Frustratingly Beautiful Truth | Learning Guide

October 29th, 2023

Introduction:​

A friend recently sent me a list of questions regarding situations and crises that pastors and congregations frequently face. I honestly didn’t know where to start. Maybe a better question was what we don’t face. From catastrophic diagnosis’, to family implosions, to struggles with meaning and identity, people come to Church not only seeking practical help, but answers about meaning, asking why?

I’m not sure I always have a good answer. Every pastor, minister, counselor I know who is worth their salt will tell you there are some situations and experiences that defy easy answers, clear meaning or even any explanation at all.

This week Shannon leads us through part of a fascinating conversation between Moses and God up on Mt. Sinai. The answers we get aren’t easy, they may cause us to struggle even more, but it’s real.

Let’s dig in this week and see what we can find.

Grace and peace y’all,

John, Shannon and the Teaching Team

Big Idea:

God maintains agency to act even as God makes certain promises.

Take Away:

The idea that God maintains agency within covenant can cause us to struggle. We all want a God we can control, hold accountable, but often we are forced to deal with situations that challenge this. So what do we do then?

Text:

Exodus 33:19 (NET)

How does this fit with Belong, Become, Believe?

At Grace our practice of radical hospitality is based on the invitation to belong that God extends to us. But this is relational, not merely transactional and can be messy. Through this practice, mess and all, we become more and more aligned with who God is and who we are supposed to be. All this is informed by and informs what we confess to believe.

Resources

• A Long Obedience

What's Next?

More wrestling with God in Exodus.