Key Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21–25; Exodus 24; Exodus 34
Big Idea: Jesus has already gone before us. His steps are laid out, and He is inviting us to follow Him, not in our own strength, but by coming higher into His presence.
Peter reminds us that Christ suffered, did not retaliate, and fully entrusted Himself to the Father. Following in His steps means choosing His way over our own, especially when it’s uncomfortable. Jesus modelled a life saturated in prayer. The Gospel of Luke repeatedly shows Him withdrawing to pray, soaking in the Father’s presence, and drawing strength, authority, and clarity from that intimacy.
In Exodus 24, God invites Moses, Aaron, the elders, and others to come up the mountain. This wasn’t just for Moses; it was an invitation to encounter God at a deeper level. Scripture says they saw God, and they ate and drank in His presence. God wasn’t distant; He welcomed them close.
Later, when Moses came down from God’s presence, his face was radiant. He carried something visible from being with God. This reminds us that time in God’s presence changes us. We may not realize it ourselves, but others will see it. We carry peace, authority, and God’s presence into everyday places.
God is still calling His people to come up higher, to leave behind distraction, complacency, and spiritual dryness. This is an open invitation to soak in His presence, to be renewed, rekindled, and refreshed. God is raising up a new generation, not defined by age, but by hunger for a new level of anointing, purpose, and obedience.
Questions
1. Why do you think prayer was such a priority in Jesus’ life?
2. How can time with God impact the way others experience us?
3. As a group, how can we encourage one another this week to take God’s invitation seriously and pursue His presence together?
Call to Action: What is one step we can take to put this into practice starting today?