October 11, 2026
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Of all the passages we can read to begin our worship service, why are we reading Exodus 32:1–14 this week? Undoubtedly, the Golden Calf incident is one of Israel's worst acts of teachery. This act of unfaithfulness follows God's gracious redemption of Israel from Egypt, and after God had bestowed upon them the honor of being the one nation on earth whose God is the LORD. God then gave them the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, including "You shall have no other gods before me" and "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above … You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God."
But when the heart is hard God's word falls on deaf ears. Thus Israel, with Aaron leading them, made a golden calf. "And they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it … And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
Israel's sin is very great. But God's grace is greater. "But Moses implored the LORD his God … And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people." It is easy to miss what is happening here. But God knew Israel through and through, and knew how they would continue to sin against him. And it was God who raised up for Israel a mediator, Moses. And God heard the intercession of the mediator he himself provided, and he showed mercy.
It is easy, and tempting, to read the stories of Israel's apostasy and look down on them with contempt. "How could they? How stupid were they?" To be sure, they deserve criticism. But so do we. We are actually not any better. There is in our hearts the same hardness of sin, which, left to itself, would prove just as wicked and foolish as Israel. And if God has mercifully restrained our sinfulness and stayed our hands from acting out treachery, we deserve no praise for it. Instead, we fall before God with gratitude. God knew we were hopeless and deserving of wrath. So God himself appointed a mediator, Jesus Christ. This is why we are turning to Exodus 32 as we prepare our hearts for worship. We have no other hope but Jesus. And with Jesus Christ as our mediator and redeemer, we will worship the One true God.
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Growth Resources
In October we are reading "Shapers of Christianity" by Nick Needham. See also 12 for 26.
Announcements
October 11 (Lord's Day): Fellowship meal.
October 14 (Wednesday 6 PM): Daniel Zoom study continues with Danile 3. Meeting ID: 820 0070 3059. Passcode: 999522
October 18: Sunday School continues. Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, ch. 80, "Baptism."
October 25 (Lord's Day): Reformation Day fellowship. More information is forthcoming.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).
This Week's Prayers
Please email your prayer request by Thursday to include it in the list for the upcoming week — info@gracefallbrook.church