Discussion Questions 5/9/20

5/9/2020

These discussion questions are based on the sermon titled "Connect to the Cloud".

Here are some discussion questions that you can talk about with the people that are in your home with you. You can also call a friend who was watching and discuss it with them. Or you can break out a notebook and use these questions to journal your thoughts on the message.

1. Why did God use a cloud to show his presence to the Israelites in the wilderness?

2. In Exodus 20:20 “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’” Why Would Moses say not to fear if the purpose of the dramatic cloud on the mountain was to instill fear.

3. Why was the typical person not allowed to enter the cloud in the Old Testament?

4. Why did Aaron need blood to enter the most Holy Place where the cloud was?

5. Why does God prefer to live inside you than a building?

6. How does someone get baptize in a cloud?

7. What are some similarities between the first and last time ‘cloud’ is mentioned in the Bible? (Genesis 9:12-14, Revelation 14:14-16)

8. What are some differences between the first and last time ‘cloud’ is mentioned in the Bible? (Genesis 9:12-14, Revelation 14:14-16)

9. What is the message that God is trying to give to you from this sermon?

10. How can you apply this message to your life?

11. What practical thing can you do today to get started?

Feel free to share some of your answers in the comment section below.

Verses on God's Presence in a Cloud

I did not cover all these verses, but perhaps you may enjoy studying these passages during the week:

Cloud Leads the Israelites
Exo 13:21-22
Exo 14:19-24
Exo 16:10
Exo 19:9-24
Exo 20:18-21
Exo 24:1-18
Exo 34:1-5
Exo 40:34-38
Lev 16:2-14
Num 9:15-22
Num 10:11-34
Num 11:25
Num 12:5-10
Num 14:14
Num 16:41-42
Deu 1:33
Deu 4:11
Deu 5:22
Deu 31:15
Neh 9:19
Psa 78:14
Psa 105:39

Mount of transfiguration
Mat 17:5
Mar 9:7
Luk 9:34-35

Coming back in clouds
Dan 7:13
Mat 24:30
Mat 26:64
Mar 13:26
Mar 14:62
Luk 21:27
Rev 1:7
Rev 14:14-16
Act 1:9-11

Extra Verses
2Sa 22:10
1Ki 8:10-12
2Ch 5:13-14
2Ch 6:1
1Co 10:1-2
Psa 97:1-6
Isa 4:5
Isa 19:1
Eze 10:3-4
Rev 10:1

16 Comments

Afua London

5/9/2020 12:55:52 pm

Why was the typical person not allowed to enter the cloud in the Old Testament? I believe it's because they were just like the typical person of today, we go to church, we say beautiful catchy phrases from the word of God, and we do a few good deeds, and we think we are good, we are connected to God, but we are not really. So if we go in the presence of God in our sinful self we will be destroyed be His presence, God and sin cannot mix.
I think we also need to see the church as a movement, like you mentioned in the sermon and not a social club, and we need to truly connect with God to go forward in this movement. (not that social clubs are bad, but we need to understand the true purpose of everything)

Wayne Jamel

5/9/2020 01:28:29 pm

Wow thats powerful. That goes into the fear of the Lord.
Yes we are a movement and we cannot be comfortable. We have to be ready to pack our bags in a moment's notice. We cannot be rooted in this earth but rooted in things above.
Its time to take God seriously and stop playing church. Loved your thoughts

Joseph Fischer

5/9/2020 12:55:57 pm

It's interesting that so many years ago God used a cloud to assend from heaven to bring his holy people messages and to visit us giving laws to Moses. Today we use this reference to the cloud whenever we storage something on the internet and the it goes to the cloud. When Jesus assended back to heaven he also used a cloud, ( He assended in a cloud ).

5/9/2020 01:33:58 pm

Yeah it is interesting. Just like how the internet keeps us connected but we cannot see it. The Holy Spirit keeps us connected although we cannot see Him and although we are apart from eachother.
The cloud is a storage of data that we download when needed. Reminds me how the Bible says that He will bring to our minds what to say.

Cora F

5/9/2020 01:30:32 pm

Clouds could be comforting shades to travelers who are crossing desserts , wilderness or in d middle of a vast ocean from the scorching sun above their heads . Clouds could also be terrifying when it show signs of imminent ominous deadly storms , as in the sermon today the clouds that shaded the Israelites from the burning heat of the sun n guided them where and when to move is the act of the comforting love of God , the security of traveling by presence of God being seen by the presence of the cloud. We can learn from the Israelites journey in the dessert that God never leaves us never let us just wander round n round in this world with all the confusion going on without His clouds of protection . With God telling the Israelites thru the actions of the cloud in where to go when to go is a security enough for the Israelites to know n trust that there is a loving God directing them to the right destination . We should learn from the message not to be rebellious to God’s leading , to His telling us what to do , In where n when to go.Let’s take God’s leading as a security for the surety of our right destination which is our salvation in Christ 🙏
Yes we have the Bible as our guide , but Oh how just nice in this world of chaos to be told clearly by God when n where to go like the clouds above the heads of the Israelites,🙏
Just my thoughts Cora F.

5/9/2020 01:40:34 pm

David in Psalms talks quite a bit about God sending a cloud to protect him against his enemies. Like Psalm 18:9 I believe saying God riding on a dark cloud.
The cloud is a comfort and guide for the follower. Its a desteoyer for the enemies of God.
Let us be on the right side of the great controversy.

5/9/2020 02:14:58 pm

Love your comment Sis. Cora. We need to trust Him to guide us and not be rebellious.

Selva Mason

5/9/2020 01:38:45 pm

5. Why does God prefer to live inside you than a building?
I believe that God prefers to live in our hearts instead of in a build because we can move from place to place to share his message and He can work in us and guide our decisions.

Mark 16:15, "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Luke 14:23, "Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

Matthew 28:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.

5. Why does God prefer to live inside you than a building?
If God is stationary or lives in a building/temple then when we are not in that place it means that God might not be with us. If God lives within us, we carry Him with us wherever we go. When we are with God and He lives in us, we can rely on Him personally and share Him with others.

1 Corinthians 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
"16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

The scripture 1 Corinthians 3:16 has been very helpful to me. During my college years, when faced with issues of peer pressure, I recited this scripture to myself. When my friends asked me why I did not participate in certain social activities, 1 Corinthians 3:16 would be my reference text. After a while, my example influenced their choices. Instead of trying to change me they changed their own practices and respected my decisions.

5/9/2020 01:50:07 pm

Oh I love that. We can move from place to place like how tent was portable.
That would be a cool name of a church "portable church"

Thats awesome that your friends werent a negative influence on you but you were a positive influence on them. Thats how its meant to be

5/9/2020 01:43:03 pm

In further thought ,of course God’s leading to right path is always very clear an we will know His leading clearly when we know how to communicate to Him thru His words and prayers . Like the Israelites we are blinded and lose sight of God by our lack of faith n disobedience to Him .

5/9/2020 01:50:48 pm

unfortunately that is true

Michella Calix

5/9/2020 02:03:08 pm

I think Moses telling the Israelite not to fear if the purpose of the dramatic cloud on the mountain was to instill fear was because although the Israelite were in the safety of God, they were always running and didn’t have any quiet time with the Lord since they were out of practice in worshiping the Creator. How could they receive restoration in their mind? Modern life can drain us dry if we let it. That’s why so many people are emotional wrecks. We are running on empty, but God promises to restore us will makes us thirst no more and that's what He had done to the Israelite.

Once they receive rest and restoration in the Lord, they then could walk with Him as He led them to the promise land. He showed them how to think right, believe right, and live right. This reminded me that even though our circumstances may make us feel like we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalms 23:4), we will not fear because we know God is with us. This will be visible to our enemies as they will see His handiwork upon our life. How wonderful God’s Grace is? Grace is everything God is, and God has made it available to us.

5/9/2020 07:16:51 pm

yeah all those years of slavery, worshiping God was not where it was meant to be.
If we fear God then we don't have to fear anything else.

Helen Morgan

5/9/2020 05:06:47 pm

Why did God use a Cloud to show his presence to the Israelites in the wilderness:
I think it was done because all eyes can see the clouds regardless of where they are. As mentioned in the sermon the clouds was used to protect the people from the elements such as the burning heat of the sun. The God in his wisdom chose to guide his people by manifesting his presence in a pillar of cloud during the day time and because he also wanted them to travel during the night as well he gave them a pillar of fire which would provide light for them. How comforting it must have been to the Israelites as they are going through the wilderness to see and be assured that God was with them leading the way and making sure they go where they need to go and when they must go. As I reflect on the sermon, I am conscious of the fact that I too can also be lead by the cloud if I foster a close relationship with God and listen for his still small voice which at times comes by focusing my attention on the clouds. One of God's promises to us is that he will never leave us or forsake us and that is comforting for me.

Just my thoughts (Sis. Morgan)

5/9/2020 07:21:27 pm

Nice, anyone can look up anywhere in the world and in some point in the day see clouds.
That pillar of fire was a serious night light.
Unfortunately they were use to seeing the presence of God so much that they took it for granted and they stopped paying attention. It became like scenery. How often do we become desensitized to the presence of God.

Cora f

5/16/2020 09:23:16 pm

Yes , pastor Wayne yu said it well , we get so used to the blessings of God that we become desensitized , everything is just a usual or common things like the free air we breathe , the presence of sun light n moon light that lights our day n nite . We treat these as just common happenings in our daily lives so we forget to see the presence of a loving God that provides all these blessings to us .

Discussion Questions 5/9/20

Verses on God's Presence in a Cloud

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