Journeys: Wilderness | Clare Thompson at 11am | 20 September 2020

20 September 2020 - 11am Service

Journeys: Wilderness

This Sunday we continue our preaching series Journeys: People of the Way with a message from Clare Thompson on ‘Wilderness’.

The Christian life is a journey. It has a beginning, a destination, and things to do, accomplish, and grow in on the way. The early Church was called ‘The Way’ - it implies a way of life, not just a once in a lifetime decision. What does The Way look like?

Remember, our 7pm service is also looking at this topic, and Steve Ballard will be sharing with us. Check it out!

You will find discussion notes below to help you go deeper with this topic during the week.

DISCUSSION NOTES

Introduction:

In the Bible the wilderness is both a place of nurture and a place of challenge.

In the Exodus journey the wilderness was a place where the miraculous power of God was seen, where law was given, where supernatural food was provided. It was also a place of battles, of giants, of grumbling and judgement.

The wilderness was a place to hide from enemies; it was also a place of testing. It was a place free from distraction, it was a place of exile and temptation. Perhaps it can be described as a place of clarity, of black and white.

Wilderness:

Read Exodus 16-18 and 32

1. What does the word wilderness mean to you? What seasons of your life could you describe as 'wilderness'? Does the idea of wilderness as a place of nurture surprise you (Rev 12:14) ?

2. How has Covid been like a wilderness season? What have been the giants, what have been the blessings?

3. What things have become clear to you in the wilderness seasons of life? Have these presented as temptations to sin, or steps of obedience to follow? What is God saying to you about your obedience to Him, in a wilderness.

4. Why is grumbling taken so seriously in the Exodus story?

5. The journey through the wilderness sifted and tested Israel, preparing them to take the promised land. Jesus left the wilderness 'in the power of the Holy Spirit'. A wilderness can make you 'bitter or better'. How have wilderness times affected you?