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How did people in the Bible exist without texting? This session focuses on how God uses His own writing to communicate directly to His people.
First activity: Pass out blank index cards and envelopes for the Secret Prayer Circle (which will occur at the end of the session). People may consider and write prayer needs for themselves on the cards. This is between themselves and God, no one else will see these. Participants can think about this and make notes on the card during the study.
The Ten Commandments - the first set (Exodus 20: 1-17, 24:12-end)
- God speaks the commandments in 20:1-17. Moses writes them down in 24:4. In 24:12, is it clear whether the writing on tablets is that of God or Moses? Further instructions for future messages are arranged in 25:22
- Read Moses' descent with the tablets in 32: 15-16. Does this clarify the writing?
- Given that the tablets were stone, that the writing was on both sides, and yet Moses was able to carry them - how big could they have been? And how big could the writing have been?
- Read the fate of these tablets in 32: 19-26
The Ten Commandments - the second set (Exodus 34: 1-9)
- The tablet preparation is described in 34: 1-4. What is different? Why?
- The writing occurs in 34: 27-28. What is different? Who is doing the writing? Compare 34:1 and 34:28
- The tablets are placed in the Ark of the Covenant in 40:20.
The Handwriting on the Wall (Daniel 5)
- In 5:5, the hand is described as a "human hand". Is this literally true, or was it God's hand having the appearance of a human hand?In 5:24, it is stated God sent the hand. Is it God's hand?
- In 5:17, Daniel asserts he can read the writing, even though he has not seen it yet. How could he be so confident of this?
- If God wanted to write a message to King Belshazzar, why would he write it in a language the king could not read?
The Writing on the Ground (John 8: 1-11)
- Jesus writes on the ground - but it is not recorded what he was writing. What could Jesus have written? How did it influence the accusers so they just left without enforcing punishment of the woman?
Text Messaging today
- The Western Wall - Jews practice messaging by writing prayer requests on slips of paper and inserting them into the Western Wall of Jerusalem. This is described in Wikipedia. Some organizations accept online submissions - see Aish.com
- The Secret Prayer Circle - this is an exercise in text messaging to God. Participants seal their envelopes, and write their first name on the outside. Each passes their envelope to the person on their right. Each person holds the envelope and prays for the person named and the needs inside (of course, they cannot see the needs). After an interval, again pass to the person on the right. Repeat until each person has their own back again. The point of this exercise is that by the end, each person will have been prayed for individually by every other person present. If practical, envelopes may be taken outside and burned following the session.
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Revised Jan 26 2016 by Rick Mills rickmills9@gmail.com •
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