Enter Into Abundance

In one paragraph

Brian walked the Tribe fam through the first Passover in Exodus 12, showing how that ancient family tradition of God points directly to Jesus and to the abundant life he offers. The conversation wound through the symbolism of the lamb, the yeast, the hyssop branch, and the blood on the doorframe, landing at the communion table as the ongoing way Christians step across that same threshold today....

Read together

1. Exodus 12:1-23 read aloud in full as the main passage on the first Passover
2. Luke 13 quoted by a congregation member to show yeast as something that permeates the whole dough, likened to the kingdom of God
3. Matthew 16 quoted by a congregation member as Jesus warning his disciples to beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
4. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 quoted by Nina connecting yeast to sin and identifying Christ as the Passover lamb
5. Psalm 51:7 quoted to show hyssop connected to purification, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow
6. Psalm 139 referenced by Brian as Amanda's favorite verse, search my heart O God and point out anything offensive
7. John 10 quoted at the close to show Jesus as the door through whom people enter and have life abundantly

Talk about it

1. Brian talked about God's seven yearly family traditions and said this one is called Passover. What does it mean to you to think of these feasts as family traditions rather than just Jewish religious observances?
2. The congregation spent a good chunk of time on yeast as a picture of sin, and someone brought up the mountain bike illustration about hitting one puddle and then just aiming for all of them. Where have you seen that pattern play out in your own life?
3. Brian described the hyssop branch as connected to consecration throughout the Bible, and said that when it was offered to Jesus on the cross he rejected it because it was a human shortcut to holiness. What shortcuts to right relationship with God do people tend to reach for today?
4. The threshold of the door was described as the family altar in that culture, where blood was placed to mark entering into covenant. How does that picture change the way you think about what it means to step across into relationship with God?
5. Brian closed by saying that Jews celebrate Passover once a year but Christians get to rehearse the same reality every time they take communion. How intentional are you about what is actually happening in your heart when you participate in communion?