Friday, January 20, 2012
By Faith... Moses, Part 14 of 54
TEXT: “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:23-26).
Idea: Crises reveal faith, but they may also create faith.
Purpose: To help listeners realize that crises not only reveal our faith but also shape our faith.
What do you mean by a crisis?
The Chinese word for crisis is made up of two characters, one meaning danger and the other meaning opportunity. A crisis is a dangerous opportunity. Does that make intuitive sense to you?
Have you ever faced a crisis in your life? What did it look like?
I. Moses faced a crisis in his life made up of opportunity and danger.
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Moses “when he had grown up,” stands in contrast to what in verse 24?
How does verse 24 compare and contrast to verses 25 and 26?
Do you think this implies anything about men and women who have grown up in a home with godly parents?
Moses was 40 years of age (Acts 7:23) when this crisis took place. It was like some of our midlife crises.
Young people often face life-shaping choices. Do many of them come out of a crisis?
Many people in their 40s face a crisis about whether they will live for success or for significance.
Which do you think is harder?
What was the nature of Moses’ crisis? Do people today face anything like it?
II. Do the choices we make in a crisis reveal faith or make faith?
How do they reveal faith?
How do decisions made in a crisis make faith?
