Get the Picture?
A study guide · November 2, 2025
In one paragraph
Connor, one of the Tribe staff members, filled in for Brian Hunter and continued the series on the argued location of Mount Sinai in Arabia. Working through Exodus 32, he focused on the golden calf story and what it reveals about how easily people construct a wrong or incomplete picture of God. The practical half of the message pressed the congregation toward habits that keep that picture...
Read together
Talk about it
- Moses interceded for the Israelites when God was ready to destroy them. Connor said this is a powerful example of how prayer can actually change God's mind. Have you ever prayed for someone else in a situation that felt hopeless, and what happened?
- Connor pointed out that Aaron called the festival to the golden calf a festival to Yahweh, the Lord, not to a foreign god. He said worshiping an incorrect image of the true God is still idolatry. Where do you think people today, or you personally, are most likely to end up worshiping a distorted version of God rather than a completely false one?
- Timothy Keller was quoted in the sermon: if your God never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself. What is a teaching or passage in scripture that has genuinely made your flesh uncomfortable, and how did you work through it?
- Connor described three ways to make sure your picture of God is correct: digging into what the word actually says, surrounding yourself with godly counsel, and intentionally seeking out perspectives that challenge you. Which of those three is hardest for you personally, and why?
- Someone in the room said we should leave room for the Holy Spirit to speak through scripture before going straight to commentaries or other people's opinions. How do you personally balance studying what others have said about a passage with leaving space to hear from God yourself?