Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” EXODUS 3:1-3 ESV
Turn from boredom to connect with God
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. PSALMS 73:25 ESV
Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being.” ACTS 17:24-28 ESV
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. PROVERBS 20:27 ESV
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” EXODUS 3:4 ESV
Turn from noise and listen to God
Do not quench the Spirit. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:19 ESV
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ISAIAH 30:21 ESV
And he said, “Here I am.” EXODUS 3:4 ESV
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. HEBREWS 4:16 ESV
Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” EXODUS 3:5 ESV
I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search… PSALMS 77:6 ESV
If it feels secret, bring it into the light
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! PSALMS 139:23-24 ESV
The only audience I need is one
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. EPHESIANS 2:4-7 NIV
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. EPHESIANS 2:19 NIV
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. EXODUS 3:6 ESV
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Find a quiet place and allow yourself to become reasonably calm and your thoughts clear. When distractions come, simply recognize them and release them. When you are ready, open to God’s leading and ask him to guide your time with him. Reflect on the sermon and our need to connect with God. Have a conversation with God, asking him some questions like, “How can connecting to God help me from being bored? What’s the noise of my life that keeps me from listening to God? When was a recent time when I listened to and was connected with God? How did he help me? What did I experience in that connection?” Continue in your time with God by talking with him about that experience and thank him for the way in which he responded to you. Finally, ask him to search your heart and reveal anything that is hindering your connection with him. What came to mind? Ask for his help in overcoming this hindrance. Pray and ask him to show you one action you can take this week that will help you connect with him each day. Make it a point to share this with someone you trust.
Discussion Questions
- What have you been learning about God or yourself lately in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
- Now that many of us are primarily at home again, to what have you been turning (good or bad) to combat boredom, frustration, etc.? To what extent has that become noise in your life?
- Read Psalms 73:25. As you think about your list of desires right now, where does time with God rank and why?
- Read Hebrews 4:16. What are some ways in which you can turn from the noise and boredom in your life in order to connect with and listen to God more regularly?
- Read Psalms 139:23-24. What secrets have you been keeping that you need to share with someone else? How can your group help you?
- Read Ephesians 2:19. As this season of isolation and social distancing continues, how can you begin to more meaningfully and regularly connect with God’s people?
