Pastor Bob Fox
Exodus 5:22-6:12

Like you, Moses was not a seasoned leader when he began. He became one as he learned:

1. To turn toward God not away from Him in trouble.
2. That things usually have to get worse to get better.
3. To think theologically/thematically in emotional moments. I must think about:
• Who God is—Yahweh. He is personal, eternal, self-sufficient, and God.
• My privilege—I have more than “the heroes” had.
• God’s promises and covenants.
• How God has a penchant for producing good out of evil.
• The bigness and the personal nature of God’s work.
4. To expect sluggishness, to have to inspire and teach.
5. Boldness, that God’s calling eclipses any and all other influences.

Listen to Bob.

A challenge: What about God scares you or makes you feel unsafe? Talk with God about it. Talk with other Christians about it by blogging about it here.

Pastor Bob Fox
Exodus 20:18-21

Faith is trust. One way or another all people exercise trust. THE faith is the thing God wants to bring about in humanity.

1. God goes to great lengths to cultivate trust in Him (Ex 13:17-22), but we can refuse to feel safe with Him (Ex 14:11-12).
2. The faith challenge is to believe God exists and is good, then to grow toward absolute confidence that He will be good to you (Ex 20:18-21).
3. Inability to trust God to be good to you results in loss of peace and rest (Num 14:20-23), a very marginal Christian experience.

God’s invitation to me was/is: “Live with me the way I live, trust Me to bless you. I can and will take care of everything else.”

Listen to Bob.

Pastor Preston Hancock
Genesis 50:15-21

What we must understand:

1. Yahweh is actively involved in the “real world,” fulfilling His promise to bless humanity. (vs. 19; Gen. 15)
2. God personally guarantees the outcome, even using evil and suffering to accomplish His purposes: (vs.20)
• To bring life and redeem creation (vs. 20; Acts 3:13-26)
• Conforming us into His image, thinking and acting like Yahweh (vs. 21; Rom. 8:28; Heb. 1:3)
3. Sometimes we see the good He brings about, at least in part. Sometimes we can only look forward in hope. (Gen. 50: 24-25)

How we then respond to evil and suffering in our lives:

1. We develop the right attitude.
• We approach life with humility, releasing the need to have immediate closure. (James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6-7)
• We trust God’s goodness – He seeks our best and will provide what is needed.
• We live in hope that Yahweh will bring a better Kingdom.
2. So we can take the right action:
• We discover what He is doing in the moment, understand our part, and fulfill our role
• In our own growth,
• And in blessing others and bringing glory to Him.

Listen to Preston.

Pastor Bob Fox
Genesis 14:8-20

Theological Thoughts—God uses “stuff” to orchestrate great kingdom moments. Through this moment God wanted to create an expectation of:

1. A superior person.
2. A superior spiritual provider.
3. A superior spiritual leader.

Through giving, Abram unknowingly partnered with God to produce a picture of Christ for his offspring.

Practical Thoughts—So when it comes to your “stuff” remember two words. Word #1—give, because it is:

1. A chance to partner with God to enhance His encounters with humanity.
2. His way for all of His family, including you.
3. A bite-sized commitment you can for sure do (remember 10%).
4. Essential in every way.
5. An inspiring example.

Word #2—govern, because our inner being is tethered to our treasure.

1. Some you should join, others you should separate from financially.
2. The allure of profit can get us entangled with those God is disciplining.
3. Business associations are weighty and can enslave us to tainted agendas.
4. Money is neither “clean” nor “dirty.” You will assign its moral value.

Listen to Bob.

Pastor Bob Fox
August 2, 2009

If you are a Christian, you are blest in these ways:

1. Your blessing is that Yahweh gives Himself personally to you. It is certain because He Himself is your protector.
2. You will see its beginnings in your lifetime, then it will keep growing.
3. You’re blest because you’re credited with righteousness, and that simply because you trust Yahweh for your blessing.
4. Your blessing is guaranteed by Yahweh, and involves ownership of a place in His kingdom.
5. You will experience your blessing three times, each experience richer and fuller.

Application:

1. Stewardship is everything. Pleasure is nothing.
2. Honing your trust is more critical than honing your talent.
3. You cannot be robbed of anything forever.
4. This much is certain, everyone will “get theirs.”

Listen to Bob.