Exodus 19-40 Studies 2

October - November 2021
The Greatest Escape Part 2

(Exodus 19-40)
This series of studies was adapted from:
The Shadow of Glory

© Ma hias Media 2008
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Our 2021 Theme: Back to Basis, Back to Jesus
A WORD FROM Pastor CHRISTOPHER CHIA
My dear ARPC Discipleship Groups,

This pandemic has every poten al to not just derail us but to consume us. The wrong
outcome is for us to come out of this obsessed with anxiety and uncertainty.
The right lesson, however, is to be consumed by faith in Christ in more and
more moments of me and more areas of daily life. Why? God has handed all
authority and supremacy to Jesus - the Alpha and Omega - of history and our stories.
This unprecedented pandemic - nor anything else in all crea on - did
not catch God by surprise and cannot separate us from the love of
God in Christ. So, it must not lead us to dump Jesus.
Our study of 1 Peter warned us of the three wrong responses
of apostasy, retalia on or anxiety to cope with unjust su ering in
our fallen world. We must humbly pray to see all things poin ng us
to Jesus and his supreme Lordship, instead of turning us from him.
That means prac sing this life-saving gospel discipline: We
must never get used to sidelining Jesus in our hearts and homes, in
our churches and ministries, in our schools and work, in our
neighbourhood and na on.
To do this, we pray to keep going “Back to Jesus”. Being
consecrated to Jesus is not a choice. It is a calling. Our new iden ty
in Christ must lead to new Spirit- lled habits that glorify God. We
must take the spiritual reali es of our imperishable living hope in
Christ seriously. We must take our spiritual ba le with Satan and sin
with gravity. We must personally seek new Godly habits
passionately. Our personal devo onal mes are “non-nego”.
Secondly, we pray to go “Back to Jesus” collec vely as a
church. We must remember that we are not blessed as an end to
itself. We are blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). Thus, all our
ministries must not exist as holy huddles for our fake security. Our
Discipleship Groups and ministries exist to serve the body of Christ
in ARPC, Singapore and beyond as we ful l God’s Great Commission
to save by obeying his Great Commandment to love one another.
In that light, we are going to focus on “ongoing lifelong
discipleship” in our DGs in these main ways:
1. Mutual B2B and S2S Discipleship. We pray that men in our DGs
can encourage others as brothers to brothers (B2B) and
women, likewise, as sisters to sisters (S2S). B2B & S2S groups
can uphold one another in accountability to God’s call to
holiness in daily living. We can share our spiritual warfare, our
spiritual habits (of reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with
our sexual purity & our work. And be commi ed to praying for
one another during the week.
2. All-season Singleness, Marriage or Paren ng discipleship. We
will work out our salva on with fear and trembling whether we
are single or married. We need to always ask: “How do we live with ‘covenanted
hearts, eyes and bodies’ to Jesus?”
May God bless our labor of love to believe and become like Jesus. Amen.

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Back to Basics, Back to Jesus

Put sin to death, put on Christ (Colossians 3:1-12)
1. Building Strong PERSONAL walk with God in all ages

Our new iden ty in Christ gives birth to new habits.
We rise, not as high as our goals, but as high as our habits.
3. Back to Basics 2. Back to Basics

for God’s Family for Men &
Building a strong Women
spiritual family Building strong
in ARPC Godly Men &
Women for Christ
a.Nurture “All
season Singleness, a. Nurture on-
Marriage & going B2B and S2S
Paren ng Discipleship
Discipleship” in through our DGs.
weekly DGS. b. Supplement by
once-o Men &
b.Providing MRT Women’s
(Mentoring, Conferences.
Resourcing &
Tes monies).
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2021: Maturing Christlikeness in our Personal & Family Lives

Nurturing the 7 founda onal habits of our Chris an life
The centrality & beauty of prac sing
Christ alone, Faith Alone, Holiness Alone, Bible Alone,
Prayer Alone, Church Alone & Mission Alone
2023: 2022:
Back to Basics in Back to Basics
God’s Mission in ARPC
By God’s grace, we Maturing our
will build as many Genera onal
persons, families Groups &
& Specialised
ministries to be Ministries to
mature in Christ be Christlike by
to teach, live and living out these 7
share the gospel! founda onal
= Onward to gospel
ARPC@Tengah in truths.
2024 and Beyond
 

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Pray & give generously to ARPC@Tengah

Blessing our church, community and country
1. Follow Jesus. Go NUTs! Personal New Identity, New Habits

New habits of God’s Love
Very early in the morning, while it
was still dark, Jesus got up, left (Romans 5:8-9)
the house and went o to a New habits of God’s Grace
solitary place, where he prayed. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
(Mark 1:35) New habits of Godliness
(Titus 2:11-13)
Non-nego able me with God. New habits of God’s Word
Undistracted me for God. (2 Timothy 3:15-16)
New habits of Prayer
Total devo on to Jesus as Lord! (Philippians 4:6-7)
New habits of Fellowship
Reject Satan’s ploy (Hebrews 10:24-25)
New habits of Mission
If you are too busy for (Colossians 4:2-4)
God, you are too busy. = Take spiritual warfare seriously
= Put on the full armour of God
= “Go” win others for Christ!
2. Become like Jesus: New Iden ty,

“Spurring one another New Habits
to love and deeds”
Prac sing "Godly PTSD” habits
together as DGs!
(Praying, Thinking, Speaking & Doing)
Mon: PTSD for a family member.
Tue: PTSD for a DG member & leader.
Wed: PTSD for an ARPC member.
Thu: PTSD for an ARPC ministry.
Fri: PTSD for someone to evangelise.
Sat: PTSD for someone in our Services.
Sun: PTSD for our pastors & missionaries.
= We become a series of Godly habits
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Pray & give generously to ARPC@Tengah

Blessing our church, community and country
Blessing others with Jesus our Lord as

God’s One Church in Three Places.
From ARPC to Singapore & the World!

Church Prayer Fellowship

DISCIPLESHIP GROUP PARTNERSHIP
DG Partnership in Church Prayer Fellowship

Apr 24 Adrin Munoz & Yeap Choong Lieng Aug 28 Gerard Thomasz, Hanniel Choong &
Alwyn Ko & Sean Lim Kevin Kwek
Chng Kai Fong, Rhys Goh & Victor Wong Golden Group Ladies (Phoon Sau Hing)
Chong Kin Keong Golden Group (Chia Wah Kam)
Douglas Leong Golden Group (Francis Yeoh)
Errol Moo Golden Group (Tang Mun Tak)
Gary Chan Jaysee Lim, Spencer Quak, Koh Wee Yao
Harry Lim & Adrian Loh
Huang Guanhua & Chen Yongchang Joel Loh
Jackson Lim John Tan & Simon Wong
Jimmy Cheang & Goh Lay Hong Johnson Ng, James Lum, Lennard Kwek &
Wong Choon Yue
May 22 Lau Peet Meng & Andrew Wan Kevin Lee Chin Chai
Lee Weng Kong (Yongguang) Kok Wah Onn
Matthew Seah & Royston Toh
Norvin Ng & Brian Tay Sep 25 Lawrence Yap & Ricky Lim
Peter Ng, Melvin Tan & Soon Sze Meng Nicholas Tse, Anthony Pribadi & Sean Su
Quek Kai Loo Seet Kai Yong, Alan Fu & Wee Wai Keong
Quek Wey Lon & Wilson Tan Simon Yeo & Leslie Lim
Aaron Goh & Victor See Stanley Seah, Marcus Loh & Seah Wei
Alan Ng Miaw Peng & Thomas Goh Cheng
Berd Wong Tan Shu Xiang & Mok Wai Chung
Bobby Tan, Jason Chan & Rickson Chua William Li
Yip Chun Seng & Chan Zhao Xiang
Jun 26 Derren Tan & Neo Chin Loong Adrian Chen
Donovan Yong & Lee Kuan Ming Adrian Tan & Tan Chiew Wan
Hee Thung Han Anna Chan (Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing)
Jason Kwek & Wesley Sng
Joe Heng, Joey Gan, Yeo Wee Sing, Tan Yin Oct 23 Ang Chor Chen & Kong Kum Yew
Ying & Tim Loke Calvin Ow Yong & Raymond Goh
Kelvin Lim & Chris Yeo Cheng Shin Chuen & Roy Chan
Kenny Lee, Kwek Jin Wei & Chris Ong Daniel Koh, Wong Ling Hong & Eric Ng
Kevin Kwok, Kenrick Ng & Cheryl Ng Erik Ang & Lawrence Tang
Lai Zi Yang, Li Fangyi & Edward Kwok Hendra Wiratno & Margaret Lee
Lau Siew San & Christopher Yeang Jensen Ching & Russell Chan
Ngiam Xing Yi & Jarrod Choo Justin Lee & Esther Yee
Ler Wee Meng (Tuesday group)
Jul 24 Peng Jianrong & Melvin Zin Ler Wee Meng (Friday group)
Peter Lo, Kwek Tong Kiat, Eric Wong & Luke Goh & Soong Wei San
Reuben Teo
William Loh Nov 27 Reuben Bakker
Nick Wong & Wong Yu Liang Tan Hsuan Boon & Elwin Chai
Andy Yeo, Jason Lim, Jonathan Tan & Chris Tan Sin Cheng
Lau William Ho, Chung Sang Hong & Oi Tze
Chang Wing Poh & Mook Chee Wing Liang
Christopher Chia, Mona Chia & Tan Suan Oh Hwee Yen (Redhill)
Kuan Jolene Tham & Heng Hui Ching (Bishan)
Daniel Kweh, Sin Lye Chong & Vincent Teh Mona Chia (ARPC@Adam)
Edmund Fong & Trevor Binedell Mindy Chew & Jolene Tham (Sengkang)
Frank Mercer & Hong Soon Yean Wong Poi Leng (Sembawang)
The Context Key
Step 2
OVERALL Context:
HERMENEUTICS
Understanding the
passage in the
OVERALL context of
the book and Bible.
QUESTION
What does this
passage mean in the
light of the Gospel?
Step 1 Misinterpreta on and Step 3

ORIGINAL Context: misapplica on o en OUR Context:
EXEGESIS arises when we jump HOMILETICS
Understanding the from Step 1 to Step 3! Understanding the
passage in the We bypass God’s passage in our
ORIGINAL context of unfolding salva on CONTEMPORARY
the book and Bible. story in Christ. context.
QUESTION QUESTION
What God was saying What God is saying in
to the ORIGINAL Christ to us NOW? Is
hearers then? there a gospel truth here
for all people?
Diagram 2: Christ – the hermeneu cal key

God’s purpose ful lled
in Christ
The Old Testament The New Testament

looks FORWARD looks BACKWARD
to Christ to Christ
What do the Old What do they – Acts,
Testament books – Epistles and Revela on
narra ves, history, - mean in the light of
prophecy, wisdom, the gospel as revealed
psalms - mean in the in the Gospels?
light of Jesus’ coming?
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Study 1: God’s Na on Is Born (Exodus 19)

Week Of September 26 - October 2 1. Welcome back to the 2nd half of
Exodus study! We pray our study of
Exodus 1-18 has blessed you with
God’s Story So Far in Exodus: A pivotal moment deep spiritual truths of our holy yet
merciful and redeeming God. And
Imagine that you were asked to pick the ten most signi cant what it means to obey and trust him
moments or Bible passages in the history of God’s people in the in his story of love.
Old and New Testaments. What would they be? 2. Always begin your DGs with
Surely Genesis 1-3 would be in, because of its story of God humble prayer asking God to help us
the Creator and of humanity’s bid for independence from him. obey his Word.
Another would have to be God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 3. Length of Study
12, and the covenant that God makes with him in Genesis 15 and Each mee ng is designed to take 1.5
17. hour. The rst hour is spent on the
study of God’s Word. The nal 1/2 hr
You would almost certainly include the covenant with David is as important as we focus on
in 2 Samuel 7, and you would not want to overlook the Obedience to God and Prayer. This
descrip on of the sins of the kings and people of Israel and has been expanded to
Judah in 2 Kings 17. But close to the top of your list, possibly 3. Prepara on
inside the top three, would have to be Exodus 19-20, which we Please READ the Bible passage in
are now about to turn to. advance and prepare each study as an
ac ve learner of God’s Word. Come
These chapters are pivotal both in the book of Exodus and
with a prayerful heart to learn, serve
within the Bible as a whole, because they look back on what has and grow! The goal of Bible study is
happened between God and his people, and they describe how not informa on but transforma on!
their rela onship will be shaped in the future.
Before we look at these chapters, it will be helpful to review just what has happened within
Exodus to this point.
The previous book, Genesis, nished with the people of God in Egypt. They were rela vely
small in number but were safe and secure under the leadership and protec on of Joseph. By the
beginning of Exodus, they had greatly increased in number but were slaves under the erce
oppression of an antagonis c Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Under his oppression they cried out to God
(Exod. 2:23-25). God heard them and rescued them through a series of plagues. Despite the
spectacular nature of this deliverance, the people quickly forgot God’s generosity, and spent their
me grumbling and complaining on their way to Mt Sinai (Exod. 15:22-18:27).
Now, three months a er the exodus from Egypt, at the point where we pick up the story, they
have arrived at the foot of Mt Sinai (Exod. 19:1-2). They will stay there for about a year—that is,
un l Numbers 10:11-12.
Observa on & Interpreta on

Read Exodus 19:1-6.
These verses record God’s founda onal statements about how he understands his covenant1 (19:5)
with Israel.
1. Who took the ini a ve in this covenant and how did he show his ini a ve (v. 4)?
1Today the word ‘covenant’ is a legal expression, meaning a ‘contract.’ It has a legal dimension in the Bible too, but we should
note that, fundamentally, ‘covenant’ language is the language of rela onship. It conveys the idea of commitment in
rela onship, o en involving mutual obliga ons and promises by one or both sides of the rela onship. While there are
covenants between individuals and na ons described in the Old Testament, the majority of the references are to God’s
covenant with people. Already in the Old Testament, we’ve seen the covenant with Noah (Genesis 9) and Abraham (Genesis
12, 15, 17). It appears that the covenant referred to in verse 5 is seen as a development or con nua on of the covenant with
Abraham (cf. Exod. 2:23-25).
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SIDEBAR:
2. What response does God require to his ini a ve (v. 5)? Which comes rst: grace or law?
From this point on in the book of
Exodus, much emphasis is given to
laws and regula ons of various sorts.
One danger in reading these laws out
3. In response to Israel’s response, what does God promise he will of context is that we also get them out
do for them (v. 6)? of perspec ve.
We need to keep reminding
ourselves that God’s grace - his
undeserved generosity - comes before
God’s law. So God graciously chose
Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3) and formed a
4. Who else will bene t from all of this (v. 6)? (Hint: a priest is a
covenant with him. Then God
mediator or a go-between; whom are they media ng between graciously heard his people’s cry for
here?) help and remembered his covenant
(Exod. 2:23-25). Then he graciously
stretched out his hand to save his
people.
All of this grace preceded his
Thinking about priests giving of the law to Israel, and his
calling on them to obey it. We mustn’t
Priests have a number of characteris cs and roles in the Old let this focus on grace slip out of our
Testament. They are set apart as devoted to God (Levi cus 21). minds as we spend our me
They are to declare God’s will to people (e.g. Lev. 10:10-11; Deut. examining God’s law. It will help us
33:8-11; Jer. 18:18; Hos. 4:6), and to pray for people and o er understand what law is.
sacri ces for them (Levi cus 9, 16). The whole world is God’s, and
Israel is to do these things for the people of his world (Gen. 12:3; Deut. 4:5-8).
Read Exodus 19:7-25.

5. How do God’s people respond to his outline of the covenant (vv. 7-8)?
6. In this passage God promises to reveal himself.

a. Why does he make the promise to reveal himself?
b. Why do you think this might be important (v. 9)?
7. From God’s instruc ons and his revela on of himself in vv. 10-25, write down two or three
words that summarise what you learn about God’s nature.
8. If you had been present among the people at the base of Mount Sinai on that day, describe how
you might have felt.
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Thinking things through biblically

One of the striking things about this passage is the readiness of God’s people to embrace the
covenant and to pledge, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” The ckleness of Israel in the
wilderness already leads us to wonder about their con dence. Their subsequent history, especially
the incident of the golden calf in chapter 32, will demonstrate that they are overcon dent.
In Joshua 24:19, Joshua will be far more pessimis c. There the people will sound just as
con dent as God’s people here, but Joshua will reply to them with these words: “You are not able
to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God.” So this leaves us with two problems. Given Israel’s
impending failure, who will ful l the charter outlined for Israel here? And how can Israel have a
future as God’s people?
Fortunately, the Bible does not leave us with these terrifying ques ons unaddressed. First, it
tells us that Jesus was able to do what Israel could not do. He was the ideal Son of God who was
obedient to God and therefore func oned as a light to the na ons (Luke 2:32; cf. Isa. 42:6, 49:6,
51:4). Second, he was the means by whom God would deal with sin, so that it would not be
remembered and human hearts would be transformed (e.g. Deut. 30:6; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek.
36:16-36). We know from the New Testament that God did this through the death of Jesus and the
work of his Spirit (Rom. 3:21-31, 8:1-17). The point is that because humans are made of the same
stu as Adam and Eve, there is no hope for humanity if le on its own. Thankfully, God does not
leave us on our own!
Exodus & Living out the gospel. Read 1 Peter 2:9-12.

9. This passage describes the role of Chris ans in the world as God’s new covenant people. How
are we similar or di erent to God’s covenant and calling of Israel in Exodus 19:3-6?
Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on Covenant)

A) Summary: Each week, encourage everyone in your DG to write a one sentence summary of today’s passage.
B) Prayer, Sharing & Mutual Discipleship (30 min):

1. Good to get the men and women to share and pray in respec ve groups.
2. This is to promote mutual discipleship so that the men can encourage one another as brothers to brothers (B2B)
and women, likewise as sisters to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth. Maybe of 2-4 in each group.
a. B2B & S2S groups can uphold one another in accountability to God’s call to holiness in daily living.
b. We can share to encourage one another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our spiritual habits (of
reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our work. Then be commi ed to praying for one
another during the week.
c. We can share how each week’s study of God’s Word is challenging us to grow in Godliness in our respec ve sta ons
of life be it singleness, marriage or paren ng discipleship. This week, we re ect on what it means to live with
“covenanted hearts, eyes, tongues & bodies” under Jesus.
C) Read and Memorise for this week.

Exodus 19:5-6a
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all
peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy na on.’
D) Let us spur one another to keep your Personal Quiet Time with God
Revise. Recall, give thanks for and apply what you learn.
Come ready to share & tes fy to God’s goodness to you when we meet next week!
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Study 2: God’s Good Law For His Na on (Exodus 20)

Week Of October 3-9
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness

Last week we learnt about being God’s privileged covenant people, from Israel to the new
covenant family in Christ (1 Peter 2:9-10). What might this mean?
Begin each DG session with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory Verse and what they learned
through the week. It could be a lesson from the Bible study, our own devo onal me or our
circumstances as you embark on spirit-powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” (PTSD)
Godly habits. Jot down what others share and pray for them.
Opening Thoughts: What is ‘law’?
When you hear the word ‘law’, what do you think? Perhaps you think of speed laws, or tax laws, or
other sets of laws that operate in modern society. Such laws o en have governments behind them,
and authori es such as police to enforce them.
It is because we think this way that we o en don’t quite understand the Hebrew concept of
law. The Hebrew word for ‘law’ is torah, and it is likely that it is derived from a word that has the
sense of ‘poin ng the way’, which in turn gives rise to the meaning ‘direc on’, ‘instruc on’ and
‘teaching’. ‘Law’ in the Old Testament is not law in our sense, but rather direc on or instruc on or
guidance about how people should conduct their lives.
The second thing to no ce about Old Testament law was men oned in the last study. Law
ows out of rela onship. Remember that before God urges people to obey in Exodus 19, he
reminds them that he has borne them on eagle’s wings and brought them to himself (19:4). He has
acted to save them. It is as saved people that they are called upon to obey. They don’t obey in
order to enter rela onship with God, but because they already are in rela onship!
With all of this in mind, let us now look at Exodus 20. We will approach this not by looking at
each commandment in detail, but rather by means of a broad overview.
Observa on & Interpreta on. Read Exodus 20:1-17.

Read verses 1-2 again. Did you no ce God reminds them again that the commandments arise out
of a rela onship formed by his rescue of them? That’s the gracious context for everything that
follows.
1. In the table below, all ten commandments are listed.2
a. Tick whether you think they are primarily directed toward rela ng to God or to other people.
No. Verses Command Rela ng to God Rela ng to other people
1 20:3
2 20:4-6
3 20:7
4 20:8-11
5 20:12
6 20:13
7 20:14
8 20:15
9 20:16
10 20:17
2 There is some debate as to how the commandments should be divided. The tradi onal break-up is given here.
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b. What might God be saying to his people through this double focus in the commandments?
c. Do you think there is any similarity between the rst commandment concerning rela onship
with God and the rst one concerning rela onship with others? What is it?
d. Read Ma hew 22:34-40. How does what Jesus says t in with the very structure of the ten
commandments?
2. One way of summarising what the commandments are about is to see what they promote or
prohibit regarding our rela onship with God and with our neighbour. Try lling the table below
with this in mind (a couple are lled in to give you a start).
What is being promoted regarding our What the law is prohibi ng regarding our
No. Verses
rela onship with God and neighbor rela onship with God & neighbor
1 20:3 Exclusive allegiance by Israel to God. No idols
2 20:4-6
3 20:7
4 20:8-11
5 20:12 Neighbour Taking of neighbor’s life
6 20:13
7 20:14
8 20:15
9 20:16
10 20:17
3. Yet another good way to think about the commandments is that they are a re ec on of the
character of the God who gives them. What are some of the things that you learn about God from
these commandments?
Thinking about the commandments

Can you see what is going on here? The more we look at them, the more we start to see that the
ten commandments are about basic a tudes and principles in rela ng to God and neighbour—far
more so than being ‘laws’ in our normal understanding of that word. This is par cularly evident in
two ways. First, the last commandment concerning covetousness3 is not something that you can
bring to a law court for trial. Second, no penal es are prescribed for failure to keep them.
3 Cove ng and the Sermon on the Mount: When we read the Sermon on the Mount in Ma hew 5-7, we o en think that Jesus
is reinterpre ng the commandments and pushing them further than just surface obedience. However, the tenth
commandment about cove ng indicates what is implicit in the rest of the commandments—that is, that a tudes of the heart
and inten ons lie under much of human sin. Hence, Jesus can tell us that murder and adultery are commi ed on the tongue
or in the heart long before they are commi ed with weapons or in bed. Jesus is not reinterpre ng; he is simply explaining
what is already there in the original commandments.
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The ten commandments are a sort of summary of the central theological and ethical principles of
the Old Testament. In this sense, they are general guidance or instruc on. Other parts of the Old
Testament will then show how such guidance works out in speci c situa ons.

Verses 19 and 22 seem to indicate that the people had heard God speak the words of verses 2-17.
4. What emo onal response do they have?
5. What is God’s purpose in causing this response?
6. What do the people propose as a way forward?
Mediators and God

Have you ever wondered where the idea of Jesus as mediator comes from? It seems that it has its
beginning in this chapter. The people here seek to protect themselves from God by having Moses
stand in between them and God (perhaps ful lling God’s inten on; 19:9). From now on, God will
operate through mediators, with the ul mate mediator being Jesus (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6, 9:15,
12:24). It’s also worth no ng that this makes the ten commandments very dis nc ve: they are the
only unmediated commands from God to Israel.
Exodus & Living out the Gospel

7. The New Testament men ons the commandments in a number of places. We’ve already noted
the Sermon on the Mount. Some others include Ma hew 19:16-19, Mark 10:17-20 and Romans
13:9-10. Should Chris ans keep the 10 Commandments? Why? Why not?
8. Thank God for the new covenant and the law ful lled in Jesus our Lord.
Pray that we might rightly respond to this covenant by ac ng in ways that please God as obey the
law of Christ. Re ect on how you have acted towards God and your neighbours. How might God
might be moving you to promote Godliness or prohibit sinful behaviours in your rela onship with
him and others?
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Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on God’s Law)

Summary:
Each week, encourage everyone in your DG to write a one sentence summary of today’s passage.
Prayer, Sharing & Mutual Discipleship (30 min):

2. This is to promote mutual discipleship so that the men can encourage one another as brothers
to brothers (B2B) and women, likewise as sisters to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth. Maybe of
2-4 in each group.
a. B2B & S2S groups can uphold one another in accountability to God’s call to holiness in daily
living.
b. This week, we focus on what it means to delight in keeping God’s Law in Christ. We can share to
encourage one another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our spiritual habits (of
reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our work. Please write down your
prayer needs and answers to prayers. Be commi ed to praying for one another during the week.
c. We can share how each week’s study of God’s Word is challenging us to grow in Godliness in our
respec ve sta ons of life be it singleness, marriage or paren ng discipleship.
3. Read and Memorise for this week.

Exodus 20:1-4
And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
4. Let us spur one another to keep Personal Quiet Time with God
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Study 3: God’s Righteous Law (Exodus 21:1-23:19)

Week Of October 10-16
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another onto Godliness

Last week we learnt about God’s good law for his covenant people. The law has been ful lled in
Christ. We meditated on what obeying God’s law in Christ might mean for us.
Begin each DG session with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory Verse and what they learned
through the week. It could be a lesson from the Bible study, our own devo onal me or our
circumstances as you embark on spirit-powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” (PTSD)
Godly habits. Jot down what others share and pray for them.
Deligh ng in law
Are you like many modern Chris ans when you read Old Testament law? Do you nd it a bit like
reading genealogies, or worse, like skimming through a phone book? Is it boring or tedious and
burdensome? Perhaps you might even be more nega ve than this, and consider Old Testament law
to be outdated and irrelevant now that you’ve come to know Christ.
In the chapters we are going to look at in this study, the focus is on law. As we look at these
laws, we need to understand the Israelite mentality. You see, the true Israelite loved law because
he understood it to be a gracious expression of the mind, heart and character of the God who had
redeemed him, and whom he worshipped. It was also the way God had provided for his people to
gratefully respond to him. Before we launch into this sec on, let’s remember what we have learnt
so far:
Law is a re ec on of rela onship. God acted in grace and formed a rela onship with his
people. That rela onship is the background and precursor to law. Law ows from grace—not vice
versa.
Old Testament law ows in two direc ons: rela onship with God and rela onship with other
people. It can be summarised in the commands to love God and to love your neighbour. The term
‘law’ means ‘instruc on’ or ‘teaching’ or ‘guidance.’ This means that we shouldn’t expect Old
Testament law to cover every situa on. The Old Testament laws are illustra ons of how love of
God and love of neighbour can be expressed. There are many other contexts and ways in which
God’s love might be expressed.

There are other types of legal material but two common types are ‘case’ law and ‘apodic c’ law.
1. ‘Case law’ is generally when you have a law that addresses a certain case. It is condi onal and is
introduced by the words ‘when’ or ‘if’. Find three examples of case law in the passage.
2. ‘Apodic c law’ or ‘absolute law’ is when the law has no condi ons to it (e.g. the ten
commandments). They can be posi ve (‘Honour your father and mother’) or nega ve (‘You shall
not steal’). Find three examples.
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Refer to Exodus 21:1-23:19.

3. The laws cover many areas of life. Read the following passages and write down the areas of life
that are covered (you may like to divide the passages between the group members). The rst
example has been provided.
• 21:2-11 Human rights (slaves, daughters)
• 21:12-15
• 21:18-25
• 22:7-15
• 22:16-17
• 22:19
• 22:29-30
• 23:6-9
• 23:10-12
4. In various places a basis or mo va on is given for a law. What sort of basis is given in the
following passages?
• 20:8-11
• 20:12
• 21:8
• 22:21
• 23:8
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Chris ans and Old Testament law
Our views on Old Testament law are signi cantly formed by what we read in the New Testament.
However, o en we don’t get these passages in proper balance. Read the following passages and
write down what is said about Old Testament law in the New Testament.
Passage The law is…
Ma . 5:17-20
Rom. 5:20-21
Rom. 7:1-12
Gal. 3:19-26
2 Tim. 3:15-17
Interpre ng Old Testament law

When we read the passages just listed, they give us some boundaries for approaching Old
Testament law.
First, law is part of Scripture, therefore it can teach us about Christ. Because it teaches us
about Christ, it is therefore also able to make us wise for salva on, and teach us right doctrine and
conduct.
Second, it is possible to abuse law by cu ng it loose from its context of grace and turning it
into a way of entering rela onship with God. This must be avoided.
Third, Jesus ful ls the law. This doesn’t mean that he does away with it, but that it can only be
understood properly for us as Chris an people in the light of what God has done in Jesus Christ.
There is much more that could be said, but the diagram below gives a way ahead for working
out the implica ons of Old Testament law. First, when you read a par cular law, separate the
theological or ethical principles that undergird this law (e.g. trea ng disadvantaged people in
society with proper care). Second, ask whether the coming of Christ has changed the implica ons
of this law for Chris ans (e.g. food laws). Third, in the light of this, work out what the implica ons
of this law are in your own context.
This could be summarised in the following illustra on:4
4 Paul Barker, Deuteronomy: The God Who Keeps Promises, Acorn, Melbourne 1998, pp. 76-78. Reproduced with permission.
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Here’s another way of thinking about it. When you read Old Testament legal material, ask the
following ques ons of it:
• What does this law tell us about God and rela onship with him?
• What does it tell us about how to relate to other people?
• Does the life, death, and ministry of Jesus change what the Old Testament law taught?
• What are the implica ons of this for us as Chris ans in our situa on?
Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on God’s Law)

Summary:

2-4 in each group.
b. This week, we con nue to re ect on keeping and deligh ng on God’s Law. We can share to
encourage one another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our spiritual habits (of
reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our work. Please write down your
prayer needs and answers to prayers. Be commi ed to praying for one another during the week.

Exodus 23:13
“Pay a en on to all that I have said to you, and make no men on of the names of other gods, nor let
it be heard on your lips.”
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Study 4: God’s Righteous Covenant (Exodus 23:20-24:18) Some Guidelines for Our DGs
Week Of October 17-23 1. Welcome, Singing & Prayer
(10 min)
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness Always welcome one another
with God’s peace! Spend some
Begin each DG session with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory
me singing and praying to God.
Verse and what they learned through the week. It could be a lesson Always begin your mes with
from the Bible study, our own devo onal me or our circumstances as humble prayer asking God to
you embark on spirit-powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” help us obey his Word.
(PTSD) Godly habits. Jot down what others share and pray for them. 2. Length of Study
Each mee ng is designed to
Promises and demands take 1.5 hour. The rst hour is
We have travelled some distance now in the book of Exodus. We started spent on the study. The nal 1/2
hr is focussed on applica on
with a group of people who were in covenant with God through
and prayer.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God heard their groaning, remembered his
3. Prepara on
covenant (Exod. 2:23-25), and came down to rescue them and bring
Prepare each study in advance
them up out of Egypt (3:8).
as part of your responsibility as
He has now entered into a covenant with those people, and they an ac ve learner of God’s Word.
have embraced it. He has outlined to them some of its obliga ons in the Come with a prayerful heart to
form of commandments and judgements that will characterise their give, not simply to gain! Read
rela onship with him and each other. In the next chapter, he will the relevant passages and notes
(if any).
formalise that covenant. However, before he does this, he says three
The goal of Bible study is not
more things.
informa on but transforma on!
First, he promises present comfort for his people in the form of an
angel who will guard them, bring them to the place God has prepared,
speak to them, and punish them in the case of disobedience (23:20-21).
Second, God outlines his future ac ons. As he sends an angel in the present, so he will send
terror and hornets in the future to prepare the land and its occupants for God’s people (23:27-28).
He will bless his people and drive out those who currently dwell there.
Third, he makes it clear that his great promises come with demands: avoid idolatry (23:24),
and serve the real God instead (23:25). In other words, they are to give God their devo on and
worship.

Read Exodus 24.
1. Use the following chart to summarise what happens.
Verses Events
1-2 The people…
Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders…
Moses alone…
3 Moses…
The people…
4 Moses…
1.
2.
5 Moses…
6-7 Moses…
The people…
Moses…
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Verses Events
9-11 Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders…
12-18 God instructs Moses to…

Moses (and Joshua)…
Exodus 19 and 24
Exodus 19 and 24 are closely linked. Exodus 19 begins the sec on on the covenant with God
revealing himself and declaring the covenant. Exodus 24 records him establishing or ra fying it. In
the original language, both chapters have seven references to God speaking, or to God’s word.
Chapter 19 has seven references to ‘going down’, while chapter 24 has seven references to ‘going
up’. In other words, the content and structure of these chapters indicate that they are to be read in
the light of each other. Taken together, Exodus 19 and 24 describe God’s formalising of his
rela onship with his people. Originally God had enacted his covenant with Abraham personally.
Now God formalises that covenant with the en re na on descended from Abraham.
2. Imagine the circle below represents the whole of Mount Sinai and its immediate vicinity. Draw
the various places men oned in this chapter, and write down on your diagram who is allowed to
go where.
Thinking biblically
There are many useful ways in which we could think about this chapter within the context of the
whole Bible. However, we will focus on just one in this study - the idea of ‘ea ng with God’.
The blood rite

We’re not explicitly told what the blood rite means in verses 3-8. However, there are a number of
elements to note that can help us make a good guess:
• Israel agrees to all the terms of the covenant (vv. 3, 7).
• The altar symbolises God, while the twelve pillars symbolise Israel (v. 4).
• Much blood is gathered from sacri ces (v. 5).
• Burnt o erings are generally connected with atonement for sin and consecra on. Peace/
fellowship o erings celebrate fellowship with God.
• The blood is splashed over the two covenant partners or the thing that symbolises them (vv. 6,
8). This splashing may symbolise that:
- the two par es are now bound together
- this is only possible through a sacri ce of atonement.
• Only a er this rite takes place can the representa ves of Israel then do what happens in vv. 9-11.
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Read Isaiah 25:6-8.

3. Isaiah speaks of an end me mountain feast. What is striking about it when compared to the
meal with God in Exodus 24? (Hint: Who is there?)
Read Hebrews 9:19-28.

Here the writer of Hebrews alludes to Exodus 24.
4. In what way does the blood in Exodus 24 foreshadow the work of Christ?
5. How is the blood of Christ di erent from the blood of the sacri ces in Exodus 24?
Read Hebrews 10:19-25.

6. What does the sacri ce of Christ achieve, and how is it similar to and di erent from what is
achieved in Exodus 24?
Exodus & Living out the gospel

7. We give thanks for the sacri ce of Christ, which gives us bold access to God. How might we hold
unswervingly to the hope we have in Christ, relying on the faithfulness of God?
8. How might we spur one another on to love and good deeds especially during this pandemic as
we see the day of God approaching.
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Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life

Summary:

2. This is to promote mutual discipleship so that the men can encourage one another as brothers to
brothers (B2B) and women, likewise as sisters to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth. Maybe of 2-4 in
each group.
b. We can share to encourage one another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our
spiritual habits (of reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our work. Please
write down your prayer needs and answers to prayers. Be commi ed to praying for one another
during the week.

Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have con dence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the
new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his esh, 21 and since we
have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
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Study 5: God’s Glory Foreshadowed (Exodus 25-31)

Week Of October 24-30 Some Guidelines for Our DGs
1. Welcome, Singing & Prayer
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness (10 min)
Last week we learnt about God’s exac ng provision for us as sinners to Always welcome one another
be accepted and kept in fellowship with him as our holy God. Begin
me singing and praying to God.
each DG session with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory Verse Always begin your mes with
and what they learned through the week. It could be a lesson from the humble prayer asking God to
Bible study, our own devo onal me or our circumstances as you help us obey his Word.
embark on spirit-powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” 2. Length of Study
(PTSD) Godly habits. Jot down what others share and pray for them. Each mee ng is designed to take
1.5 hour. The rst hour is spent
Ge ng started on the study. The nal 1/2 hr is
focussed on applica on and
Do you remember the diagram that you drew for Exodus 24 in the
prayer.
previous study? The circle represented the mountain, and various
3. Prepara on
people were allowed in various places—but only a er certain things
were done. In many ways, what we saw happening in chapter 24 was a
as part of your responsibility as
blueprint for the tabernacle that will be outlined in the rest of the book an ac ve learner of God’s Word.
of Exodus. Come with a prayerful heart to
Approximately one third of the book of Exodus is about the give, not simply to gain! Read
tabernacle. For most modern readers, the space and detail given to the the relevant passages and notes
(if any).
design and construc on of the tabernacle is a bit overwhelming.
However, there are some very important things being said. The The goal of Bible study is not
amount of space given to it indicates that the author thought our me
wouldn’t be wasted in giving such details close a en on.
To highlight the most important elements of these chapters, in this study we will:
• get the big picture of what happens
• understand the structure and func on of the tabernacle
• work out the implica ons for our lives as Chris ans today.
Observa on & Interpreta on. Read Exodus 25-31.

1. Most modern Bibles have headings for each major sec on. Skim through the headings for
chapters 25-31 and summarise what each of the sec ons is about:
• 25:1-9
• 25:10-22
• 25:23-30
• 25:31-40
• 26:1-37
• 27:1-8
• 27:9-19
• 27:20-21
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• 28:1-43
• 29:1-46
2. Read Exodus 25:9 and 25:40. What do these verses tell us about the tabernacle?
Thinking about the Sabbath

Chapters 25-31 contain seven references containing statements such as, “The LORD said to Moses”
or “The LORD spoke to Moses” (25:1; 30:11; 30:17; 30:22; 30:34; 31:1; 31:12). The rst six of these
references deal with crea ve acts and the seventh features a reference to the Sabbath, which is
speci cally grounded in crea on. Moreover, the instruc ons about building the tabernacle end
with the Sabbath (31:12-18), while the record of its construc on begins with the Sabbath (35:1-3).
Also, the words used of Moses nishing the work on the tabernacle in Exodus 40:33 have strong
echoes of God nishing his work on the seventh day in Genesis 2:2.
Everything in its place
(25:10-22) (25:23-30)
(30:1-10) (27:1-8)
(25:31-40) (30:17-21)
3. In the above diagram the main items of furniture for the tabernacle are iden ed with arrows
and Bible references. Read the passages and write in the name of the item.
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The func on of the tabernacle
4. Read Exodus 25:8 and 40:34 and compare them with Psalm 103:19 and 1 Kings 8:27. What is the
tabernacle, and what does it symbolise or say to God’s people?
5. Think about the two halves of the book of Exodus. The rst half tells us that God redeems his
people from slavery. However, the second half tells us that God redeems his people to or for
something. What is it that God redeems his people to or for?
The ark cherubs and footstools

The top of the ark had a plate of gold. This was where the rites of the Day of Atonement were
conducted (Levi cus 16) and therefore represented how God was present among his people to
dispense mercy and forgiveness. At each end of the top of the ark there was a cherub whose wings
stretched out perhaps symbolising a footstool (1 Chron. 28:2; Ps. 99:5 132:7) above which was the
divine throne itself.

Read John 1:14-18.
6. The words ‘dwelt’ or ‘made his dwelling’ in verse 14 might also be translated ‘tabernacled’.
No ce also the word ‘glory’, which occurs in Exodus 29:43 and 40:34-35. What is John saying by
making these links between Jesus and Exodus?
7. How has Jesus ‘made his dwelling’ among his people now? See his promises in John 14:23; and
Ma hew 28:20.
8. What di erence should this truth about God dwelling among us in the Lord Jesus make in your
personal evangelism for those who have not known Christ as their Saviour and Lord. Pray together
for friends or family who do not yet know Christ. You might want to share the name of these
friends and con nue to pray for them throughout these studies.
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Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on Tabernacling)

Summary:
Each week, encourage everyone in your DG to write a one sentence summary of today’s
passage.

to brothers (B2B) and women, likewise as sisters to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth. Maybe
of 2-4 in each group.
living.
b. We can share to encourage one another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our
spiritual habits (of reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our work.
Please write down your prayer needs and answers to prayers. Be commi ed to praying for one
another during the week.
c. We can share how each week’s study of God’s Word is challenging us to grow in Godliness. This
week, we re ect on how God dwelling or tabernacling among us can change our singleness,
marriage or paren ng discipleship.

Exodus 25:8-9
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you
concerning the pa ern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
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Some Guidelines for Our DGs

Study 6: God’s Inglorious Na on (Exodus 32) 1. Welcome, Singing & Prayer
Week Of October 31 - November 6 (10 min)
Always welcome one another
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness me singing and praying to God.
Always begin your mes with
Last week we learnt about the holy God dwelling with us. Begin each humble prayer asking God to
DG session with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory Verse and help us obey his Word.
what they learned through the week. It could be a lesson from the 2. Length of Study
Bible study, our own devo onal me or our circumstances as you Each mee ng is designed to take
embark on spirit-powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” 1.5 hour. The rst hour is spent
(PTSD) Godly habits. Jot down what others share and pray for them. on the study. The nal 1/2 hr is
prayer.
Ge ng started
3. Prepara on
There is a sad pa ern that occurs o en in Scripture. At a number of
places we see God forge a new and wonderful stage in his rela onship as part of your responsibility as
with his people. Then, within the space of a chapter or two, some of an ac ve learner of God’s Word.
the same people who have been bene ciaries of God’s grace fail in Come with a prayerful heart to
some par cularly shameful way. give, not simply to gain! Read
For example, the rescue of Noah and his family in Genesis 6-9 is the relevant passages and notes
(if any).
followed by the drunkenness of Noah and the dishonourable conduct
of Ham (Gen. 9:18-28). Or the promise by God to Abram in Genesis
12:1-3 is followed by Abram’s decei ul conduct in Egypt, which results
in Pharaoh’s household being cursed rather than blessed by its
encounter with Abram (Gen. 12:10-20). God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7 is shortly followed by
the seduc on (possibly even rape) of Bathsheba, and the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11).
It is as though God (through the writers of the narra ves) is showing us that despite his grace
to humans, they are s ll sinful and unable to rescue themselves.
We’ve already seen a li le of this in Exodus. The great rescue of chapters 14-15 is followed by
grumbling and lack of faith in chapters 15-17. Now, God’s entering into covenant, and his gran ng
of access to his presence through the tabernacle, is followed by an act of terrible unfaithfulness.

1. Give one word that might summarise the a tude of the people in verse 1.
2. Read the rst and second commandment again in Exodus 20:3-6. Which commandment do you
think they are breaking here (note the reference to “the LORD” in verse 5)?
3. The last me that the people of God o ered peace/fellowship o erings and burnt o erings was
Exodus 24:5. What accompanied those o erings in chapter 24, and what accompanies them here?
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4. During the rescue of his people out of Egypt, God has a par cular way of referring to his people
(e.g. Exod. 3:7, 5:1, 9:1) and his ac ons on their behalf (Exod. 13:14, 20:2). How does he turn this
on its head in verse 7?
Read Exodus 3:7-10.

5. Look for the references to God ‘seeing’. What does he see and how does he react? Now look at
Exodus 32:9-10. What does God see now, and how will he react?

6. Comparing this passage with Exodus 32:7-10:
a. Why did God rescue Israel?
b. How is God threatening to go against this in Exodus 32:10, and how will he go about it?
God’s change of mind

Various versions of the Bible use di erent words for one cri cal Hebrew word in 32:12 and 14 (e.g.
ESV and NIV: ‘relent’; NRSV and NASB: ‘change mind’; RSV: ‘repent’). The word is linked with regret
and compassion. Moses is asking God to be so moved with pain that he reverses what he was
going to do.
There are two comments to make. First, we must not try to dodge or fudge what is being said
here. God is not presented as pretending in verses 7-11, nor is his change of mind presented as
being anything less than exactly that in verse 14. This may raise some enormous ques ons.
However, we are dealing with Scripture and we must not water it down. Our job, rather, is to work
hard at understanding it.
Second, did you no ce the wonderful interplay in this passage? In e ect, verses 7-10 tell us
that God threatened to change his mind regarding the promises to Abraham, by star ng again with
Moses. What Moses does is to ask God to change his mind regarding this change of mind by
returning to his original inten on. In e ect he is asking God not to change his mind at all!

7. How does the basis of Moses’ argument pick up some of God’s comments in verses 7-10?

8. What did the stone tablets represent?
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9. What, therefore, is being symbolised by Moses breaking them (v. 19)?
10. How does Moses a empt to make atonement (vv. 30-32), and what is God’s response?
Mediators and subs tutes

Moses performs the role of a mediator throughout this chapter and the next in a number of ways.
However, he does suggest one mediatorial role that is refused by God: that of being a subs tute—
or making atonement for the sins of others—by o ering himself.
Moses captures something that is later made very plain in the New Testament. He does not
suggest sacri ces such as burnt o erings. Rather, he senses that human sin might need to be
atoned for by the subs tu onary death of a human. On the cross, Jesus does what God did not
allow Moses to do here. The sinless Jesus took the place of sinful people so that we might be
righteous before God, and not have to face the punishment due to us (2 Cor 5:21).
Exodus & Living Out the gospel

11. Do you remember how the tabernacle harkens back to the Edenic situa on Genesis 1-2? Now
the golden calf incident recalls Genesis 3. What is the author telling us about human nature?
12. We should be warned about the quickness and stubbornness of God’s people to resort to
idolatry. What lessons can you take to heart about our idolatries in these ways:
- Your forge ulness of God and how easily we take his grace for granted?
- Your blindness to idolatry?
- Your stubbornness to persist in idolatry?
13. Yet what can we learn about the urgency and boldness of Moses in prayer for God’s mercy.
How we might grow in our burden and boldness to pray for our and others’ salva on?
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Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on Idolatry)

Summary:

to brothers (B2B) and women, likewise as sisters to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth. Maybe
of 2-4 in each group.
living.
b. This week, we re ect on the Golden Calf and our deep addic on to idolatry. How can we
iden fy, confess and repent of idolatry? We can share to encourage one another about our
spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our spiritual habits (of reading, obeying, praying), our
struggles with our sexual purity & our work. Please write down your prayer needs and answers to
prayers. Be commi ed to praying for one another during the week.
c. We can share how each week’s study of God’s Word is challenging us to grow in Godliness. in
our singleness, marriage or paren ng discipleship.

Exodus 32:13-14
“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and
said to them, ‘I will mul ply your o spring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have
promised I will give to your o spring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 And the Lord relented
from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
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Some Guidelines for Our DGs

Study 7: God’s Glorious Presence (Exodus 33-34) 1. Welcome, Singing & Prayer
Week Of November 7-13 (10 min)
Always welcome one another
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness me singing and praying to God.
Always begin your mes with
Last week we learnt about the horrors of our idolatry and re ected humble prayer asking God to
how we can repent of them as we follow Jesus. Begin each DG session help us obey his Word.
with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory Verse and what they 2. Length of Study
learned through the week. It could be a lesson from the Bible study, Each mee ng is designed to take
our own devo onal me or our circumstances as you embark on spirit- 1.5 hour. The rst hour is spent
powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” (PTSD) Godly habits. on the study. The nal 1/2 hr is
Jot down what others share and pray for them.
prayer.
3. Prepara on
Ge ng started
The movie Signs involves an alien visita on of our planet. At the heart as part of your responsibility as
of the lm is not an interest in aliens, but exploring the views of one an ac ve learner of God’s Word.
man, an Episcopal clergyman who has lost his faith because of a car Come with a prayerful heart to
accident in which his wife was killed. In a poignant moment the give, not simply to gain! Read
brother of this clergyman asks for a word of comfort. The clergyman the relevant passages and notes
(if any).
(played by Mel Gibson) talks about two groups of people.
There are those who experience good things and ascribe it to informa on but transforma on!
“someone out there watching out for them”, and those who see it as
“just pure luck, a happy turn of chance”. He observes that the second
group are lled with fear when bad things threaten. Finally his brother asks which group he is in
and Gibson’s character says, “There is no one watching out for us, Merrill. We are all on our own.”
It is a very sad moment in the lm. For those who have believed or known God, there is
nothing so crushing to the spirit than to come to the realisa on that either God is not there or he
has withdrawn his presence. This is the situa on that is being faced by the Israelites in Exodus 33.
The covenant has been broken and Israel faces God’s possible absence.

1. How is God’s grace as well as his anger displayed in verses 1-3?
2. Why do you think that the ornaments are singled out for men on in verses 4-6 (cf. Exod. 3:22,
12:36, 32:2-3)?

Remember that at this me the tabernacle and the ark had not yet been built. They are built in
chapters 35-40. These verses therefore talk about the presence of God in this interim me.
3. What contrast is o ered between Moses’ experience of the presence of God and the experience
of God’s people as outlined in verses 1-6?
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Can we really see God’s glory?

Verses 12-16 take up a number of issues in what is quite a complicated interac on. Moses is
basically asking two things. First, who exactly is going to be sent with him and the people (v. 12)?
Second, what exactly is God going to do (v. 13: “show me now your ways”)?
God’s response is to tell Moses that God himself will be going with them (literally, ‘my face’),
albeit via the intermediary of the angel, and his purpose is to give rest in the land. The ‘you’ that is
to be given rest in verse 14 is singular, which is probably why Moses stresses with God the
importance of the people and not just himself in verses 15-16. God’s people need God’s presence.
It is this alone that makes them dis nc ve.
God’s response of assurance comes in verse 17, where he assures Moses that he will grant him
his requests. Moses pushes further and poses a third request, to be shown God’s glory!
In the Old Testament, God’s glory is the thing that makes God ‘shine’—the very thing that
makes God ‘God’. So Moses has indeed asked a very bold thing! However, there is a limit to what
Moses might see of God without risk to himself. The Lord’s merciful yet gracious response is to tell
Moses that his goodness will pass before him. God will shield him from the absolute glory of his
presence.
Read Exodus 34:1-9.

4. List the things that Moses and the people are to do to prepare for God’s revela on of himself
and the renewal of the covenant.
5. There are seven words or phrases used to describe God in verses 6-7.
a. What are they?
b. Which ones concern his favourable disposi on toward people?
c. Which ones have more nega ve connota ons, and how are those connota ons so ened?
d. Write a one sentence summary of what you learn about the character of God from these
verses.
Things to note about 34:6-7

It appears that what happens in these verses is what Moses asked for in chapter 33—that is, to
understand God’s ways and see his glory. Intriguingly, what we then have described is not a vision
that can be seen, but words! These words describe God in terms of his name and character. God is
known through his word. That is why both orthodox Jews and Chris ans spend so much me
studying the Scriptures.
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Some English transla ons simply have ‘thousands’ in verse 7. Others have ‘thousands of
genera ons’. The original Hebrew simply has ‘thousands’. However, the transla ons that add ‘of
genera ons’ are on the right track in comparing the thousands of genera ons to whom God shows
steadfast love with the three or four genera ons on whom he visits iniquity (see Deut. 7:9 where
the Hebrew has the word ‘genera ons’). God’s mercy triumphs over his judgement.
Urging God to be God!
The book of Exodus has told us that God promised an oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He
promised to be their God, and the God of their descendants. God honoured his oath by rescuing
his people out of Egypt, and extending his covenant with Abraham to the whole na on. In Exodus
24 that covenant is enacted.
However, in Exodus 32 the people of God break the covenant. At this point, God has every
right to walk away from what he said he would do for the people he’s chosen. But Moses
intervenes and pleads with God to change his mind—which he does.
In Exodus 34, God urges Moses to prepare for the covenant tablets to be wri en up again. It is
then that he reveals his character to Moses in verses 6-7. What he tells Moses is that he is a God
whose overwhelming desire is to forgive, to have surprising mercy, love and kindness. In other
words, when Moses pleads with God, he is pleading correctly. He is simply urging God to be the
God that he is by inclina on. This is why, when these verses are quoted later in the Old Testament,
they o en have an addi onal line added that says something along the lines of ‘who relents from
sending calamity’ (e.g. Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). It is this in God that is behind him restoring the
covenant in the subsequent verses of chapter 34.

6. Verses 10-28 renew the covenant by reitera ng key elements. In the table below, write down
which verses recall which elements.
The Passover
The ten commandments
The book of the covenant (i.e. the

‘judgements’ of chapters 21-23)
The deliverance from Egypt (cf.

3:20, 15:1-10)
7. What new emphasis is present (that takes into account the golden calf incident)?
8. How is the people’s response to Moses di erent from when he was last on the mountain?
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9. Given Exodus 32-33, what is striking about what happens here? How does it show that God is
who he revealed himself to be in Exodus 34:6-7?
Exodus & Living Out the Gospel
10. Read Romans 3:9-20, which summarises Paul’s argument about humanity in the sec on that
has run from Romans 1:18. If humanity is like this, what should we expect from God?
11. Read Romans 3:21-26. How do God’s ac ons reveal him to be the same God that we have seen
in Exodus 32-34?
12. Our memory verse for this week is Exodus 34:6-7. It is a wonderful descrip on of God and his
nature that leads us inevitably toward the work of Jesus on the cross.
Think of how you can grow in your wonder and worship of Jesus & the wondrous Cross by
re ec ng how Moses pre gures Christ in these chapters:
• his o er of atonement
• his mediatorial role (presen ng God to the people and the people to God)
• his intercession on behalf of the people.
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Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on God’s mercy)
Summary:

2-4 in each group.
b. This week, we re ect on God who is slow to anger and rich in mercy to grant us new
beginnings. We can share to encourage one another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and
sin, our spiritual habits (of reading, obeying, praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our
work. Please write down your prayer needs and answers to prayers. Be commi ed to praying for
one another during the week.
c. We can share how each week’s study of God’s Word is challenging us to grow in Godliness. in our
singleness, marriage or paren ng discipleship.

Exodus 34:6-7
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow
to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visi ng the
iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth
genera on.”
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Study 8: The Making of God’s Dwelling (Exodus 35-39)

Week Of November 14-20 Some Guidelines for Our DGs
1. Welcome, Singing & Prayer
(10 min)
Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness Always welcome one another
By God’s grace, we have arrived at our nal 2 studies of Exodus. We pray me singing and praying to God.
that we have heard God speak into our lives about the deep and Always begin your mes with
eternal spiritual truths about himself, his people and his salvi c humble prayer asking God to
purposes for the world. help us obey his Word.
2. Length of Study
Begin each DG session with 1 or 2 DG members sharing their Memory
Each mee ng is designed to take
Verse and what they learned through the week. It could be a lesson 1.5 hour. The rst hour is spent
from the Bible study, our own devo onal me or our circumstances as on the study. The nal 1/2 hr is
you embark on spirit-powered “Praying, Thinking, Speaking and Doing” focussed on applica on and
(PTSD) Godly habits. Jot down what others share and pray for them. prayer.
3. Prepara on
Ge ng started Prepare each study in advance
Look again at the diagram that you drew for Exodus 24 in Study 4. What as part of your responsibility as
we saw in chapter 24 was a blueprint for the tabernacle that would be an ac ve learner of God’s Word.
Come with a prayerful heart to
outlined in the rest of the book of Exodus.
give, not simply to gain! Read
Three weeks ago, in Study 5, we looked at instruc ons for the the relevant passages and notes
making of the tabernacle in Exodus 25-31. In Exodus 35-39, we have an (if any).
account of its actual making. As in Study 5, we shall try to: The goal of Bible study is not
• get the big picture of what happens informa on but transforma on!
• understand the structure and func on of the tabernacle
• work out the implica ons for our lives as Chris ans today.

Read Exodus 35-39.
1. Most modern Bibles have headings for each major sec on. Skim through the headings for
chapters 35-39 and summarise what each of the sec ons is about:
• 35:1-3
• 35:4-29
• 35:30-36:38
• 37:1-9
• 37:10-16
• 37:17-24
• 37:25-29
• 38:1-7
• 38:8
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• 38:9-20
• 38:21-31
• 39:1-31
• 39:32-43
Everything in its place

2. In the diagram below, the main items of furniture for the tabernacle are iden ed with arrows
and Bible references (this me from Exodus 35-39). Read the passages and write in the name of
the item.
(37:19) (37:10-16)
(37:25-28) (38:1-7)
(37:17-24) (38:8)
The func on of the tabernacle

3. Think about the allusions to crea on and the Sabbath.By doing this, God is urging us to think
back to Genesis 1-2, where God creates the world, declares it to be “very good”, and places the
pinnacle of his crea on—Adam and Eve—in the garden of Eden as rulers over his world.
a. In terms of God’s rela onship with humanity, what does the garden of Eden represent? (If
necessary, go back to Genesis 1-2 and skim-read, looking especially for verses that describe the
rela onship God establishes with mankind.)
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b. What do you think God is doing by describing the tabernacle with this Genesis-type language?
Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:18-20; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:22.

4. God now has some new portable tabernacles or temples. What or who are they?
5. What is the ‘func on’ of Jesus’ new covenant tabernacles or temples?

6. We Chris ans are the means of spreading the presence of God in the world. We do this by:
• speaking the word of the gospel that brings people into rela onship with God and into his
presence as well
• living for Christ in his world.
How would your moral and spiritual life change if you took seriously the fact that God has chosen
you as his “place” in which to dwell?
7. Look at how Paul re ects on this in rela on to one area of sin in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. How can
we glorify God with our bodies as his new temple which is dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
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Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on God’s mercy)

Summary:

2. This is to promote mutual discipleship so that the men can encourage one another as brothers to
brothers (B2B) and women, likewise as sisters to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth. Maybe of 2-4 in
each group.
b. This week, we re ect on God who has kindly made us his temple. We share to encourage one
another about our spiritual warfare against Satan and sin, our spiritual habits (of reading, obeying,
praying), our struggles with our sexual purity & our work. Please write down your prayer needs and
answers to prayers. Be commi ed to praying for one another during the week.
c. We can share how each week’s study of God’s Word is challenging us to grow in Godliness. in our
singleness, marriage or paren ng discipleship.

Exodus 39:42-43
According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. 43 And
Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then
Moses blessed them.
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Study 9: God’s Glory Fills His Dwelling (Exodus 40)

Week Of November 21-27
We have arrived at our nal study. What a tour de force of God’s covenant love and redemp on
story to save his people for his glory!
Ge ng started
Last week, we saw the making of the tabernacle in Exodus 35-39. We have understood the
structure and func on of the tabernacle, and its implica ons for our lives as Chris ans today.
In this nal study, we shall look at its installa on and a er-e ects.

Read Exodus 40.
The tabernacle and its contents have been introduced in Exodus 25-31 and Exodus 35-39. Here is a
reminder of what it have looked like:
1. Skim through chapter 40 and summarise what each of these sec ons is about:
• 40:1-15
• 40:16-33
• 40:34-38
2. No ce the screens that have to be installed (40:3, 5, 8, 21, 28, 33). What was their purpose?
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3. How was this dividing veil of the tabernacle and temple nally removed? Read Mark 15:37-38.
4. How does the holy God graciously allow people to enter into his presence (40:12-15, 26-32)?
How does the Lord Jesus ful l this today?
5. What is symbolised by the presence of the cloud of the LORD (40:34-38)? What might this cloud
mean for the people of Israel in their journeys?
Exodus and Living out the gospel

6. Summarise the past 9 studies on Exodus 19-40 and one lesson you learned from each:
Study / Passage Summary A lesson I learned
Study 1:
Exodus 19
Study 2:
Exodus 20
Study 3:
Exodus 21:1-23:19
Study 4:
Exodus 23:20-24:18
Study 5:
Exodus 25-31
Study 6:
Exodus 32
Study 7:
Exodus 33-34
Study 8:
Exodus 35-39
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Study / Passage Summary A lesson I learned

Study 9:
Exodus 40
7. We pray that we have made some progress from our e ort to promote mutual discipleship so
for men can encourage one another as brothers to brothers (B2B) and women, likewise as sisters
to sisters (S2S) in our spiritual growth.
What is one lesson you learn from your B2B or S2S groups?
8. We also explored how each week’s study of God’s Word can challenge us to grow in your
di erent status of life - be it singleness discipleship, marriage discipleship or paren ng discipleship.
What is one lesson you learn from our “All-age Singleness, Marriage or Paren ng discipleship”?
9. Give thanks to God for the lessons he taught us as DGs from Exodus 19-40.
See you at Christmas Services, NYE Dinner and 2022!
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Exodus 19-40 Studies 2

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October - November 2021

The Greatest Escape Part 2

This series of studies was adapted from:

The Shadow of Glory

My dear ARPC Discipleship Groups,

Back to Basics, Back to Jesus

1. Building Strong PERSONAL walk with God in all ages

3. Back to Basics 2. Back to Basics

2021: Maturing Christlikeness in our Personal & Family Lives

Pray & give generously to ARPC@Tengah

1. Follow Jesus. Go NUTs! Personal New Identity, New Habits

2. Become like Jesus: New Iden ty,

Pray & give generously to ARPC@Tengah

Blessing others with Jesus our Lord as

Church Prayer Fellowship

DG Partnership in Church Prayer Fellowship

The Context Key

Step 1 Misinterpreta on and Step 3

Diagram 2: Christ – the hermeneu cal key

The Old Testament The New Testament

Study 1: God’s Na on Is Born (Exodus 19)

Observa on & Interpreta on

Read Exodus 19:7-25.

6. In this passage God promises to reveal himself.

b. Why do you think this might be important (v. 9)?

Thinking things through biblically

Exodus & Living out the gospel. Read 1 Peter 2:9-12.

Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on Covenant)

B) Prayer, Sharing & Mutual Discipleship (30 min):

C) Read and Memorise for this week.

Study 2: God’s Good Law For His Na on (Exodus 20)

Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another unto Godliness

Observa on & Interpreta on. Read Exodus 20:1-17.

Thinking about the commandments

Read Exodus 20:18-26.

5. What is God’s purpose in causing this response?

6. What do the people propose as a way forward?

Mediators and God

Exodus & Living out the Gospel

Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on God’s Law)

Prayer, Sharing & Mutual Discipleship (30 min):

3. Read and Memorise for this week.

Study 3: God’s Righteous Law (Exodus 21:1-23:19)

Memorise & Encourage (ME) one another onto Godliness

Observa on & Interpreta on

Refer to Exodus 21:1-23:19.

• 21:2-11 Human rights (slaves, daughters)

Interpre ng Old Testament law

Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life (Focus on God’s Law)

Prayer, Sharing & Mutual Discipleship (30 min):

3. Read and Memorise for this week.

Observa on & Interpreta on

12-18 God instructs Moses to…

The blood rite

Read Isaiah 25:6-8.

Read Hebrews 9:19-28.

Read Hebrews 10:19-25.

Exodus & Living out the gospel

Following Jesus: Daily Discipleship in Life

Prayer, Sharing & Mutual Discipleship (30 min):

3. Read and Memorise for this week.

Study 5: God’s Glory Foreshadowed (Exodus 25-31)

Observa on & Interpreta on. Read Exodus 25-31.

Thinking about the Sabbath