July 2: Moses (Exodus 3:1-12)

To begin the session:

This week’s lesson on the call of Moses at the burning bush continues this quarter’s theme of “God’s Urgent Call.” In this light, ask your group members to share their answer to at least one of the following ice-breaker questions.

1. How many times do you think you’ve seen the 1956 movie classic, The Ten Commandments? What memories do you have of seeing it as a child or young person?
2. When do you remember being called into the principal’s office or your boss’s office?
3. What volunteer work or ministry have you done? How were you recruited? How willingly did you volunteer?

To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:

Have your group read Exodus 3:1-12 and discuss the following questions.

1. Why do you suppose the Lord chose to appear to Moses from a burning bush that did not burn up?
2. What effect did this have on Moses?
3. How effect did Israel’s circumstances have on God?
4. How does this remind you of the cycles that we learned about in the book of Judges?

In the first lesson in this quarter, the Standard Lesson Commentary notes that the era of the judges—which began after Moses and then Joshua led Israel into the promised land—is focused on Israel’s recurring four-stage cycles. These cycles have been summarized as sin, sorrow (or servitude), supplication, and salvation.

5. What did God call Moses to do? Based on your knowledge of Moses’ past, how do you imagine you would have felt about that call if you were him?
6. Do you think Moses was more unsure of himself or of the Lord?
7. What assurances did God give Moses?
8. Reflecting on your own life, how has God gotten your attention?
9. Can you remember an occasion when you felt like you were “standing on holy ground”? What effect has that event had on your relationship with God?