Through Thick & Thin - Part 3 [Notes]

Relationships are so important, and yet they can be so difficult. The pandemic, social media and a divided country have not helped. How do we develop new relationships? How do we strengthen the ones we have? How do we repair the ones that seem broken? Why does it even matter?  

Join us for our series titled, Through Thick & Thin. We will explore ways to develop the kinds of friendships that will enrich our lives.

Today's Takeaway // Stick with others through thick and thin.

Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor, for he trusts you and lives near you.
– Proverbs 3:29 (HCSB)

Stick with others through thick and thin.

Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
– Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me. Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.” These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.
– Exodus 19:4-6 (HCSB)

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...
– Exodus 20:1-5a (HCSB)

He then took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. They responded, “We will do and obey everything that theLord has commanded.”
– Exodus 24:7 (HCSB)

When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!” Then Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.”So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, this is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; then he made an announcement: “There will be a festival to the Lord tomorrow.” Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to play.
– Exodus 32:1-6 (HCSB)

Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
– Exodus 32:10 (HCSB)

You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...
– Exodus 20:5a (HCSB)

So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves. Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written.”
– Exodus 32:31-32 (HCSB)

Then Moses said, “Please, let me see Your glory.”
– Exodus 33:18 (HCSB)

The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh. Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
– Exodus 34:5-7 (HCSB)

Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.
– Exodus 34:6-7a (HCSB)

But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from sending disaster. And now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
– Jonah 4:1-3 (HCSB)

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
– 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a (HCSB)

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
– Ephesians 5:1-2 (HCSB)

Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.
– 1 Peter 4:8 (HCSB)

Stick with others through thick and thin.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
– Proverbs 17:17 (HCSB)

1. Would you agree that people tend to give up on people more easily these days than they used to? Explain your answer.
2. Why do you think people are not more loyal or faithful to others?
3. Read Exodus34:5-7. Then read Jonah 4:1-2, Nehemiah 9:29-31, and Joel 2:12-13. These verses represent different periods of time in Israel’s history. Why do you think people focused on the description of God that was given to Moses in Exodus 34:5-7? In what ways might this view of God help us? How should it impact our relationships with others?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. How is it possible to love like this? Do you think verse 7 means we should never give up on someone? Explain your answer.
5. How might you apply today’s study to your life?

Take You at Your Word // Egypt // How Great is Your Love // I'll Be There

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