After travelling across the wilderness, God's people arrived at Mount Sinai, the mountain God met with Moses in the burning bush. God had promised Moses in Exodus 3:12 that he would return to this very place with the nation of Israel to worship on this mountain.

Read Exodus 19:1-6

• We are reaching the climax of the story of Exodus, the moment everything has been leading up to. How does God's introduction to the 10 Commandments put them in context?

• What does the logic of God's statement here teach us about how God's view of His law?

Read Exodus 19:7-15

• Why do you think so much consecration and cleaning was required for this event? Why was the mountain so unapproachable?

Read Exodus 19:16-25

• What would it have been like to stand before Mount Sinai that day?

• How would this event have affected people's attitude towards God?

• Does it challenge your attitude toward God to read about it?

Read Hebrews 12:18-29

• How does the writer to the Hebrews appear to view the events of Exodus 19? Is this similar to you feel about it?

• What is the contrast for us as Jesus followers? How do we approach God as His people in the New Covenant?

• Is there anything similar for us in the New Covenant - how does the writer to the Hebrews help us draw the appropriate connections between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion?

• Note the use of past and present tense in Hebrews 12. In what sense have we already arrived at the heavenly Jerusalem? And how should that change how we worship God?

• Spend some time in prayer, praying (or singing) prayers of worship to God for who He is and what He has done for us.