Destruction came. The land of Israel was destroyed. The people of God spent 80 years in exile. In the midst of this tragedy, we do not despair. We believe these truths of exile:

Are we in an exile as modern Christians in 2021? There is temptation to complain about the decline of the church or a world that is hostile to our faith.  Daniel pushes us to ask a different question: “How do we thrive in the midst of exile?”  The people of God were still called to serve, live, and lead in exile. If Daniel could lead his people in such a crisis, surely we can lead today. 

Destruction came. The land of Israel was destroyed. The people of God spent 80 years in exile. In the midst of this tragedy, we do not despair. We believe these truths of exile:

Are we in an exile as modern Christians in 2021? There is temptation to complain about the decline of the church or a world that is hostile to our faith.  Daniel pushes us to ask a different question: “How do we thrive in the midst of exile?”  The people of God were still called to serve, live, and lead in exile. If Daniel could lead his people in such a crisis, surely we can lead today. 

Destruction came. The land of Israel was destroyed. The people of God spent 80 years in exile. In the midst of this tragedy, we do not despair. We believe these truths of exile:

Are we in an exile as modern Christians in 2021? There is temptation to complain about the decline of the church or a world that is hostile to our faith.  Daniel pushes us to ask a different question: “How do we thrive in the midst of exile?”  The people of God were still called to serve, live, and lead in exile. If Daniel could lead his people in such a crisis, surely we can lead today. 

God did not want us to have kings but why? Because people entrusted with unchecked power will inevitably lead to sin and brokenness. Even Saul, who was anointed by God, failed.  David, the man after God’s own heart, failed with murder and sexual conquest.  Solomon’s children led to the destruction of the kingship and the splitting of the kingdom of Israel.  God did not want a king, but the Israelites insisted and destruction followed. 

The story of scripture not only shows us what is possible with God, but also what is possible if we rely on ourselves alone: broken cycle after broken cycle.  Two phrases stand out after the bold stories of Saul, David, and Solomon:

Power corrupts.  None of us are immune.  The instruction of scripture is clear: create accountability that stretches beyond human capacity and invites the presence of God.

God did not want us to have kings but why? Because people entrusted with unchecked power will inevitably lead to sin and brokenness. Even Saul, who was anointed by God, failed.  David, the man after God’s own heart, failed with murder and sexual conquest.  Solomon’s children led to the destruction of the kingship and the splitting of the kingdom of Israel.  God did not want a king, but the Israelites insisted and destruction followed. 

The story of scripture not only shows us what is possible with God, but also what is possible if we rely on ourselves alone: broken cycle after broken cycle.  Two phrases stand out after the bold stories of Saul, David, and Solomon:

Power corrupts.  None of us are immune.  The instruction of scripture is clear: create accountability that stretches beyond human capacity and invites the presence of God.

God did not want us to have kings but why? Because people entrusted with unchecked power will inevitably lead to sin and brokenness. Even Saul, who was anointed by God, failed.  David, the man after God’s own heart, failed with murder and sexual conquest.  Solomon’s children led to the destruction of the kingship and the splitting of the kingdom of Israel.  God did not want a king, but the Israelites insisted and destruction followed. 

The story of scripture not only shows us what is possible with God, but also what is possible if we rely on ourselves alone: broken cycle after broken cycle.  Two phrases stand out after the bold stories of Saul, David, and Solomon:

Power corrupts.  None of us are immune.  The instruction of scripture is clear: create accountability that stretches beyond human capacity and invites the presence of God.

The law is a gift.  It is not a burden, but a gift! 

Consider the rules that we place on children: they are an absolute gift to them!  Kids don’t always see it that way, but rules are generally designed to keep kids safe, happy, and healthy. For example, most parents teach their children to stay away from the stove, no matter how much fun it might be to play with. Children might not like it, but this rule helps keep them safe.

The Israelites were given a lot of rules.  And likewise, they are a gift.  The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Torah in Hebrew, which translates to “Law” in English.  This worship series invites us to reframe everything that we have thought about the Law. it was designed and intended as a gift. 

Too often, we see rules as constraining instead of freeing, but we all need rules in order to live a good life.  Our best life is not the one without constraints, but where we live with the proper constraints.  The same thing is true for families, businesses, friendships, and more. We live by unspoken laws, but laws nonetheless. As followers of Christ, leading people requires us first to be led by the law of God.

The law is a gift.  It is not a burden, but a gift! 

Consider the rules that we place on children: they are an absolute gift to them!  Kids don’t always see it that way, but rules are generally designed to keep kids safe, happy, and healthy. For example, most parents teach their children to stay away from the stove, no matter how much fun it might be to play with. Children might not like it, but this rule helps keep them safe.

The Israelites were given a lot of rules.  And likewise, they are a gift.  The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Torah in Hebrew, which translates to “Law” in English.  This worship series invites us to reframe everything that we have thought about the Law. it was designed and intended as a gift. 

Too often, we see rules as constraining instead of freeing, but we all need rules in order to live a good life.  Our best life is not the one without constraints, but where we live with the proper constraints.  The same thing is true for families, businesses, friendships, and more. We live by unspoken laws, but laws nonetheless. As followers of Christ, leading people requires us first to be led by the law of God.

The law is a gift.  It is not a burden, but a gift! 

Consider the rules that we place on children: they are an absolute gift to them!  Kids don’t always see it that way, but rules are generally designed to keep kids safe, happy, and healthy. For example, most parents teach their children to stay away from the stove, no matter how much fun it might be to play with. Children might not like it, but this rule helps keep them safe.

The Israelites were given a lot of rules.  And likewise, they are a gift.  The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Torah in Hebrew, which translates to “Law” in English.  This worship series invites us to reframe everything that we have thought about the Law. it was designed and intended as a gift. 

Too often, we see rules as constraining instead of freeing, but we all need rules in order to live a good life.  Our best life is not the one without constraints, but where we live with the proper constraints.  The same thing is true for families, businesses, friendships, and more. We live by unspoken laws, but laws nonetheless. As followers of Christ, leading people requires us first to be led by the law of God.

After leading his people out of Egypt, God takes them to Mt. Sinai, where God and the Israelites enter into a covenant. God tells them how to align their society and their lives with God’s moral will (the Law) and also tells them how to build a suitable dwelling place for God to be near his people. Sadly, even in the midst of this covenant-making, the people rebel against God, making a golden idol and worshipping it. You might think God would abandon this project, but no, that would not be God, who is relentless and undeterred in his love. God reveals himself to be merciful and gracious, boundless in steadfast love. So God occupies the tabernacle constructed by the people and they press on to the Promised Land.