The Loving Lawgiver. Summary and Goal. Main Passages Exodus 19:1-6 Exodus 20:1-11

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1 SESSION 7 The Loving Lawgiver Summary and Goal God declared His love for His people, Israel, which led to the giving of His law. The Israelites needed to understand God s love and what He expected from them. They needed to know God more fully and understand what it meant to live in a covenantal relationship with Him. Through God s law, we can see the holiness of God and His redemptive love for us, and as we obey, we reflect the holiness and love of God to the world. Main Passages Exodus 19:1-6 Exodus 20:1-11 Session Outline 1. The Lawgiver loves His people (Ex. 19:1-6; 20:1-2). 2. The Lawgiver deserves first place in our lives (Ex. 20:3-6). 3. The Lawgiver deserves honor in all we do (Ex. 20:7-11). Theological Theme God s law reflects His good character and His desire to be first in the lives of His people. Christ Connection As the sinless Savior, Jesus is the only One who has loved God completely and honored His name in all things. Through His perfect work on the cross, He has become our Sabbath rest. Missional Application God calls us to live in a way that pleases Him and puts on display His purpose for humanity. Date of My Bible Study: LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Session Plan The Loving Lawgiver Pack Item 1: God Delivers Display this poster in a place that will help group members follow the storyline of Scripture, to remember where we ve been and where we are going. Note to the Leader Make it clear that we have backed up on our timeline a bit as the giving of the Ten Commandments occurred 40 days before the rebellion regarding the golden calf (see the previous session). For Further Discussion What are some of God s attributes displayed in His rescuing the people of Israel? Pack Item 2: The Exodus Map In Exodus 19, the Israelites have departed from Rephidim and encamped in front of Mount Sinai. This is the setting for the giving of the law. The laws covered in sessions 7-11 were given here. Introduction Give an overview of the tragic play Cyrano de Bergerac, or if a group member has read or seen the play, allow him or her to do so (leader p. 82; PSG p. 65). When have you wanted to say something to someone but were afraid to? How does communicating truth change a relationship? Summarize this session on God declaring His love for Israel by giving them His law (leader pp ; PSG p. 66). 1. The Lawgiver loves His people (Ex. 19:1-6; 20:1-2). Read Exodus 19:1-6. Recap the exodus story to show how God had already demonstrated His love for the Israelites (leader pp ; PSG p. 66). How has God given you evidence of His love through a rescue? How is your life a testimony to the character of God as a deliverer? Read Exodus 20:1-2 and reinforce that the Ten Commandments flow out of God s power and love for His people (leader p. 84; PSG p. 67). God s declaration to Israel was very personal and showed His love and care for them. What are the ways we can see God s love for Israel expressed in the message He gave Moses to deliver in Exodus 19? 2. The Lawgiver deserves first place in our lives (Ex. 20:3-6). Ask a volunteer to read Exodus 20:3-6, the first two Commandments. Show how the sentiment of the First Commandment was violated by Adam and Eve in the garden. This Commandment has implications for our every action, thought, and relationship (leader p. 85; PSG p. 68). 80 Leader Guide Winter

3 Is it possible to break one of the other Commandments without breaking the first? Why or why not? What is the significance of this Commandment being the first? Explain how the Second Commandment amplifies the First. The problem with obedience lies in our hearts. The solution is God remaking us through Christ. Clarify that idols need not be statues of a god but anything or anyone that we give first place in our lives (leader pp ; PSG p. 69). What are some of the good things in your life that you struggle against making into an idol? How does the power of Christ help you keep these things in proper perspective? 3. The Lawgiver deserves honor in all we do (Ex. 20:7-11). Ask another volunteer to read Exodus 20:7-11, the next two Commandments. Communicate what the Third Commandment entails in revering God s name, including its missionary application (leader p. 87; PSG p. 70). What are some ways God s name is misused in the world? Why does God take this so seriously? Regarding the Fourth Commandment, explain the concept of Sabbath and how Jesus has freed us from the technicalities of Sabbath law. Using the chart in the Leader Guide, emphasize the Sabbath principles we would do well to remember (group members can record notes in the chart in the PSG) (leader pp ; PSG p. 71): It is a way of imitating God. It acknowledges that we are not God. It acknowledges that we trust God. It acknowledges that we need God. It acknowledges that we need God s people. What are some specific ways you have turned to work to define and sustain you? How can Sabbath-keeping help you refocus your mind s attention and heart s affection on God? Conclusion Comment on the purpose of the law to reveal our hopelessness in fulfilling the demands of God s holiness. Only Jesus satisfies the law for us. Now, our empowered obedience is to point people to Jesus (leader p. 89; PSG p. 72). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 73). For Further Discussion In what ways does God s prohibition of idolatry serve to protect His people? For Further Discussion How can we ensure that our group/church is honoring God s name for the furthering of His kingdom, not the expansion of our own agenda? Point 3 Option Instead of initially sharing the Leader content on Sabbath principles, ask groups of 3-4 to use the chart in their PSG to explain how the principle is grounded in the Fourth Commandment (leader p. 88; PSG p. 71). When calling for responses from the small groups, use the Leader content to then fill in gaps in their answers. Christ Connection: As the sinless Savior, Jesus is the only One who has loved God completely and honored His name in all things. Through His perfect work on the cross, He has become our Sabbath rest.... Missional Application: God calls us to live in a way that pleases Him and puts on display His purpose for humanity. 81

4 Expanded Session Content The Loving Lawgiver Voices from the Church The God who loved Israel s forefathers enough to rescue their descendants from slavery is a God to be loved in return, with a covenant love expressed in obedience. 1 Christopher Wright Introduction The classic Edmond Rostand play Cyrano de Bergerac is an epic tale of undeclared and unfulfilled love. Cyrano is a swashbuckling hero who finds himself in love with the beautiful Roxane. Cyrano believes that his large nose makes him too ugly for Roxane to love him. So, instead of telling Roxane that he loves her, Cyrano helps one of his men capture Roxane s heart by writing and speaking on his behalf. Benefiting from Cyrano s brilliance, Christian wins the beautiful Roxane s heart. Throughout the play, Cyrano tries and fails to show his true self to Roxane and to declare his love for her. Over and over, circumstances intervene to keep Cyrano from telling Roxane his true feelings until the end of the play, when she finally determines that it was Cyrano who had been writing to her and it was him she truly loved. But like any good tragedy, her epiphany was too late. Cyrano is mortally wounded. In his last moments, he engages in one last delirious sword fight with his old enemies falsehood, prejudice, and compromise. Cyrano dies before Roxane can reciprocate his love for her. When have you wanted to say something to someone but were afraid to? How does communicating truth change a relationship? God communicated truth to the Israelites when He gave the law to Moses. The children of Israel had been wandering in the wilderness and had grown weary. God s great victory on their behalf at the Red Sea was a distant memory, and they desperately wanted to settle in the land that God had promised. The people of Israel, however, were not prepared to enter the land that God had promised. The work that God was doing among them was not yet finished. 82 Leader Guide Winter

5 Session Summary In this session, we will listen to God s declaration of love for Israel and see how that declaration of love led to the giving of His law. The Israelites needed to understand God s love and what He expected from them. They needed to know God more fully and understand what it meant to live in a covenantal relationship with Him. Through God s law, we can see the holiness of God and His redemptive love for us, and as we obey, we reflect the holiness and love of God to the world. 1. The Lawgiver loves His people (Ex. 19:1-6; 20:1-2). Israel had suffered for a long time under the oppression of Egypt. God delivered them in epic fashion from their slavery, but now they were again in a state of waiting. The people were worn out, frustrated, and they needed to hear from the Lord. That s when God called Moses up Mount Sinai so He could deliver His word to the people. God s message is found in Exodus 19:1-6: 1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel. In love, God was preparing the hearts of the people by reminding them how He treated them in the past. He was also re-establishing the nature of His relationship with them by reminding them of the covenant He had established with Abraham. God was teaching them about His grace and how to respond in ways that would please Him and reflect His love to the rest of the world. God s love is seen in both His protection and provision. In verse 4, God said He delivered the Hebrews by carrying them on eagles wings. In Deuteronomy, we see a greater comparison of God to an eagle: [He is] like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions (Deut. 32:11). The image is of a mother eagle flying under her eaglets as they learn to fly. The mother uses her strength to bear up the young and provide them security. She will catch them if they falter. The eaglets are the benefactors of the mother s strength, just as Israel was delivered from the hands of Pharaoh by God s strength. Further Several important theological implications reside within the sanctions and promises. First, although God is Creator and Father of all people and people groups, he announced here his intention to create for himself a particular people, a treasured possession. This represents the separation of his chosen people from the general world population, or, stated in terms of the overall biblical plan of redemption, the beginning of the outworking of his intention to bring close to himself a people that will join him for all eternity as adopted members of his family. Second, full monotheism is expressed in the words although the whole earth is mine. This is one of the clearest early statements of monotheism in the Bible and certainly must have represented a sudden education for many of those present to hear Moses first relay these words to the people, since so many of them had grown up polytheists. Israel s assignment from God involved intermediation. They were not to be a people unto themselves, enjoying their special relationship with God and paying no attention to the rest of the world. Rather, they were to represent him to the rest of the world and attempt to bring the rest of the world to him. 2 Douglas Stuart 83

6 Further To start with selfidentification, as 'the Lord' does here, was normal for a covenant document sent from a king and for royal proclamations and inscriptions. Delivering the Israelites had become part of His identity, what people should think of when His name was mentioned. In the ancient Near East, Israel's system of laws was unique in that it came from God and obedience or disobedience was oriented toward God; elsewhere rulers might present laws to a deity for approval, but the laws themselves were not given by the deity. In Israel, lawbreaking was first of all an offense against the Lord, not just a disruption of order or an offense against other people. 3 Dorian G. Coover-Cox, HCSB Study Bible Voices from the Church Though free from bondage, Israel was not yet free from the centuries-old effects of that bondage. God continued His liberating work by freeing His people from their self-identity as slaves. One way He reshaped their identity was by entering into an agreement with them through the Law He gave on Mount Sinai. 4 Stephen Lennox God told Moses to remind Israel that He was the One who delivered them from their bondage to the Egyptians and brought them to Himself. In delivering Israel, God was putting His character as Redeemer on display. How has God given you evidence of His love through a rescue? How is your life a testimony to the character of God as a deliverer? When we think of Moses on Mount Sinai, we think of the Ten Commandments. But it s important to put those Commandments in context. Even the two verses that precede the Commandments (Ex. 20:1-2) reassure Israel of God s power and love. 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. The Ten Commandments are not a list of rules from a rigid and uncaring taskmaster. They are from a loving Father who rescued His children from slavery. In a moment of great weariness and uncertainty, God was reassuring His people that He loved them enough to rescue them, and He had not forgotten them. They were safe, and they should trust Him completely. God s love is not only seen in His deliverance, but it is also seen in His gift of a covenant. God made a covenant with Moses that declared His intentions to Israel. God loved Israel enough not to hide His will from them. While false religion frustrated people by keeping them guessing as to how to placate their imaginary gods, God loved people enough to show Himself in the law. By telling Israel about Himself through the law, God was establishing a clear understanding of how to know and please Him. The law removed any ambiguity and showed them what God s holiness looked like applied to the context of their lives. God s declaration to Israel was very personal and showed His love and care for them. What are the ways we can see God s love for Israel expressed in the message He gave Moses to deliver in Exodus 19? 84 Leader Guide Winter

7 2. The Lawgiver deserves first place in our lives (Ex. 20:3-6). Once God had prepared the people to receive the law by reminding them of His love and how they belonged to Him, He delivered the law to the people. The latter part of Exodus 19 recounts an awesome display of God s power and presence. Against the backdrop of fire and smoke and trembling earth, God allowed Moses onto the holy ground He occupied on Mount Sinai, where He would give him the law. But the first declaration of the Ten Commandments came from God s own mouth for all to hear. As we ve seen, God reminded Israel again that He was their God and He alone had delivered them out of Egypt. The lesson is simple. God deserves our full devotion simply because of who He is. Watch how the first two Commandments reinforce this important truth. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. God has no rival, and He has called people to demonstrate their loyalty by giving no one and nothing else greater devotion than is given to Him. In the garden, Adam and Eve fell to the temptation to become like God. In this First Commandment, God turns right side up what was turned upside down by human sin. Giving God the place He rightly deserves in our affections is necessary for every action, thought, and relationship. Is it possible to break one of the other Commandments without breaking the first? Why or why not? What is the significance of this Commandment being the first? The Second Commandment amplifies the First. In our sin, we who are made in God s image turn around and seek to make Him into ours. We fashion idols and put our trust in them, hoping they will make us significant and bring us salvation. The apostle Paul identified this desire in Romans 1:21-23: Further "'Before me': literally, to my face. This slightly unusual phrase seems also to be used of taking a second wife while the first is still alive. Such a use, of breach of an exclusive personal relationship, would help to explain the meaning here. It then links with the description of God as a jealous God in verse 5 In whatever detailed way we understand it, the main thrust is clear: because of YHWH s nature and because of what YHWH has done, he will not share his worship with another: he is unique." 5 R. Alan Cole Further "Not to make an 'idol' ran counter to every instinct of ancient Near Eastern cultures, but to do so is an affront to 'a jealous God.' God is concerned to protect the integrity of His relationship with His people (34:14). If the Israelites made idols to worship, it would be an act of hatred, disloyalty, and repudiation. When the Lord made Himself known to the Israelites, they did not see any form (Deut. 4:10-20). The best way to know and worship Him was to recall what He had already done and said and to be alert to trust Him and see what He would do in the future." 6 Dorian G. Coover-Cox, HCSB Study Bible 85

8 Voices from Church History "Remember what sin is: fundamental independence of God; the thing in me that says, I can do without God, I don t need Him." 7 Oswald Chambers ( ) Voices from the Church "If anything becomes more fundamental than God to your happiness, meaning in life, and identity, then it is an idol." 8 Tim Keller Further The Ten Commandments [are] God s expectations, requirements of Yahweh upon any who would enter into relationship with him. The other ancient Near Eastern law codes are witnessed by deities and blessed and even authorized by deities, but they are promulgated and policed by men But the Ten Commandments are Yahweh s expectation of those who have given themselves to him. When they are breached, the penalty and the mercy with which it is exacted are Yahweh s This fundamental orientation of the Ten Commandments is made clear even by their sequence the whole sequence under the protection of the God who first saved, then gave himself to, his people. 9 John I. Durham, Biblical Illustrator For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. The desire to deify anything but God comes from a heart that is always striving to compete with God for first place. Left to our own devices, we will always choose to exalt ourselves and wrap our lives around things we believe will fulfill us. Our hearts have to be remade and empowered by something outside of ourselves, something that can break our sinful tendency to worship things that are inferior to God. Only God can remake us, and He accomplishes this through Christ. Part of the law s function is to demonstrate the futility of striving to follow God and to elevate Him to His proper place without being reborn through Christ. You and I may not struggle with making statues or images of gods to give our attention and devotion, but we should be on guard for idolatry in its more subtle forms. An idol can be anything or anyone that we give first place in our lives. We often encounter things in life that compete for our attention and affection. Idols are not necessarily things that are obviously evil. In fact, the most insidious idols are good things that we make into ultimate things. The first two Commandments remind us that God is a loving and jealous God who will tolerate no rivals to His throne. He must be first in our lives. What are some of the good things in your life that you struggle against making into an idol? How does the power of Christ help you keep these things in proper perspective? 86 Leader Guide Winter

9 3. The Lawgiver deserves honor in all we do (Ex. 20:7-11). In the next two Commandments, God gives a picture of what will flow out of a life fully devoted to Him. 7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Let's look at the Third Commandment for a moment. Do you see how seriously God takes the misuse of His name? We may have grown up thinking this command is only about cursing or swearing oaths in God s name, but we should realize that revering God s name means much more. To revere God s name means we will not use His name recklessly. When we use God s name to speak about Him or for Him, it is serious business. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are called the ambassadors for Christ and told that God is appealing through us on Christ s behalf for the world to be reconciled to Him. We are the ones who are present in every situation speaking for the King. Using God s name well means speaking it in ways that appeal to people to know Jesus and follow Him. What are some ways God s name is misused in the world? Why does God take this so seriously? In verses 8-11, God commanded a rest day each week. In commanding His people to keep the day holy, the Sabbath was to be set apart in both action and inaction. The other six days of the week were dominated by work to provide sustenance and to keep order. But God called for a pause to this provisional activity in order to focus on Him. Further "We misuse the name of the Lord in many ways flippantly, untruthfully, and hypocritically. Flippantly when we use God s name by cursing and swearing or without sincerity. Untruthfully when we speak about God in ways that are not true and tarnish His reputation or misrepresent His will. Hypocritically when we damage the testimony of God by failing to demonstrate the worthiness of God s name in our lives. The Third Commandment should drive us to our knees where we ask and receive mercy that comes from the gospel. There is One who has never misused God s name. In fact, He upheld and lifted up God s name in all He said and did. Jesus honored God s name as holy." 10 Trevin Wax Further "The principle of the Sabbath is applied differently in the New Testament than in the Old Testament (Col. 2:16; cf. Rom. 14:5). The early church believed Christ had fulfilled the Sabbath law. And Scripture records they worshiped on Saturday, Sunday, and every day. The point isn t to make another day 'the new Sabbath.' The point is that Christ Himself is the Sabbath. If we are resting and rejoicing in His resurrection, we have fulfilled this Commandment." 11 J. D. Greear 87

10 Voices from the Church "We bring disgrace to the name of God when we profess much and possess little." 12 Michael Horton As Christians, we believe Jesus Christ has freed us from the technicalities of Sabbath law since He is the rest for our souls (see Col. 2:16-23). Still, there are principles in this Commandment we would do well to remember. It is a way of imitating God. God set aside the seventh day in creation, and when we set aside a day of rest, we are demonstrating that we want to follow God and be like Him. Voices from the Church "We obey the Sabbath Commandment of the Decalogue as we spiritually rest in Christ, letting Him bear our heavy burdens, trusting Him for salvation, and committing our lives to Him in service, then remaining faithful in lifelong loyalty to Him." 13 Craig Blomberg It acknowledges that we are not God. It acknowledges that we trust God. When we pause to rest, we are acknowledging that we have limits and need rest. God rested to show His completion of creation. We rest because we are frail and less than God. When we are always pushing to do more and achieve more without resting, we can actually be rebelling against our created limitations and creating an idol of our own strength and endurance. When we stop working to rest and focus on God, we are acknowledging that we trust God to provide for us beyond our ability to provide for ourselves. Overworking and failing to rest shows that we do not trust God to do His work to sustain us. It acknowledges that we need God. It is far too easy to take the focus off God in the busyness of life. Reserving a day for worship causes us to stop and refocus our attention and affections upon God and to acknowledge His rightful place in our lives regularly. It acknowledges that we need God s people. By emphasizing corporate worship, Bible reading, study, prayer, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord s Supper together, we recognize that not only do we need God s intervention in our lives but we also need His gift of each other. What are some specific ways you have turned to work to define and sustain you? How can Sabbath-keeping help you refocus your mind s attention and heart s affection on God? 88 Leader Guide Winter

11 Conclusion God has given us the law as a great gift. His assertion of His love for Israel in giving the law helps us see the loving, protective heart of God, and it is through this lens that we should see the law. Through the law, God pulled back the veil of heaven to give us a significant glimpse of Himself. He shows us His holiness and helps us see our utter hopelessness to fulfill the demands that His holiness requires apart from the work of Jesus on our behalf. It is only at the cross that we can find the fulfillment of the law. When we repent and believe on Jesus for our salvation, He becomes our righteousness and satisfies the law for us. He is the One who put God s glory first, the One who perfectly revered His Father s name, and the One who became our Sabbath rest. As we seek to understand the law, we must see how God was also preparing Israel for the job He had assigned them. Israel was not called out just to be a trophy of God s grace; they had a part to play that was central to God s redemptive story. They were called to a holy vocation through the law when He promised to make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex. 19:6). Israel was given the privilege to display God and evidence Him to the world through their obedience to the law. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus extended this vocation to the church when He said: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. As we seek to live out the law in the power of Christ, we are to show others the way to God. In Isaiah 49:6, we find God s ultimate plan for Israel through Jesus: The Lord said to me, I have a greater task for you, my servant. Not only will you restore to greatness the people of Israel who have survived, but I will also make you a light to the nations so that all the world may be saved (GNT). Voices from Church History The beginning and the end of virtue is love. 14 Chrysostom (circa ) 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 22. God Is One The Bible affirms that God is one, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, otherwise known as the Shema. In both Old and New Testament times, the advocacy of monotheism (belief in one God) was contrary to the surrounding culture. Where most cultures practiced polytheism (belief in multiple gods) or henotheism (the worship of one god with the belief in multiple gods), the people of God knew, based upon God s self-revelation, that Yahweh, the Lord, is the only one true God. CHRIST CONNECTION: As the sinless Savior, Jesus is the only One who has loved God completely and honored His name in all things. Through His perfect work on the cross, He has become our Sabbath rest. 89

12 Additional Resources The Loving Lawgiver References 1. Christopher J. H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992), Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, vol. 2 in The New American (Nashville: B&H, 2006), Dorian G. Coover-Cox, in HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 132, n. 20:2. 4. Stephen J. Lennox, God's Story Revealed (Indianapolis: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2009), R. Alan Cole, Exodus, in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove: IVP, 1973), Dorian G. Coover-Cox, in HCSB Study Bible, , n. 20: Oswald Chambers, in The Quotable Oswald Chambers, comp. and ed. David McCasland (Grand Rapids: Discovery House Publishers, 2008), Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods (New York: Dutton, 2009), xix. 9. John I. Durham, Ancient Near Eastern Parallels to the Ten Commandments, Biblical Illustrator (Summer 1981): Adapted from God First, by J. D. Greear and Trevin Wax (Nashville: LifeWay, 2014), Ibid., Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom (Chicago: Moody, 1993), Craig L. Blomberg, The Sabbath as Fulfilled in Christ, in Perspectives on the Sabbath: 4 Views, ed. Christopher John Donato (Nashville: B&H, 2011), Chrysostom, in The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans, by J. B. Morris (Charleston: BiblioLife, 2009), 400. Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- The God Who Legislates Chapter 4 from The God Who Is There by D. A. Carson -- Vainly Naming the Name Article by Mollie Hemingway; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including Ancient Near Eastern Parallels to the Ten Commandments, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon Podcast Kent Hughes: Ten Words of Grace Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week Biblical Illustrator If you want more Further, consider getting Biblical Illustrator, a quarterly magazine that supports The Gospel Project with in-depth articles related to biblical culture, traditions, history, archaeology, persons, and Hebrew and Greek word studies. Order through your LifeWay curriculum order form, at , or at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Plus, past Biblical Illustrator articles that support this quarter s Gospel Project lessons are immediately available in PDF format for $3.00 per bundle at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. 90 Leader Guide Winter

13 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide ESV Volume 4, Number 2 Winter Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide ESV (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations marked (HCSB) are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today s English Version Second Edition Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Unit 1: Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also serves as associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His books include Ordinary and the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary on the Book of Exodus, among others. He is happily married to Kimberly, and they have five adopted children. Unit 2: Rick Morton (sessions 7-8) is Vice President of Engagement for Lifeline Children s Services in Birmingham, Alabama, where he leads the ministry s partnership efforts to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children around the world. He is married to Denise, and they have two middle school sons and a daughter in college. Kendell Easley (sessions 9-12) is a professor of biblical studies at Union University and is the director of the Master of Christian Studies and Doctor of Ministry programs for Union in the Memphis area. He also serves as pastor of McLean Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Kendell is married to Nancy, and they have one married young adult son. Unit 3: D. A. Horton is currently serving in the Church Planting Residency at Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina. He and his wife, Elicia, and their three children are preparing to plant a church in Los Angles, California. He is working on his PhD in Applied Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. WRITERS