Link to 2 minute version.

How do you view the law of God?

Many view God’s law as a threat. They say:

• It threatens our salvation
• It threatens our happiness
• It threatens our society
• It threatens our worship

But there’s another way of looking at the law that changes our view of it from a threat to a friend, from an expression of malice to an expression of love.

Here are four ways we see God’s love in God’s law in Exodus 20.

GOD’S LOVE LIBERATES US (1-2)

God’s law starts with God’s salvation, not our obedience.

• God delivered us from hatred
• God delivered us to love

God’s liberating love liberates our love.

But then God spoils it all with laws?

GOD’S LOVE LONGS FOR US (3-11)

The first four commandments express God’s longing for us.

• I long for your loyalty
• I long for your worship
• I long for your respect
• I long for your time

God longs for us more than for our obedience.

But what about the other commandments?

GOD’S LOVE LOOKS AFTER US (12-17)

Commandments 5-10 express God’s care for us.

• He protects us from ourselves
• He protects us from others
• He protects others from us

God’s laws reveal God’s love.

So why all the details?

GOD’S LOVE LIMITS US (18-26)

God then moves from boundaries for everyday life to boundaries for church life.

• Boundaries as to where to worship
• Boundaries as to what to worship
• Boundaries as to how to worship.

A love without limits is a limited love.

Do you see how limits can be loving too?

LIVING THE BIBLE

Do you still view the law as a threat? Do you now see the love of God in the law of God?

God’s love (1) Liberates us; (2) Longs for us; (3) Looks after us; (4) Limits us

Love God’s law as an expression of God’s love.

This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 7: Day 2 in  Exploring the Bible Together: A 52-Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids. You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast here or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

Link to video

A book for teens: Why am I feeling like this? A Teen’s Guide to Freedom from Anxiety and Depression.

A book for adults: Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This?: A Guide for Helping Teens through Anxiety and Depression

Link to two-minute version

What’s the greatest problem in the world?

Covid-19? Racism? Riots? Recession?

These are all great problems but none of them are the greatest problem.

The greatest problem is self-salvation. Other names for this are rule-redemption, law-liberation. The core idea is that we can be saved by our works, our obedience, our commandment-keeping. I can offer God enough obedience to persuade him to save me.

Why is that the greatest problem?

Because no matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves and we cannot please God. In fact, the very fact that we are trying to actually displeases him. And we kind of know that in our consciences don’t we. We’re not happy and God’s not happy.

But there is a better way and a happier way.

Let’s see how God sets this up when he first called Israel a people in Exodus 19:1-6.

GOD REDEEMS US

• God destroyed the Egyptians (4a)
• God carried the Israelites (4b)

We sell ourselves to sin for nothing, but God buys us back from sin with everything.

What does he redeem us to?

GOD RELATES TO US

• God brought them out of hate (4c)
• God brought them to his love (4c)

We run from God, but God runs to us.

How does he keep the relationship healthy and happy?

GOD REGULATES US

• God calls for obedience (5a)
• God calls for covenant obedience (5a)

We obey to worship our Savior, not to work salvation.

How does God encourage us to obey?

GOD REWARDS US

• He calls us a special treasure (5b)
• He makes us a kingdom of priests (6a)
• He constitutes us a holy nation (6b)

Reward is not the basis of salvation, it is our bonus in salvation.

LIVING THE BIBLE

Our greatest problem is self-salvation or rule-redemption.

God’s solution is redemption > relationship > rules > reward (see also John 14:15-21) – IN THAT ORDER!

God redeems us for relationship, provides rules to keep that relationship happy and healthy, and rewards covenantal obedience as a bonus.

Whether or not you ever learn the three R’s, make sure you learn the four R’s.

If you solve that problem, you’ve solved your greatest problem.

This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 7: Day 1 in  Exploring the Bible Together: A 52-Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids. You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast here or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

Link to two-minute version.

We’ve all heard of the worship wars; battles over what songs to sing?

• Some songs focus primarily on positives
• Some songs focus primarily on our feelings
• Some songs focus primarily on the Christian life

How do we decide what to sing?

The end of Moses’s war with the Egyptians can help us to end the worship wars among us.

Moses’s song in Exodus 15 teaches us some criteria for worship songs

SING SONGS THAT PRAISE GOD’S JUDGMENTS (3-10)

• Just judgments (3-5)
• Awesome judgments (6-8)
• Easy Judgments (9-10a)
• Irreversible Judgments (10b)

God’s judgments are our joy

Is that not too negative?

SING SONGS THAT PRAISE GOD’S CHARACTER (11-12)

• God is incomparable (11a)
• God is glorious in holiness (11b)
• God is fearful in praises (11c)
• God is a wonder-worker (11d-12)

God’s character is our chorus

Is that not too theological?

SING SONGS THAT PRAISE GOD’S SALVATION (13-21)

• God redeems his people (13a)
• God guides his people (13b)
• God protects his people (14-16)
• God communes with his people (17-18)

God’s salvation is our celebration.

Does that not sound like a good balance?

LIVING THE BIBLE

Sing songs that praise God’s judgment, God’s character, and God’s salvation!

Sing God-centered God-exalting songs to please God and do good to our souls.

The end of Moses’s war with the Egyptians can end the worship wars among us.

This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 6: Day 6 in  Exploring the Bible Together: A 52 Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids. You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast here or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

A book for teens: Why am I feeling like this? A Teen’s Guide to Freedom from Anxiety and Depression.

A book for adults: Why Is My Teenager Feeling Like This?: A Guide for Helping Teens through Anxiety and Depression

Link to two-minute version.

Susan had been a good church-goer all her life. She was raised in the church and was a big part of the church. She turned up to every event and volunteered for every service opportunity. Everyone loved Susan. But Susan didn’t love God.

She had thought she did. But over several months, she gradually realized that although her Christianity was outwardly impressive, she was inwardly empty. There was lots of action and commitment, but no love or devotion. She knew about God but didn’t know God. She served Christ but had not been saved by Christ.

She was in turmoil, terrified to admit her emptiness to herself, her pastor, and to God. So what did she do?

First, she tried harder, doubling down on her church commitments: “I just need to try harder.” When that didn’t bring her closer to God or God closer to her, she gave up: “What’s the point in even trying, when nothing seems to work?” Then she blamed God: “After all I’ve done for you, and you don’t love me!”

Try harder, give up, blame God. Try harder, give up, blame God. This cycle continued for many weeks as Susan cycled downwards into a spiral of despair and hopelessness.

It’s desperate isn’t it. But God had a surprising answer and an amazing solution for Susan.  It came in the form of a sermon her pastor preached on Exodus 14, especially verses 1-14.

Let’s hear God’s surprising answer and welcome God’s amazing solution for Israel and Susan.

SALVATION IS NOT OF WORKS (1-13A)

• Israel was trapped
• Israel was defenseless
• Israel was helpless
• Israel was hopeless

Although helpless and hopeless is the last place we want to be, it’s the first place God wants us to be.

Is there any hope and help when we are helpless and hopeless?

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD (13B-31)

“And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Ex. 14:13-14)

• God is glorified in saving Israel (13-22)
• God is glorified in defeating Egypt (23-31)

Is that not a surprising answer and an amazing solution? It was for Israel. It was for Susan. Is it for you?

When we are at our most helpless and hopeless, God is at his most helpful and hopeful.

LIVING THE BIBLE

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. He saved Israel from the sea, the soldiers and slavery. Stand still to move forwards, upwards, and inward.

Jesus can save you from trying harder, giving up, or blaming God. He can save you to trust God, hope in God, and love God.

Try harder and you’ll love less, trust harder and you’ll love more.

This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 6: Day 5 in  Exploring the Bible Together: A 52 Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids. You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast here or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.