Now Is the Time, Part 10: Keep | Throw Away

Ryan Ervin, Adults Ministry Pastor

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There is a time for everything, 
         and a season for every activity under the sun:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, 
         a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, 
         a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
         a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
         a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, 
         a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, 
         a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, 
         a time for war and a time for peace.

limits our ability to .

Hurt may or may not be , but it is your .

4 Outward Signs of Repentance

1. Have flexibility and range (they don’t take the bait from Moses)
2. Don’t minimize or forget  
3. They’re able to what they want 
4. Able to and are able to

3 Healing Desert Practices

1. They gathered mana .
2. They together.
3. They looked at the .
   

Numbers 21:4-5 (New Living Translation)
⁴ Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, ⁵ and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”

It’s better to ask the questions with the heart
rather than ask the questions with the heart.

Numbers 21:6-9
⁶ So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. ⁷ Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” ⁹ So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!

1 Peter 2:22-24 (New Living Translation)
²² “He never sinned,
            nor ever deceived anyone.
²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
            nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
            who always judges fairly.
²⁴ He personally carried our sins
            in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
            and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed.”

Small Group Questions

1. Do you think it’s time to keep or throw away a Russell Wilson jersey?
2. What Bible moments would be on your “biblical Mount Rushmore”?
3. Who do you talk with when you’re having a tough time being present?
4. Read Numbers 21:4-9. How is Jesus like the snake (John 3:14)?
5. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?