The First Week of March

Printable Guide

We Read…

When Moses encountered God, his face shone. When we encounter God, our lives reflect the light, too. Maybe (or most likely) our faces don’t actually glow, but people can tell the difference in us. How are we glowing with God’s presence in our everyday lives? 

I wonder how many times Moses was tempted to stay in God’s direct presence on the mountaintop, too. What kind of “mountain top moments” have you experienced? Maybe you attended a retreat or camp, which was just amazing; maybe you can look back to the moment you were saved, or maybe you’ve had a different experience where you felt so close and connected with God. It’s easy to wish we could just stay in those times forever. But God wants us to return to our normal life. What would happen if every person in the church decided to stay at camp for the rest of their lives? First, I think we would get pretty sick of each other. But who would be sharing about God’s love back in the world? Who would be living out Christ’s mercy and grace? Who would be shining God’s light in the darkest valleys?

We can’t live on the mountain forever, but we can remember those moments and use them to sustain us when needed.

Exodus 34:29-35

29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two covenant tablets in his hand, Moses didn’t realize that the skin of his face shone brightly because he had been talking with God. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw the skin of Moses’ face shining brightly, they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called them closer. So Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke with them. 32 After that, all the Israelites came near as well, and Moses commanded them everything that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 Whenever Moses went into the Lord’s presence to speak with him, Moses would take the veil off until he came out again. When Moses came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 the Israelites would see that the skin of Moses’ face was shining brightly. So Moses would put the veil on his face again until the next time he went in to speak with the Lord. 

Psalm 99

1 The Lord rules— 

the nations shake! 

He sits enthroned on the winged 

heavenly creatures— 

the earth quakes! 

2 The Lord is great in Zion; 

he is exalted over all the nations. 

3 Let them thank your great 

and awesome name. 

He is holy! 

4 Strong king who loves justice, 

you are the one 

who established what is fair. 

You worked justice and righteousness 

in Jacob. 

5 Magnify the Lord, our God! 

Bow low at his footstool! 

He is holy! 

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, 

Samuel too among those 

who called on his name. 

They cried out to the Lord, 

and he himself answered them— 

7 he spoke to them from a pillar of cloud. 

They kept the laws and the rules 

God gave to them. 

8 Lord our God, you answered them. 

To them you were a God who forgives 

but also the one who avenged 

their wrong deeds. 

9 Magnify the Lord our God! 

Bow low at his holy mountain 

because the Lord our God is holy! 

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

12 So, since we have such a hope, we act with great confidence. 13 We aren’t like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites couldn’t watch the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were closed. Right up to the present day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. The veil is not removed because it is taken away by Christ. 15 Even today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But whenever someone turns back to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 18 All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

4 This is why we don’t get discouraged, given that we received this ministry in the same way that we received God’s mercy. 2 Instead, we reject secrecy and shameful actions. We don’t use deception, and we don’t tamper with God’s word. Instead, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God by the public announcement of the truth. 

Luke 9:28-43a

28 About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes flashed white like lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him. 31 They were clothed with heavenly splendor and spoke about Jesus’ departure, which he would achieve in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and those with him were almost overcome by sleep, but they managed to stay awake and saw his glory as well as the two men with him. 

33 As the two men were about to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. We should construct three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—but he didn’t know what he was saying. 34 Peter was still speaking when a cloud overshadowed them. As they entered the cloud, they were overcome with awe. 

35 Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to him!” 36 Even as the voice spoke, Jesus was found alone. They were speechless and at the time told no one what they had seen. 

37 The next day, when Jesus, Peter, John, and James had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to take a look at my son, my only child. 39 Look, a spirit seizes him and, without any warning, he screams. It shakes him and causes him to foam at the mouth. It tortures him and rarely leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to throw it out, but they couldn’t.” 

41 Jesus answered, “You faithless and crooked generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him down and shook him violently. Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 

We Think…

• What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?

• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering?

• What questions come to mind?

• What does good news mean to you?

• Why would Moses want to cover his face if his light was fading?

• Why did Peter want to stay on the mountain in Luke 9?

We Feel…

• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?

• Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?

• What has God made new in your life? In your heart?

• When can you tell that you have spent time with Jesus?

• Maybe you are nicer, more intentional with others, or more excited to talk about your faith. When can you tell that it has been a while since you spent time with Jesus?

We Believe…

Why is the symbol of light so often connected to God? Have you ever stood in a dark room and then turned on one small light? Or maybe you’ve noticed how even a single exit sign can light up the gym when you’re trying to play a game that needs all the lights off! Speaking from experience right here. The smallest light drives out darkness, which is true for God. Sometimes, it can feel hard to trust or believe, but even when it seems like our belief is just the faintest glow, it is enough. Obviously, God wants us to be fully committed, fully trusting, and fully reliant, but we also believe that God is with us when this doesn’t happen. God’s light shines even when we struggle to see it. God is going before us, even when our eyes are closed.

We Practice…

Take time to reflect on a “mountain top moment” you have experienced. When did you feel like you were standing on a mountain in the presence of God? What was impactful about that time? How did you feel afterward? We don’t want to live in the past, but remembering these moments can help us as we move forward, especially on hard days. If this moment includes other people, take time to reach out to them and offer a word of encouragement or reflect on the moment together.