Small Group Guide

July 26

No More Excuses - Answering God's Call to Serve

Exodus 3:1 - 4:17

Discussion Questions

1. God called Moses while he was faithfully tending sheep (Exodus 3:1). What does this teach us about where and when God often calls people to serve?

  • Follow-up: Why do you think God often calls people who are already faithfully serving where they are?

2. The sermon's big idea is that "God is not looking for the most qualified people...He is looking for people who will trust Him enough to obey." Which part of that statement challenges you the most? Why?

  • Follow-up: How have you seen God use ordinary people in extraordinary ways?

3. Which of Moses' five excuses do you identify with the most?

  • “I'm not qualified."

  • "I don't know enough."

  • "People won't listen to me."

  • "I'm not gifted enough."

  • "Someone else would do a better job."

  • Follow-up: How did God answer that particular excuse?

4. Notice that God rarely answered Moses by boosting his self-confidence. Instead, He continually pointed Moses back to Himself ("I will be with thee," "I AM," "I made your mouth"). Why is that distinction so important?

  • Follow-up: How does our culture's emphasis on self-confidence differ from biblical confidence?

5. God graciously allowed Aaron to help Moses, but Aaron later became a source of significant problems (the golden calf and criticism of Moses). What lessons can we learn about insisting on our own way instead of trusting God's original plan?

6. What are some modern-day excuses Christians use for not serving in the local church?

  • Follow-up: How can a church family encourage people to move from excuses to obedience without making them feel pressured or guilty?

7. If God were asking you today, "What have I called you to do?" how would you answer? Is there a step of obedience you've been delaying because of fear, insecurity, or uncertainty? What would it look like to say, "Here am I, Lord," this week?

Bonus Challenge Question

Looking back over your Christian life, can you identify a time when you initially resisted God's leading but later obeyed? How did you discover that God's promise was greater than your excuse?

This final question often produces some of the richest testimonies and reinforces the sermon's central truth:
every excuse Moses made was met by a greater promise from God.