1.What the Law Demands (19:1-8)

2.What the Law Can’t Deliver (19:9-25)

3.Take Help from Others (18:24-27)

1.What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?

2.As a child, what “family rule” were you eager to break? Why? How did your parents try to convince you to keep this rule?

3.Read verses 4-6. Why is the order of events in verses 4 (salvation), 5 (law), and 6 (blessing) so critical for us to understand? What promises does God make to his people in this passage (see also Genesis 12:1-3)? Why are these verses still relevant for believers today (see 1 Peter 2:4-12)?

4.How do the Israelites respond to God’s covenant invitation (v. 8)? Why is this response ironic in light of Israel’s subsequent history? What must the Israelites do to prepare themselves to encounter God (vv. 10, 14-15)? Are they prepared when God draws near to reveal his law (v. 16; see also 20:18-19)?

5.If God knew that Israel was not going to be able to keep his law, why did he give it to them in the first place (see Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7-8)? How does Jesus change the fundamental way we approach God (compare Exodus 19 with Hebrews 12:18-24). How does Jesus give us the ability and the desire to obey God (see Romans 8:3-4; Philippians 2:12-13)?

6.Jeff gave a number of questions for us to ask ourselves, to determine if we’re trying to live by the law (rather than by faith in Christ). Which of these stood out to you? Why?

7.What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this passage?