
  • Judges 4:11 – same Hobab? Same lineage?

Introduction

• Matthew 22:37
• Proverbs 23:7
• Matthew 12:34
• Romans 12:2
• I Corinthians 2:14-3:4 – They were not spiritually minded and that was the root of their issues.
• Galatians 5:16
• Matthew 16:23 – Peter had a mind problem.
• Acts 8:21
• When things are going wrong, we need to look on the inside.

Let God’s word does its work.

• Acts 28:24
• We must have an attitude that will let God’s word filter into our hearts.
• Acts 2:37
• Hebrews 3:7-8, 10, 12, 15; 4:6-7, 11

Trust in the God of Heaven.

• God is in control, even though bad things happen on earth.
• Hebrews 12:3
• Hebrews 13:5-6
• Do we trust in our health, finances, or something else?
• Philippians 4:6-7

Store of treasures in Heaven.

• Matthew 6:19
• Building up treasure in Heaven puts my heart in the right place.
• Philippians 3:18-20
• Colossians 3:5, 1-4
• Example: Bark beetle killing pine trees from the inside.

Deuteronomy 25

• Deuteronomy 25:1-19 – Miscellaneous laws
  • Deuteronomy 25:4 – See I Corinthians 9:9; I Timothy 5:17-18. This law has a broader application.
  • Deuteronomy 25:3 – The Pharisees were “making fences inside God’s fences” and being stricter than this law required. This was also wrong.

Deuteronomy 26

• Deuteronomy 26:1-11 – Praising God with the first produce from the land.
• Deuteronomy 26:12-15 – Tithe and prayer.
• Deuteronomy 26:16-19 – Obey God and be His people.
  • Moses is completing his second speech to the people.

Deuteronomy 27

• Deuteronomy 27:1-8 – Write the Law and build an altar on Mount Ebal.
  • Deuteronomy 27:4 – See Joshua 8:30-35. What might be an altar was found near Mt. Ebal, along with a small, folded lead tablet containing a curse written in Paleo-Hebrew (see Deuteronomy 27:14-26). Sound tests were done at the location prescribed by God in the 1800s and it was found that if the Israelites were arranged on the hills as God specified, they would be able to easily hear Joshua reading the law.
• Deuteronomy 27:9-10 – “This day you have become a people for the Lord your God.”
• Deuteronomy 27:11-26 – Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal

Deuteronomy 28

• Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.”
• Deuteronomy 28:15-68 – “All these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”
  • Deuteronomy 28:47-48 – They would be cursed if they did not serve with joy.

Introduction

• II John 1:9
• We want to simply look at the Bible and do what it says.

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel.

• Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
• Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
• Acts 14:26-28 – “commended … they began to report”
• Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
• I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
• I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
• II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
• Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
• I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”
• In the New Testament, churches sent money directly to the preacher. There was no “sponsoring church” arrangement.
• In the early days of the church, the pattern from the New Testament was followed. Over time, a hierarchy developed in some local churches, which eventually led to the Catholic organization, with one Pope over all Catholic churches.

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.

• Acts 2:44-45
• Acts 4:32-35
• Acts 6:1-3
• Acts 11:27-30
• Romans 15:25-27
• I Corinthians 16:1-3
• II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
• II Corinthians 9:1
• I Timothy 5:16, 5 – “widows indeed”

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification.

• The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together.
• I Corinthians 14:3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 17, 26, 31
• Lord’s Supper – I Corinthians 11:26
• Studying / preaching – I Corinthians 14:26
• Giving – I Corinthians 16:1-2
• Praying – Acts 12:5
• Singing – I Corinthians 14:26
• Assembling – Hebrews 10:24-25