Opening Questions and Prayer
What reminders do you have set and how do you set them (phone, sticky notes, calendar entry, etc.)?
Why do you want to remember those things?
Who is someone that helps you remember important things?
Pray and ask for the Lord’s guidance as you study His word.
Read Exodus 18:1-3 NLT
1 Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the Lord had rescued them from Egypt.
2 Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in. 3 (Moses’ first son was named Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
What were some ways Moses had been a foreigner his whole life?
Why would Moses want to be reminded that he was a foreigner in a foreign land?
How does Peter say that we are foreigners? (Read 1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.)
Why is it important for us to remember that we are foreigners here on Earth and are part of God’s Kingdom?
What can you do this week to remind yourself that you are a foreigner in a foreign land?
Read Exodus 18:4
4 His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)
Why was it important for Moses to remember that God was his helper and rescuer?
What are some ways God has helped or rescued you?
How can you remind yourself that God has rescued you from death?
Read Exodus 18:5-12
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God. 6 Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. 9 Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 “Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! 11 I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence.
What was important about this visit from Moses’ father-in-law?
Why did Jethro say that the Lord was greater than all other gods?
How had the Israelites failed to see in the Lord what Jethro knew?
What are some ways we miss the Lord working in our life?
Who are some people in your life that remind you of the Lord’s goodness when you don’t see it?
If you don’t have anyone like that in your life, who is someone you could start meeting with that could help be a faith encourager to you?
Read Ephesians 2:1-3
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
Why does Paul want people to remember they were dead in their sins and lived a sinful life?
How does the enemy try to get us to remember the time before we followed Jesus as a fun and pleasurable time?
What are some ways the enemy tries to get people to believe that they have done too much wrong for the Lord to forgive them?
Why is it important to remember that we used to live that way, but because of Jesus, we no longer have to live under that burden?
Read Ephesians 2:4-7
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
What does Paul say that God did with our old, sinful self?
How do you remind yourself how God has saved you from that old life of death?
Who has the Lord put in your life that has helped you on your faith journey?
Who has the Lord put in your life that you have helped on their faith journey?
What are some ways you can be more intentional about helping others see the incredible wealth of God’s grace and kindness?
Read Ephesians 2:8-10
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
What does Paul mean that we are God’s masterpiece?
Do you think of yourself as God’s masterpiece?
Why or why not?
What might change in your life if you reminded yourself daily that you were God’s masterpiece?
How can you remind yourself, and who can remind you, that you are created new in Christ Jesus?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
What is hard about living this way?
What is important about living this way?
When we live this way, how does it remind us of who we are because of who God is?
Memorize it!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Closing thoughts and prayer
Even with intentional reminders, we can easily forget the goodness of God and the amazing rescue He has performed in our life. We are quick to forget that God, through Jesus, saved us from a life leading to death. Even with a daily reminder of manna from heaven, the Israelites still doubted God’s goodness and plan for their life. We, too, are prone to wander away from God’s goodness. We need to be reminded of who we are because of who God is. We are saved, adopted, blameless, and holy because of what Jesus did on the cross, not what we have done. We need to put things in our life to remind us of this, but we also need people in our life that will show up and remind us of this. Jethro did this for Moses and the Israelites. Surround yourself with people who will speak the life and truth of Jesus into your life.
Spend time praying for that person in your life that you need to encourage in their faith. Maybe they haven’t made that step to follow Jesus yet, or maybe they just need encouragement. Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to share with them this week.
End your time praying for our country and the leaders in the church.