I’ve got to admit something – when I sat down to write this sermon, I was pretty anxious. It was the first time some of my family would hear me preach, and that had me on edge. I wanted to go all in and give my best while still honoring the Lord. I just hoped to let the Holy Spirit take the lead, no matter how my nerves tried to get in the way.
So, what can I say about everything that Christ’s Redemption Church is all about, what we’ve been through? Well, it all started as this wild dream shared by three guys. We spent that whole summer just chatting it up while lounging in Brother John’s pool (he’s one of our local church members). It honestly felt like it was out of reach. But, you know what? God just kept nudging us along, no matter the challenges, no matter the freak-out moments with fundraising and figuring out the whole IRS thing for our tax-exempt status. Can you even believe we pulled that off without having a clue what we were doing?!
We’ve had quite the ride! When I think about our time as a church and all the dreams we have for Christ’s Redemption Church (CRC), the word “journey” hits home. It makes me think about the Exodus—a huge moment in the Bible when God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and took them on this long, eye-opening adventure to the Promised Land. But honestly, it wasn’t a walk in the park—it was full of hardships, tests, and some serious spiritual growth along the way!
Meaning of “Exodus”
The word “Exodus” comes from the Greek Ἔξοδος (Exodos), which is derived from:
- ἐξ (ex) – meaning out of, from
- ὁδός (hodos) – meaning way, road, journey
Thus, Exodus literally means “the way out” or “departure.” It refers to the Israelites’ departure from Egypt, marking their transition from slavery to freedom under God’s leadership.
You know, CRC has been through its own little Exodus. We’ve been pushing along this journey, following the path that God’s been pointing us to. It hasn’t been easy and there is a reason for that. Did you know the word Exodus also pops up in the New Testament to talk about a spiritual departure or change:
Luke 9:30-31 – During the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus about His “departure” (ἔξοδος, exodos), which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”
Here, Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension are described as an “exodus”—a way out for all believers.
Hebrews 11:22 – “By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.”
Joseph foresaw the Exodus as a promise of deliverance, tying it to faith.
The biblical language behind “Exodus” points not just to leaving Egypt but to a transformative journey, one that:
- Marks deliverance (freedom from oppression)
- Requires trust in God’s guidance
- Leads to covenant and identity formation
- Foreshadows Christ’s ultimate deliverance through His death and resurrection
Our church’s Exodus has really pushed us to trust God when everything feels uncertain, and honestly, it’s been quite the ride of faith. God has used this “journey,” this “path,” to prune and prepare us for the end goal. Everything we’ve been through as a community has prepared us for such a time as this, to show the light (the goodness of the Gospel) to all. God has prepared us to be a church in the darkness that keeps its doors open to everyone, no matter one’s creed, way of life, struggles, economic status, etc. It has prepared us to be better, to do better, to handle more, to create more… But often, we focus only on the end goal, but in reality, it is about the journey.
Our histories, our communal histories, are what make us, what mold us. They build our character, our traits. Would I have been as compassionate if I hadn’t gone through the wilderness too? Would I be able to reach the lost if I hadn’t also been lost? Would those in our recovery program be able to help others the way they do if they hadn’t been in the thick of it themselves? Our Exodus shows who we are, just as the Bible shows God’s overall character.
God’s character is taking imperfect people and using them to show his greatness. He uses our stumbling blocks and turns them for good. Just look at what he did for Jacob:
Genesis 32:28 – “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'”
Jacob, whose name meant “deceiver,” was transformed through his struggles (Israel literally means “one who struggles with God”) and became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. God NAMED the journey Jacob took, the path he traveled that remade him into one who wrestled with God. This symbolizes the journey of faith, struggle, and divine blessing that defines us as believers. Name your Exodus! Don’t hide it. Your history is your own testimony of what God has brought you out of and toward the promised land.
THIS IS OUR OWN EXODUS STORY!
Closing Statement: Embracing Our Exodus
So here we stand, in the middle of our own Exodus—our journey, our transformation, our refining. And just like the Israelites, just like Jacob, just like every imperfect person God has called before us, we are being shaped for something greater.
God didn’t bring us this far just to leave us. Every struggle, every trial, every season of uncertainty—it’s all part of His divine process, preparing us for what’s ahead. We are not just a church that exists; we are a church on a journey, a people in motion, walking toward the promise He has set before us.
But let’s not make the mistake of only focusing on the destination. Because in God’s plan, the journey itself is just as important as the promise. It’s here, in the struggle, in the questions, in the leaps of faith, that we become who God is calling us to be.
So, my challenge to you tonight is this: Name your Exodus. Own your journey. Stop seeing your past as a burden and start recognizing it as the testimony God is writing through you.
Because one day, we’ll look back and see that every hardship, every wilderness moment, every impossible step of faith—was worth it.
And when we reach that place, when we see how God has carried us through, may we never forget that the real beauty wasn’t just in arriving, but in the journey that made us who we are.
This is our Exodus story. And it’s only the beginning.
Learn more about the Biblical significance of the Exodus!
Be blessed,
Pastor Alex
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