Sermon Outline:
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The fear of God is pure and pleasant
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The fear of man is a terror and a trap
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Suffering does not prevent or pause God’s affectionate blessing of His covenant people
Discussion Questions:
- How did Pharaoh demonstrate he was a cruel master?
- How did God demonstrate that He was a good master?
- How did God demonstrate that He was sovereign?
- What affect did the fear of God have on the midwives' actions?
- Was the earthly blessing the midwives received promised to them as a reward for their actions?
- What affect did the fear of man or of created things have on the people of Egypt?
- If Israel were to forget the cruelty of Pharaoh and the kindness of God, what affect would that likely have on her heart and actions?
- What affect would remembering these events have on Israel when she would face deep suffering and oppression in the future?
- In Christ God has delivered us from sin and the foolish slavery to the things of the world - including our own passions. What affect would forgetting the kindness of Christ and the cruelty of sin have on our hearts? How have you seen this in your own life?
- How might the fear of anything other than God lead to sin and condemnation? How have you seen this in your own life?
- How might the fear of God lead to comfort and freedom? How have you seen this in your own life?
- How would the ultimate end of Pharaoh and Egypt function as smelling salts for us when our hearts lean toward fear of anything other than God?
- In what ways has God promised that the church will be able to know His affectionate blessing even during times of suffering?
- What blessings from God can the church only be assured of after suffering is finished? How can we be sure that current suffering will not prevent future blessings?