This week we will be exploring Exodus 14 together, "Experiencing God's Miracle."
Do you need a miracle?
Often we find ourselves in impossible situations. Life becomes overwhelming. Circumstances seem to be closing in and the way forward seems hopeless. Fearful and stressed, we tend to cry out to God and lash out at others all at the same time. After all, we have to find someone to blame and to get mad at. It gives us a momentary satisfaction even if it does nothing to change our situation.
This is what Israel experienced in Exodus 14.
They were trapped. There was no apparent escape. Behind them was Pharaoh's army, charging at them with chariots and weapons. In front of them was an impassable sea with depths capable of drowning them all in an instant.
And strangely enough, God (and Moses) led them to this very place!
I think you and I would be pretty pertubed too!
But God had a plan even in the midst of their most dire situation. He was going to gain glory, Israel's enemies were going to be fully defeated, and Israel was finally and truly going to be free.
They just had to be still, stand firm, and trust Him.
Easier said than done.
The Red Sea miracle is perhaps the best known miracle in the Bible. It makes great special effects in a movie and is a compelling story in its own right. Who can forget Charlton Heston parting the Red Sea in the Ten Commandments?
But beyond being a great movie scene, the parting of the Red Sea speaks practically and powerfully to us today. Nothing is impossible with God! Sometimes we spend more time looking at our problems than beholding Him. Sometimes we feel more hopeless than hopeful, even though God has already told us the end of the story! Sometimes we just need to stop panicking, running around in fear, and complaining to everyone left and right, and start resting in the goodness and sovereignty of God.
Confidence and joy in the face of fear. That in itself is a miracle!
May God open our eyes to His goodness and glory and may He open a path through whatever sea is in front of us!

This week we will be exploring Exodus 13 together, Following God.
Following God. That's what it all boils down to, doesn't it? He is the Shepherd. We are the sheep. He loves us. We love Him. And in loving Him, we trust Him and follow Him.
He knows the way forward, we do not.
Exodus 13 sits right in the middle between the redemption in Exodus 12 and the start of the journey into the wilderness in Exodus 14. Before Israel starts their journey, God gives some final instructions to His people.
God will guide their journey. They must learn to follow.
Even when the path takes them in a direction that they are not expecting.
There was a quicker way to Canaan but God will take them through the wilderness. And He often does the same in our lives.
Will we follow?
Or will we be tempted to turn back and go our own way?
It is the choice that faces us almost every day.
May God so overwhelm us with His goodness and grace that we trust Him even when our path takes us through the wilderness!

This Sunday, April 19 (9am, 10:45am), we are excited to have Dr. David Klingler as our guest speaker. Dr. Klingler will be speaking from the book of Proverbs, Don't Be a Fool!
David Klingler is the professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is also the host of the Teach Me the Bible podcast. In his college days, David played quarterback for the Houston Cougars (1988-91) and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals and played six seasons in the NFL. He certainly brings a unique perspective on what really matters and what really satisfies in this world!
May God use His Word in our lives to give us wisdom in this present age!

Pastor Ken Courville teaches on Exodus 12:28-51.

Exodus 12 introduced us to the Passover Lamb. It is the blood of the Passover lamb that averts God's judgment and brings salvation and redemption to His people.
But the theme of the Lamb does not begin in Exodus 12. It begins in Genesis with Adam, Abel, and Abraham.
And the theme of the Lamb does not end in Exodus 12. Rather it runs throughout the rest of Scripture, pointing to Jesus Christ and the climax of all history.
In the OT, the question is "Where is the lamb?"
In the Gospels, the answer is "Behold the Lamb!"
in Revelation, the climax is "Worthy is the Lamb!"
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10)
We are saved by the Lamb.
It is a strange statement when you think about it. The hero of the story of Scripture is a lamb.
It is the Lamb who conquers sin, death, and Satan.
It is the Lamb who redeems us and restores the earth.
It is the Lamb who reigns!
Worthy is the Lamb!
May God open our eyes, stir our hearts, strengthen our souls, and fill us with joy as we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ!

This week we will be exploring Exodus 12:1-38 together, Applying the Blood of the Lamb.
Passover is one of the oldest, continuously celebrated rituals in world history. For close to 3500 years, Jews have met together as families to remember God's deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and His provision of the Passover lamb.
And every time we celebrate communion, we are joining them in this remembrance.
Passover is one of the most significant events in the story of Scripture--not only because it marks the beginning of Israel as a nation but it also points to the greatest deliverance in history, the death of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
This Sunday, we will walk through Exodus 12:1-28 verse-by-verse, learning about the original observance of Passover, focusing on the lamb, and seeing the signs of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
May God open our eyes to the wonder of Passover and deepen our understanding of the great grace shown to us in the blood of Jesus Christ!
A Bible study guide is available, walking step-by-step, verse-by-verse, through Exodus 1-13. Pick up a study guide on Sunday ($5 donation) and join us for this journey!
After our second service, join us for a baptism outside as we celebrate another life saved by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ!

This week we will be exploring Exodus 10:1-11:10 together, Facing the Judgment of God.
Within redemption, there is judgment.
To be delivered, something has to be defeated.
To be set free, something has to be overcome.
For Israel to be liberated from bondage, Egypt and its gods had to be judged.
Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord! (Exodus 12:12b)
This Sunday, we will look at plagues #8 and #9 -- locusts and darkness. We will also hear the announcement of the final plague -- the death of the firstborn.
Once again in these plagues, we will see God's sovereignty over the earth, Pharaoh's obstinacy in his heart, the Israelites' protection from judgment, and the gods of Egypt being rendered as nothing.
We will also answer the question: Was God being unfair in hardening Pharaoh's heart?
And we will address another question related to this one: Is it fair for people to be judged to hell if they refuse to trust in Jesus as Savior?
These are serious questions...but then again, sin is serious, death is certain, and God's judgment is a reality so we must take time to deal with the "dark side" of the plagues and what they can teach us today.
May God open our eyes to the reality of sin and the certainty of judgment so that our hearts will rejoice at the beauty and wonder of His grace!

This week we will be exploring Exodus 8:20-9:35 together, Knowing that He Is the Lord!
I originally titled this week, Confronting the Gods of Egypt, Part II. But since most sequels are not that good, I decided to change the title. 🙂
Actually, as I studied this week, I was reminded again of the primary purpose of the ten plagues.
By this you shall know that I am the LORD! (7:17)
This is Life 101. This is Reality 101. This is Wisdom 101.
The first truth that we must learn is a simple one: He is the Lord.
Once we acknowledge this truth, then other truths begin to take shape. Since He is the Lord, then that means...
I am not the Lord. The rulers of this world are not the Lord. The things of this world that I put my trust in will not satisfy me or give me security. I can't go my own way and find life. I exist to give Him glory. My purpose in life is to know Him and to follow His will. Salvation can only come through His grace. I can rest in His sovereignty. I can trust in His goodness. I can rejoice in His love.
God redeems us so that we can know Him.
And God confronts the false idols of this world so that everyone can know that He alone is the Lord.
This Sunday we will continue our journey through the plagues. With each plague, God reveals an aspect of His character, confronts the false gods of Egypt, shows grace toward His people, and exposes the hardness of man's heart.
As we study God's Word this week, may we bow in worship and humility and proclaim, "He is the Lord!"