Sermon Outline Mar 16, 2008 Morning Service

Topic: Making Moses Lead                                    

Text:  Exodus 3:10-14                                

Introduction

I.        How would you describe Moses’ relationship with God?

II.       But this isn’t where Moses started out, it’s where he ended up.

Text

I.        Think with me of Moses’ birth (Exodus 2).

A.       The king of the land wanted all boy babies of Israel to be killed.

B.       Moses’ childhood is told in 10 verses.

C.      Seemingly against all odds, Moses grew up with an understanding of who he was (Acts 7:20-23; Hebrews 11:23-27).

D.      What I want you to see here is that Moses had a great start.

1.       He had all the advantages of an Egyptian prince.

2.       He was loved by a mother who went to incredible lengths to be sure he knew his God.

3.       But after he killed the Egyptian he fled to Midian, married and settled into a life of shepherding.

4.       Moses seems to have taken on a humiliation that bordered on fearfulness and self-doubt.

II.       When God called Moses He had to build up his confidence before he would go back to Egypt.

A.       Let’s look in on God’s leadership development school as Moses takes his first class—Leadership Development 101.

1.       Moses’ call begins with an unusual sight.

2.       Having gained his attention God begins his education (Exodus 3:6).

B.       Here, Moses is afraid of God and afraid to see him.

1.       But God tells Moses that he has seen Israel’s affliction in slavery in Egypt and that He has come to deliver them.

2.       Moses heart must have jumped—“How wonderful!”

3.       Then God says, “I’m sending you to Egypt to do it.”

Conclusion 

I.        What a different man we see in Moses later.

A.       If Moses’ life had ended here what would be his defining characteristic?

1.       It certainly wouldn’t be faith.

2.       Fear might come to our minds.

B.       But God was not finished with Moses.

1.       Because God did not give up on Moses, Moses finally gave in to God.

2.       What an incredible difference there was in Moses’ life after he encountered God.

II.       God works for good: He always has and He always will.

A.       Moses learned to listen and lead as God led him.

B.       What about you?

1.       What would you say is your defining characteristic?

2.       What will it take to change you into the person God would have you be?