EXODUS 33:18-34:9

The story resumes and the mediator's prayer requests keep on coming. Having received God’s assurance he would go with the people, Moses asks for one more thing. And it’s the greatest thing he - or anyone else for that matter - could ever ask for. He says, "Please show me your glory." The one who spoke with God "as a man speaks to his friend," prays, "Lord, disclose even more of yourself to me!" The one who pled with God to maintain his presence among the people asks to experience that presence in a way he never has before. God says, "Yes," his glory passes by, and Moses catches a glimpse  while sheltered in the rock and covered from the full sight. But, a day would come when that glory would shine forth most fully in the face of Jesus Christ. A day that has dawned for us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 33:1-17

The story of Exodus took a tragic turn in chapter 32. Israel should've built God a house but they bowed down before a golden calf instead. 3,000 fell by the sword, the rest were visited by a plague, and the chapter concluded with an unresolved tension. No atonement has yet to be made. No forgiveness has been given. Israel’s relationship with God has yet to be repaired. So, in Ex 33, Moses prays. He asks God to be gracious them, go to the Promised Land with them, and stay with this stiff-necked and rebellious people. And amazingly, God says "yes." Their story goes on. And the way it all works out has everything to do with our stories too. Teaching us how to pray. Pointing us to the Savior who prays for us.

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EXODUS 32:1-35

It’s hard to hear this story and not say to ourselves, “How did things go so wrong so fast?” It’s been just over a month since Israel’s marriage to God and she’s already broken her vows! Making an idol, bowing to an image, and trifling with the worship of his holy name. Which leaves us thinking, “How could they do that?” “How could they do the exact opposite of what God had so explicitly commanded them not to do?” They really thought it would be a good ideal to worship the golden calf. And if this seems ridiculous it should. That’s exactly the point. Sin doesn’t make sense. The high-handed crime of idolatry should be unthinkable. But we live in a world where the unthinkable happens every day. Where we find ourselves so prone to reach for something that isn’t God to relieve our fears, bear our hopes, and satisfy our souls in all sorts of ways. Exodus 32 comes to expose what’s happening in our hearts and point to the only One worth reaching for.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 25-31

We've heard the phrase, "There's no place like home." And whatever our experience of "home" has been like, we get what it means. There's nothing like being where you're supposed to be. There's no place like home, but, in this life, there's really no such place as "home." On this side of man's fall into sin, we never really come all the way home. And, even when we're at home, we realize there's something more we're looking for. Another world. Another place. A life in which everything really is the way it's meant to be. In the story of the Bible, the construction of the tabernacle is a step in the direction of this capital "H" Home.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 24:1-18

In Exodus 24 the action of the story resumes. God has been speaking and revealing who he is and what life with him will be like for the past 4 chapters. But now it’s time for Israel to respond. To seal the deal on their special relationship with God. To make it official. This is done through a solemn ceremony that most resembles a wedding. It’s got an altar, vows, and a special symbol which represents the union. And it shows us that the kind of relationship God wants with us calls for the kind of devotion and commitment we find in marriage. A formal, serious, and all-in relationship. And while it’s true that we can be afraid of commitment, God is not. Because the same God who calls for all of us gives us all of him. Through the story of Exodus and gospel of Jesus, we’re invited us to draw near to the God who will never be done with us. To be happily wedded to the Savior who will never withdraw his love.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 23:20-33

The Book of the Covenant ends with a promise. A promise that God would give his people a place to live out their special relationship with him. To bring them into the land he'd long ago promised Abraham. A land that would be a new sort of Eden. A land to plant this fledgling nation. A land out of which he'd one day bring a blessing that would extend to all nations. But in order for them to enter in, they'd have to be ready for a fight. Yet, just as we saw in the victory over Egypt, the battle belongs to the Lord. Even more, this battle back then has everything to do with our fight of faith here and now. Because we, like Israel, are also on our way to a promised land.

*Due to technical issues, the audio might be hard to hear. We’ve got the sermon manuscript to help you follow along.

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MATTHEW 28:16-20

On Sunday, Pastoral Intern Robert Lopez preached the gospel to us one more time before heading off to Pastors College. His parting words were the same the Lord Jesus left with his disciples in Mt 28:16-20. And what the Risen Christ left to them was - and remains - the most extraordinary mission that's ever been given! As he prepared to ascend to heaven, he gave them the task of advancing his Kingdom all across the earth. Making disciples of all people everywhere. Welcoming the world into the goodness of his saving reign and then teaching them how to walk in his righteous ways. And, what’s so amazing about it all, is that he chose the people he did to do it. People like the denying and doubting disciples back then. Ordinary, unimpressive, and struggling people like us now. Yet, far from this overwhelming or discouraging us, it actually brings us hope. Because the success of the Great Commission doesn’t ultimately depend on us. It depends on the Savior who saved us, sent us, and promised always to be with us. He will give us all we need. He will get the job done.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

MALACHI’S TESTIMONY

From July 10th - 13th, 12 students and 4 leaders from CGSA joined our sister churches in the West for the 2026 Youth Camp! They gathered together in the mountains of AZ for a time of worship, teaching, games, and lip-sync battles, all to the glory of God!

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

God met them in big ways! This past Sunday, we heard about Malachi’s experience at camp. Read his testimony below and be encouraged that God is at work among the next generation.

Before I went to camp I was worried about my future, super self focused, and trying to navigate relationships (mainly a relationship) from this past year. And I kept praying to God to give me peace, in the midst of all the madness in my head, but i still was worrying and facing the battle of not letting go. So I definitely had a vulnerable heart going into camp. And spending the time at camp really helped take my eyes off of the stresses and worries by just looking at God’s creation and fellowshipping.

One of my favorite moments from camp was the worship. God was showing me through worship that he loves me and that I don’t need to worry about anything. And I think a turning point for me was a sermon that was spoken on Hebrews 12. Which was talking about running the race which God has set for you. And the pastor pointed out that, "God has set a race for you, and you keep resisting because you’re not willing to let go of the past." And for me that was the relationships or even the worries about where I’m gonna end up 10 years from now. And so one note I wrote down was, “Stop clinging to what is keeping you from running to Jesus.” On my notes I wrote a list of things, people, and ideas that are hindering me from following God’s path for me and prayed for him to give me the strength to let these things go.

Coming back from camp, God ultimately showed me I don’t need to worry about anything, all I need to do is pursue Jesus in his word and find joy being in his presence.

Praise the Lord!

EXODUS 20:22-23:19

What do we do with all the rules we find in Exodus 20:22-23:19? A section known as the Book of the Covenant filled with words about altars, bondservants, 3,500 year old criminal codes, unruly oxen, our neighbor’s farm animals, and ancient festivals. Do we hang onto the 10 Commandments and skip over what comes next? Do we assume it doesn’t apply to us and move onto the stuff that seems less removed by time, culture, or differing places in the redemptive storyline? What do we when we come to weird, obscure, or challenging parts of our Bibles (especially the Old Testament laws)? We believe that even if there’s a sense in which these words aren’t directly spoken to us, they are absolutely spoken for us. You should receive all God’s words as words for you.

On Sunday, we took up 3 different laws in the Book of the Covenant and did just that. Considering rules regarding slavery, equity, and sexual intimacy and asking the following questions: 1) What does this law say to do? In that time back then. 2) What does this law say about God? For all time. 3) What does this law say for us? In our time, context, and place in the story on the other side of the cross and enthronement of Jesus Christ.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

NO COVETING

God could have simply said, "No stealing," but he didn't stop there. Not only should we not take what others have, we shouldn't want it either. We shouldn't sinfully desire something that belongs to someone else. But instead, God must reign over our desires. So that we learn to be content with whatever he has given us. And, more than anything else, so that we never take for granted that we have the Lord Jesus Christ. The One who gave himself to satisfy the demands of God's Law and satisfy the deepest desires of our souls. He alone can give a people always wanting more something that is finally enough.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE