Preach Exodus! Week Four

This session creates opportunities for people of all ages to:

• reflect on attitudes to God and to possessions
• be assured of God’s forgiveness when we do not put him first
• discuss the choices we face in using our wealth and possessions
• take action to use them in ways honouring to God
• take action in situations where we see organizations and governments misusing wealth.

This week is all about the low point for the people of God as they wandered in the desert. Even as Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving instructions for the people from God was on the mountain receiving the commands from God to build a special tent of meeting, a place that will declare the presence of God with his people, the Israelites create a golden image, a golden calf as a new focus for their hopes and lives.

The contrast is stark and powerful. No less stark are the words of Jesus: ‘You cannot love God and money.’ When God is not central something else will take his place – and the Bible calls that idolatry. This week’s activities focus on personal attitudes and wider issues of the use of wealth and aim to help people be honest about the struggle to let our love for God shape our attitudes to possessions.

• See the Exodus Introduction for an overview of the theme of wealth within the Exodus story.
• Read the WeekFour Introductionfor an overview of the theme and activities for this fourth week of the Exodus story.