Grace Community Bible Church Sermons

Charles Sebold: The Presence of God (Ex. 32:11-35)

In Ex. 32:11-35 we learn six things about God’s presence and the response of His people.

1. Wait for God’s presence because that’s how His mercy is demonstrated (vv. 11-14)
1. Moses interceded for the people, appealing to God’s sovereign plan
2. Moses interceded for the people in the name of the covenant
2. Tremble at God’s presence because His Law shines a bright light on our sin (vv. 15-24)
1. The law comes from God
2. The law clearly demonstrates the sin
3. The law was shown to be nothing to Israel
4. The law was unable to make people righteous
5. The law held the people accountable
6. The law held the leaders accountable
3. Submit to God’s presence because He has delegated the authority to discipline us (vv. 25-29)
4. Believe in God’s presence because it is shown to us through the mediator He provides (vv. 30-33)
1. Can atonement be made?
2. Can somebody die in the place of the people?
5. Experience God’s presence because He promises not to forsake His people (v. 34)
6. Enjoy God’s presence because He dwells with His people in Christ (v. 35)

Charles Sebold: The Holiness of God’s Servant (Ex. 32:7-10)

In Exodus 32:7-10 we learn five things about God’s servant, his relationship to God and his relationship to the condemned world.

1. God sent Moses back to his people as the means of their salvation (v. 7)
1. God’s first command is an emphatic “go”
2. Christ “went”
3. We are commanded to “go”
2. God made their sin and punishment clear to Moses (v. 8-10)
1. The “have quickly turned aside”
2. God has seen their sin, and invites Moses to join him in seeing their sin
3. They are “stiff-necked”
4. They will be destroyed
3. God considered Moses to be separate/holy from them (v. 10)
1. God told Moses to “let Him alone”
2. His righteousness is what enables him to intercede for them
4. God encouraged Moses to stand aside for their judgment (v. 10)
1. Moses is a witness to God’s justice
2. If he does nothing, the nation will die
5. God offered to make a great nation out of Moses (v. 10)
1. Instead, Moses takes responsibility to bring them back to the covenant
2. We, as the body of Christ, proclaim what He proclaimed

Charles Sebold: The Self-Deception of Idolaters (Ex. 32:1-6)

In Exodus 32:1-6 we learn that we must live up to God’s expectations, not make a god who matches ours.

1. Idolaters know who God’s servant is, that they are rejecting (v. 1)
2. Idolaters ascribe the works of God to their idols (v. 4) (”this is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt”)
3. Idolaters claim that the idol is the One True God (v. 5) (”tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh”)
4. Idolaters pervert God’s worship (v. 5, 6)
5. Idolaters use the worship of God as a pretext for their own personal sin (v. 6)
6. Christ is the response
1. Recognize that He is the fulfillment of the promises, the image of God
2. Ascribe the works of God to Him
3. Know that we add nothing to Him, but we rely on Him for everything
4. Worship Him in spirit and truth, the way that He intended
5. Holiness and brokenness is what He expects

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 5:38-42

In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus continues to challenge the external righteousness taught by the Pharisees by teaching three truths about our rights.

1. The original command is stated (v. 38).
2. The original command is explained (v. 39a).
3. The original command is applied.
1. with regard to your dignity (v. 39b).
2. with regard to your rights (v. 40).
3. with regard to your freedom (v. 41).
4. with regard to your possessions (v. 42).

Pastor Rob Davis: Matt. 5:33-37

In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus continues to challenge the external righteousness taught by the Pharisees by teaching 3 truths about truthfulness.

1. The original command is stated (v. 33).
2. The original command is explained (vv. 34-36).
3. The original command is applied (v. 37).