Text Study for Sunday, October 5, 2025.

Series Theme: First Things

Reading: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15

CONNECTING QUESTIONS

What is your first name? What does it mean? Have you been known by any other names?

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Loving God, as I see Your great wisdom reflected in Your wonderful creation, I want to praise You with my whole being. Thank you for the creative Word of God. Who not only spoke the world into being from nothing but died for me so that I could have life – everlasting life and life more abundantly. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

CONTEXT

Let us focus on some of the firsts from Genesis and Exodus, in all these stories God does something new! God takes the time to show the people more than they expected. Our series, First Things, will question what this means for us as we prepare to do something new here at Easter. What is God doing in our familiar things? September is a time when Easter returns to certain elements of programming, let’s look at those things in a new light. A light where God is up to something new with Easter, our community, and each of us!

From Dr Terry Fretheim at EntertheBible.org:

Moses is to tell the Israelites that “I AM” has sent him to deliver them from slavery in Egypt (3:13-15). The longer version, “I AM WHO I AM” (3:14), is an attempt to formulate an etymology for the divine name YHWH. Both here and in 6:2-8, the divine name is connected to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and, later, to the act of bringing Israel out of Egypt (20:2).

LOOK AT THE BOOK

How is it with your spirit this week?
Our series is named “First Things.” What is a “first thing” in your life? Or, what is a “first thing” in your daily life?
What was one take-away from listening to the Carry On Cast podcast that connects with this Grow Guide?
Open to Exodus 3. Whom do we meet? How is he described?
Moses is known by his relationships with family and friends. What is a relationship that has added meaning to your life?
Whom does Moses meet in verse two?
In verse three, what does Moses do?
God is often trying to get our attention. Tell about a time you felt like God was trying to get your attention.
In verse four, who does the calling out? Why might God do that and not wait for creation to call out to God?
In verse six, how does God define God’s self (I am the God of...)? Relationships matter!
What does verse seven say about God’s character?
Verse 14 is the first time God shares one of God’s names. What do you make of it?
Is there a name or image of God that gives you comfort? What is it?
God hears the cries of people in need. How can the church—you and me—respond to that cry?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?

TAKING IT HOME

How are people crying out in need in our community? Name an Easter partner who is addressing this need.

sending prayer

God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Grow Guide | Oct 5, 2025