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Study Guide: Getting Egypt Out

Sunday November 22, 2009 | Greg Boyd

Focus Scripture:


Brief Summary:

Greg shared an image that he uses to represent how principalities and powers pollute the “air” we breathe by drawing on the impact of sins committed in the past. Norm shared his story of how he got out of living in poverty with the help of a friend who provided key opportunities.


Extended Summary:

Greg shared an image that he uses to represent how principalities and powers pollute the “air” we breathe by drawing on the impact of sins committed in the past. These powers were presented as a toxic cloud drawing power from sins committed against groups of people both in our history and presently. Whenever individuals or groups oppressed people, they were feeding this cloud and it grew
stronger and poisoned the air even more. This increases the tension between various groups of people.

When we talk about people escaping the cycle of poverty, it is important to understand that this is not simply about a person or family moving from having too few physical resources to having enough. It is also about breaking the cycles that keep us trapped in poverty. To illustrate this, Greg took us to Num. 11 to remember the story of the Israelites as they were freed from Egyptian captivity. At times, when things were difficult, the Israelites sincerely wanted to go back to captivity where they understood the rules of the game and knew how to make do. This may strike us as incredible, but we have to remember that these people had never known freedom from Egypt before. This tribe had been in captivity for 400 years! Generation after generation had known only the life of a slave in Egypt. So
even though God used Moses to get the people out of Egypt, there was still much work to be done to get the patterns of thinking they had learned out of them.

Norm shared his story of how he got out of living in poverty with the help of a friend/mentor/father figure named Doug who provided key opportunities as well as consistent challenges to Norm’s way of thinking which was shaped by his environment. Norm shared the challenges he faced as he strove to escape from poverty. He met resistance from many surprising places. Perhaps the strongest resistance was from his own father and those he considered his friends.


Reflection Questions:

  1. What stood out to you most from this message and the supporting texts?
  2. Read Numbers 11:4-6 and 11-15. What can we learn about the mindset of people oppressed for generations from this story? The Israelites got out of Egypt, but Egypt didn’t get out of them, give some examples of how Egypt still had a hold on them.
  3. Recall Norm’s story. How did Norm get out of poverty? What resistance faced him as he tried to do so?
  4. What are some of the things Doug offered Norm? What did his attention mean to Norm? How about the opportunities? What did Norm offer to Doug? What might he have gained from this relationship?
  5. As a group, commit to pray and discuss how God wants to use your group to dignify and empower those in poverty. It may help to review the service booklet available at WHC. There are three different levels of involvement. Perhaps your group is already doing some of these things. Great! Keep pressing in and moving toward the next level of involvement.

 

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