Thursday Thoughts for Parents | Why the Prelude?

December 6, 2018 by SGCL Staff

Thursday Thoughts, Parents, CJ Mahaney, Discussion Questions

This post is based on CJ Mahaney's sermon, Why the Prelude?, given on December 2, 2018.

On Sunday, Pastor CJ preached from Exodus 7:8-13. In this passage, Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh in order to appeal him to let God’s people go free. Even after he witnesses the awesome power of God in action, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.

Pharaoh is both a merciful warning and a comfort to us. Just like Pharaoh, we see God’s power on display every day. We see the natural world around us, God’s own creation held together by his sovereign will. As Christians we experience the provision and care of a good God time and again. Even so, we are tempted to respond with a hard heart; we are tempted to doubt his sovereignty or goodness, especially when we see pain, injustice, or evil in the world. In this way, Pharaoh’s story is also a comfort for us as it reveals how all things—evil included—are used by God for our good.

As a family, read Exodus 7:8-13

If we are not regularly rehearsing the Lord’s awesome provision for those who love him and are called according to his purpose, we will miss out on his great and abiding comfort. Read Exodus 7:8-13 and consider these questions:

What great comfort do we receive from the Gospel in light of this message?
In what way has God met you today or this week, and how does that fuel your faith in his continued care and provision?
What is one way you can begin to cultivate gratitude and trust toward God in your everyday life?

[Post by Mike Barker]

More in From your Pastors

March 28, 2023

Sermon Overview & Discussion Questions: "Our Prowling Adversary"

March 27, 2023

Sermon Quotes: "Three Unexpected Converts"

March 27, 2023

Sermon Quotes: "Our Prowling Adversary"

More by SGCL Staff

February 8, 2023

Michael Granger | Ethiopia Update

September 2, 2022

Important SGKids Details

July 20, 2022

Sermon Quotes: "A Real Mess to a Revived Mission"

July 14, 2022

Michael Granger | Ethiopia Update

January 5, 2022

Bible Reading Plans for 2022

December 6, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Come and Feast"

November 30, 2021

Sermon Quotes: Shepherding God's Flock

November 16, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "A Love That Surpasses Knowledge"

November 2, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "The Riotous Reality"

October 26, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Ponder His Wrath"

October 19, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "The Evils of the Beast and the Song of the Redeemed"

October 12, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Overcoming the Dragon"

September 28, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "The Terrifying Truth"

September 21, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "From Oz to Awe"

September 14, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "The Throne And The One Seated On It"

September 7, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Hot and Cold and...Not What You Think"

August 25, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "What Revelation Reveals"

August 17, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "A Noisy Celebration"

August 3, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Enabled and Empowered"

July 26, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Theology From A Thunderstorm"

July 20, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Deepened Convictions in the Storm"

July 13, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "A Stunning Contrast"

July 6, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Not To Us"

June 29, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Pass It On"

June 15, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "A Cool Breeze of Mercy"

June 8, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "An Unstoppable Gospel"

May 25, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "The Seed, The Savior, and You"

May 19, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Kind Invitations"

April 27, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Anything & Everything"

April 20, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Appreciation and Affection"

April 10, 2021

Building Fund Matching Gift

March 9, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "The Fierce Fruit of Self-Control"

March 3, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Flee and Fight"

February 23, 2021

Sermon Quotes: "Praying with Paul"

January 19, 2021

Josh Pannell | Ethiopia Update

January 12, 2021

Donate Through AmazonSmile

November 18, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "Saved From What?"

November 10, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "The Ground of Our Gratefulness"

November 2, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "A Psalm for the Perfect Storm"

October 28, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "Dear Thessalonians"

October 20, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "Partnership in the Gospel"

October 15, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "Marvel of Marvels"

September 28, 2020

A Prayer for Our City

September 22, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "The Depths of Sin and Salvation"

September 16, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "The Past Comes Alive"

September 3, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "With Unveiled Faces"

September 1, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "God's Autobiography"

September 1, 2020

Sermon Quotes: "Mercy from First to Last"

July 30, 2020

Faithfulness in a Fractured World | Sermons & Resources

June 16, 2020

Thoughts from Ezekiel | Jeff Purswell

June 13, 2020

Partnering with New Day Ministries

June 10, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | "A Glass Half Full: Learning the Secret of Contentment"

June 2, 2020

Thoughts from the Psalms | Jeff Purswell

May 26, 2020

Thoughts from the Psalms | Jeff Purswell

May 20, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Fear Not! | Panel Discussion

May 13, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Fear Not! | Session 4

May 12, 2020

Thoughts from the Psalms | Jeff Purswell

May 7, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Fear Not! | Session 3

April 30, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Fear Not! | Session 2

April 24, 2020

Day of Prayer for the Nations

April 22, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Fear Not! | Session 1

April 21, 2020

Thoughts from the Psalms | Jeff Purswell

April 16, 2020

Day of Prayer for Frontline Workers

April 15, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Commissioned Session 5

April 8, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Commissioned Session 4

April 6, 2020

Holy Week Resources

April 3, 2020

To Stream, or Not to Stream? | Jeff Purswell

April 2, 2020

Day of Prayer for Healthcare Professionals

April 1, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Commissioned Session 3

March 31, 2020

Praying Together | 3.31

March 31, 2020

Sermon Summary: "The Boys in the Boat"

March 30, 2020

Tears May Tarry for Now | Carolyn Mahaney

March 25, 2020

Virtual Sunday Class | Commissioned Session 2

March 24, 2020

Praying Together | 3.25

March 24, 2020

Sermon Summary: "A Prophet for a Prolonged Pandemic"

March 20, 2020

Dwell Bible App

March 20, 2020

Day of Prayer | COVID-19

March 19, 2020

Sermon Summary: "Peace in a Pandemic"

March 17, 2020

Praying Together | 3.17

March 15, 2020

Resources to Equip and Steady the Soul

March 14, 2020

Sunday Service Livestream

March 13, 2020

Coronavirus Update

March 10, 2020

Sermon Summary: "Simply Spectacular"

March 4, 2020

Sermon Summary: "Solemn and Sublime"

February 25, 2020

Sermon Summary: "Fueled by Promise"

February 20, 2020

Capital Campaign Video | Ben Kreps

January 15, 2020

A Night to Remember

January 9, 2020

Moms2Moms Testimony | Hannah Bond

December 10, 2019

Capital Campaign Testimony | Arnie and Dawn Baer

November 12, 2019

Sermon 5 | Serve the Lord with Gladness

November 12, 2019

Prepare Him Room Concert

November 8, 2019

Sermon 4 | Cheerful Generosity

November 8, 2019

Capital Campaign Video | SGC Youth

October 28, 2019

Capital Campaign Testimony | Kathy Spiro

October 22, 2019

Capital Campaign Video | From Generation to Generation

October 21, 2019

Sermon 3 | From Riches to Rags

October 15, 2019

Capital Campaign Video | Encouragement from Friends

October 15, 2019

Sermon 2 | The Miracle of Generosity

October 11, 2019

Capital Campaign Launch

October 11, 2019

Sermon 1 | A Heart for the Harvest

October 8, 2019

Capital Campaign Testimony: Michael Granger

May 28, 2019

Every Day's A Bad Day | Featured Article by Carolyn Mahaney

May 17, 2019

The Year My World Fell Apart | Featured Article by Bob Kauflin

May 7, 2019

SGC Monthly Newsletter | April 2019

April 17, 2019

Baptism | April 14, 2019

March 19, 2019

A Recent Statement to the Baptist Press

February 25, 2019

A Response to the SBC Executive Committee

February 22, 2019

New Testimony: Jamin Eben

February 16, 2019

A Response to Recent Media Reports

February 1, 2019

Thursday Thoughts for Parents | Amnesia & Deja Vu

January 30, 2019

Sermon Recap | Amnesia & Deja Vu

January 1, 2019

Read With Us | Bible in a Year

December 27, 2018

Sermon Recap | An Echo of Exodus

December 13, 2018