Sermons
Discipleship for Evangelism IV
Series: Direction ForwardLink to sermon video: Discipleship for Evangelism IV - L Siegle
Discipleship for Evangelism
“Preparation for the Second Exodus IV”
(Phil.1:12-18, 27)
Series: Discipleship for Evangelism
Thesis: The greatest sensation in life is knowing the value of looking ahead to what is next
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of this series is Discipleship for Evangelism
2. This is the introduction to the study: Preparation for the Second Exodus IV
3. Within the structure of business theory and practice there is PDCA when addressing a problem or situation in a
company.
a. Plan =è Do =è Check è Act/Adjust è
b. The steps in this process often requires a cycle of repetition in order to achieve the desired outcomes and to
resolve whatever the ‘issue’ (problem, circumstance, or situation) may be at the root cause.
4. The car manufacturer Toyota has “eight steps” in their TBP:
- Clarify the problem
- Breakdown the problem
- Set a target
- Analyze the root cause
- Develop countermeasures
- See countermeasures through (Watch, Observe)
- Evaluate both results and process
- Standardize successful processes
5. Workplace Safety Protocols and Procedures—Workplace safety protocols, often called safety procedures, are step-by-step safety plans guiding employees through the safe performance of a given workplace procedure. As such, the protocol refers to both the process itself and the internal document put together by an organization.
All safety protocols will include a list of hazards associated with a given work task. The EHS team will then use a risk assessment matrix to assign a risk factor to each hazard. From there, the EHS team will break the process into steps to ensure each step is handled in a way that avoids or mitigates hazards associated with a given step.
THE CALL OF MOSES TO LEAD ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPTIAN BONDAGE
1. Moses was being ‘called’ of God to lead an entire nation of people out where they had been for hundreds of years and
into the unknown with nothing more than a promise (Exod. 3:1-9).
a. The problem was identified as ‘bondage’ and ‘oppression’ pain and suffering at the hands of their taskmasters.
b. God Himself is seen as the ultimate solution to this situation because He knows (Exod. 3:7).
2. God said He had come down to bring His people up (Exod. 3:8).
3. The promise of God in “deliverance” is to bring them through (the present) circumstances, with His presence
(guidance and direction) (the future), into their destination (place of blessing, comfort, and refreshment).
a. Whatever OUR present situation or circumstance happens to be in life, we can know with absolute certainty that
God is there and stands ready to “deliver” us into the place of victory.
1) Does God care about those who suffered through the terrible weather conditions and aftermath of the
hurricanes that came through North Carolina and other places?
2) The horrible fires that have consumed thousands of acres of vegetation, trees, homes, neighborhood, the
loss of life (27 people) and the devastation continues. Does God care?
b. Having been a ‘first responder’ myself, while people evacuate, we were the ones running into the disasters to
rescue as many as possible.
4. FEMA could not solve every problem (no government agency can), and placing blame on human failure does nothing
to resolve the situations.
5. All of the steps I just listed in terms of business practices and procedures only goes do far.
a. There is no way to plan for every possible scenario, only in taking whatever steps are necessary to address each
situation as it arises.
THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF EGYPT AND THE IDENTITY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL
1. The people were going to what to know the identity of this “God” that had contacted Moses (Exod. 3:13-15)
a. I have a list of the names and powers of the “top 34 Egyptian gods” that the people would have been aware of
when Moses came to the people with the promise of “deliverance”
b. The covenant name of the God of the Bible (‘tetragrammaton’) occurs 6,828 times in the Bible, consisting of four
letters YHWH (the reader had to supply the vowels).
1) In our English Bibles the word “Lord” in small capital letters has been substituted because the exact
pronunciation has become lost over time.
2) Some translations say “Jehovah” (a more German pronunciation), while most Hebrew scholars prefer
“Yahweh” as closer to the original.
3) Most Jewish Rabbi’s simply say, “Ha-Shem” instead which means “the name”
2. The people needed to be reminded of both their own identity and of the identity of the God who was going to
“deliver” and “bless” them.
a. It was none of the 34 Egyptians “gods” who would deliver them and in fact the God of Israel through the ten
plagues would demonstrate His nature over against the “gods” of Egypt.
b. Pharoah had to be introduced to the God of Israel (Exod. 5:1, 2, 9)
1) Sometimes things appear to get worse before they get better (Exod. 5:22, 23)
a) How do we react in our lives when a situation or circumstances seems worse even after we pray and
trust God to deal with it?
b) We have to look into the innermost parts of our being and have a sense of faith and confidence in the
God to whom we have surrendered every area of our lives.
2) God always remembers His covenant and the promises that pertain to His covenant (Exod. 6:1-8).
b) Sometimes it is the difficult situations and circumstances that becomes our ‘central focus’ and we are
faced with a ‘broken spirit’ (discouragement) (Exod. 6:9)
THE CALL OF GOD TO HIS PEOPLE IS TO “LEAN IN” AND MOVE FORWARD
1. Since about 2013 the expression “lean in” has become a popular way of expressing the essential need to have a sense
of direction in which we focus our attention and actions in life.
a. An intransitive verb: ‘to persevere in spite of risk or difficulty.
b. In sports: ‘to shift your body weight forward in the direction to gain ground’
c. In life ‘to make the determination having a sense of direction and focus that moves toward the intended goal or
purpose’
2. From the moment God ‘called’ Moses to lead His people, the lesson God wanted to teach His people was to “lean in”
and trust God every minute of every hour of every day in every situation and circumstance.
THE APOSTLE PAUL IN PRISON AND TRUSTING GOD (Phil. 1:12-18, 27).
1. Paul was in prison but could see God’s purpose in having him there.
2. Some preach Christ for the wrong reasons, but the gospel is proclaimed.
3. The people who heard the gospel were told to walk worthy.
CONCLUSION
1. In 2025 the message of God for the Cortland church is to “lean in” and look to God as the One who is with us, who
sustains us, who empowers us, who equips us to be who HE wants us to be and to do what HE wants us to do.
2. When we wake up in the morning, how many of us say to ourselves: “I cannot wait to see what adventure God has
for me today…”
a. With this attitude and openness of heart and mind, it is amazing what we can actually see as the reality of our
lives as God’s people.
b. Instead of just reacting throughout the day, we are now equipped to see past the problems, situations, and
circumstances and have as our focus the good things He has in store for us.
c. What a blessing each day becomes as we allow His Word, His nature, His glory, and His power to transform our
lives.
3. We need to pause and reflect at the end of each day about what God has accomplished in our lives, how He has been
with us each step of the way, and even in those areas we do not fully understand, we TRUST Him always.
