Exodus | A Covenant People
For Meditation
The people of God are set free from slavery in Egypt. Now what? Exodus 19 is the answer to that question.
As the narrative of God's making a people for himself continues, we hear how God brings the Israelites to Mount Sinai, just as he promised Moses he would do (Exodus 3:2). Here, gathered at the foot of the mountain, he renews his Covenant relationship with them, affirming that he is their God and they are his people. But then God also then gives them a lesson in their new identity: they are God’s treasured possession, they are his holy people, and they are a Kingdom of priests in the world.
This Sunday we’ll look at what each of those three identity markers mean, and how they apply for our situation today. These images for God's people are so significant that Peter lifts them right out of Exodus 19 and applies them directly to the New Testament church in 1 Peter 2:9-11. Need to remember who you are and what you are called to do? Exodus 19 is a good place to come back to again and again.
Our weekly Worship Guide can be downloaded by clicking the image below.
For an overview of the Preparing a People sermon series, click HERE.
Exodus 19:1-8
1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings
and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
Notes on our Worship Space:
Our summer sermon series was a study of how the practices of worship shape us. But it is good to remember, too, that what we display in our worship space reveals what we care about and what constitutes our identity as followers of Jesus.
The Cross, the Font, the Table, the Book
As we explore what it means to be the people of God, we have positioned these four symbols prominently to remind us of God’s faithfulness and where we find life, hope and our identity. The cross speaks of Jesus’ atoning death, the Font speaks of the new life he gives us through baptism, the Table speaks of our resurrected Savior who continues to gather us around his table of grace, and the Bible speaks of our source of authority and comfort as God speaks through his living word even today.
The Banners
The 10 banners hanging in the sanctuary represent the messages in our series on Exodus. It is not just the spoken word but the creative, visual word that tells us of God’s love and faithfulness. See if you can guess which banner goes with which story! Many thanks to the wonderful team of Third artists who put them together: Mark Sprinkle, Holly Smith, Kathy Ames and Sarah Hale.