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October 6, 2013

WELCOME!
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE

We are a group of believers who simply try to follow the Bible as a guide for all we do. Everything done in our worship service is something for which we have a Bible basis. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you wish. We will sing hymns together and we will observe the Lord's Supper or Communion together. We will also have an opportunity to give to the work of God in this area. This collection is for the members here, and if you are visiting you should not feel and pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children will go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand. The adults will stay in the auditorium for a lesson at an adult level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can help you with, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.

FAMILY NEWS

POTLUCK TODAY: This is the first Sunday of the month, and we have a tradition we enjoy — to eat together in a potluck. Many of us have brought extra food, and even if you have not brought anything to eat, we hope you will honor us with your presence and allow us to share the extra we have. Please stay and enjoy lunch with us.

KID'S DAY AT GIBSONS: Another tradition we have had for a long time is that in October, Patty and Bill Gibson have a “fun day” at their campground for the young people. This involves a hayride, games, food, and just all around good fun in a Christian, wholesome environment. Bring your kids, grandkids, neighbor kids and come and join us on October 12 — next Saturday starting at 1:00. If you want to bring something in the food line to help Patty, please see her.

NEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT CLASS: Today's sermon is the beginning of a series of classes on Wednesday night on the life of Moses. We will study the man, his life, his relationship to God, and how his life has affected us today. Come join us at 7:15 Wednesday night for this study.

TODAY'S LESSON

LESSONS FROM THE PLAGUES

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John Clayton

INTRODUCTION — Exodus 7 – 12
A. Egypt had gods for everything that touched their lives.
1. Controlled by magicians, soothsayers (mystics)
2. “God of the gaps” mentality
B. At the time of Moses, major gods and goddesses were:
1. Osiris — god of the realm of the dead;
2. Nu — god of the river;
3. Hapi — god of inundation — what overwhelms man;
4. Shu — god of the air and life in the air;
5. Heqit — goddess of fruitfulness;
6. Geb — god of the earth and all that is in it;
7. Toth — god of learning;
8. Ptah — god of health;
9. Nut — sky goddess of weather; and
10. Re or Ra or Atum — god of the Sun and darkness.
I. PLAGUE 1 — Rivers to blood — Exodus 7:14 – 25
A. Naturalist explanation — high water, flagellates, bacteria
B. Lesson for Pharaoh —  Egyptian gods cannot stop it.
II. PLAGUE 2 — Frogs — Exodus 8:1
A. Naturalist explanation — dead fish drive frogs out
1. Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) kills frogs
B. Lesson for Pharaoh — Hapi cannot stop abundance of frogs.
III. PLAGUE 3 — Lice or mosquitoes — Exodus 8:16 – 19
A. Naturalist explanation — perfect breeding conditions
B. Lesson for Pharaoh  — Shu cannot stop insects of the air.
IV. PLAGUE 4 — Biting flies — Exodus 8:20 – 32
A. Naturalist explanation — Stomoxys calcitrans breeds
B. Lesson for Pharaoh — Heqit and Ptah helpless.
V. PLAGUE 5 — Cattle die —  Exodus 9:1-7
A. Naturalist explanation — Murrain carried by frogs
1. Israelite cattle in stalls — unaffected
B. Lesson for Pharaoh — Geb is helpless.
VI. PLAGUE 6 — Boils — Exodus 9:8 – 12
A. Naturalist explanation — Skin anthrax from plague 4
B. Lesson for Pharaoh —  Ptah cannot stop it.
VII. PLAGUE 7 — Hail — Exodus 9:13 – 35
A. Naturalist explanation — weather freak
B. Lesson for Pharaoh — Nut cannot stop it.
VIII. PLAGUE 8 — Locusts — Exodus 10:1 – 20
A. Naturalist explanation — heavy rains move swarms
B. Lesson for Pharaoh  — Thoth has no answer.
IX. PLAGUE 9 — Darkness — Exodus 10:21 – 29
A. Naturalist explanation — "khamsin wind" — unusual
B. Lesson for Pharaoh — Shu and Ra are helpless.
X. PLAGUE 10 — Death of all first born — Exodus 11:1 – 12:26
A. Naturalist explanation — ?????
1. Exodus 11:5 — included animals
2. Excluded obedient Israelites
B. Lesson for Pharaoh — only "Elohim" has an answer.
1. Yahweh gives the only promise you can trust.
2. God controls insects and small animals.
3. Only God can heal and bring health.
4. God controls natural elements — blood, hail, darkness.
5. Osiris is overwhelmed — God controls death.
XI. TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY APPLICATIONS
A. We too have multiple “gods.”
1. Scientology to Mormons to New Age to Buddhism
2. Controlled by “soothsayers” — paranormal users.
B. We too use “god of the gaps” thinking.
1. We invent a “god” to explain our ignorance.
C. Only God has answers to all issues in life.
1. Animals role, health, natural elements, death
D. God works in natural ways to allow physical progress.
1. The design of the body allows medicine — Psalm 139:14.
2. Cancer to test tube babies — use God's design
3. Understanding allows finding and synthesizing.
E. Like Pharaoh, we need to understand God's actions.
1. What life is, how it begins are things God controls.
2. Love — especially agape type of love
3. Creativity in art and music
4. Purpose in life
5. Death
XII. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CAUSE YOU TO SUBMIT TO GOD?
A. Do you have to have all of your “gods” destroyed?
B. Can you be given a new identity, purpose, role, attitude? Romans 6:2 – 4