Stiff-Necked People

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “If you were hosting a party, who would you want to invite? What about these people makes you want to include them?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Exodus 32:1-14 and Matthew 22:1-14.

• Read Exodus 32:1-14 aloud in your group. What were the people of God looking for in this golden calf? Where do you find people today looking for guidance and comfort today?
• Moses intercedes on behalf of the Israelites, asking God not to destroy them. What does this tell us about Moses? [Bold with God, leader with responsibility for his people.] How does this inform us as leaders in churches/communities of faith?
• Exodus 32:14 has the astonishing sentence, “And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.” In this week’s Preaching Notes, we read, “You can say all you want about God really just testing Moses and seeing what Moses would do if God ‘pretended’ to be angry enough to destroy the people. But the text says, ‘God changed his mind.’” What does this tell us about the nature and character of God?
• In our Matthew passage this week, we hear that some wedding guests refuse the king’s invitation to the banquet. What does this parable tell us about God’s invitation to us today? How do we refuse God’s invitation as well?
• Matthew 22:9 tells us of the king's directive, “Go therefore into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” What does this tell us about God’s invitation today to others? How do we welcome those whom society might overlook?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

God of mercy and love, your nature is to show mercy and love to all of us. Forgive us when we seek to find guidance and power from the idols we create in this world and help us turn to you – the one with compassionate power. Invite us in, even though we are unworthy, Almighty God, and may we have the wisdom to accept your gracious invitation. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

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Rev. Robin C. Wilson is an elder in The United Methodist Church. A pastor, author, and teacher, she currently serves as the director of The Alabama West Florida Healthy Clergy and Congregations Initiative.