week of 2/13

 Unit 6  Session 2

A UNFAITHFUL PROPHET

NUMBERS 20

The unfaithfulness of people always comes at a great cost - the

judgment of a holy God.

Because Israel rebelled and refused to enter and conquer the

promised land as God had said, they were punished with forty

years of wandering in the wilderness, one year for every day

the spies were in the land. That generation was condemned to

die in the wilderness outside of the promised land, but the next

generation would claim the land by God's grace. Still, the people

continued to succumb to discontent and disobedience, a failing

that affected their leaders as well.

Points to consider:

✞   Unfaithfulness leads to a pattern of sin.

     * Why do you think we gravitate to the

        same types of sin over and over again?

     * What does dealing faithfully with sin

        look like?

✞   Unfaithfulness results from a failure to

      trust God.

     * What are some lessons we ought to 

        learn from Moses' and Aaron's 

        examples?

✞   Unfaithfulness brings the judgment of

     a holy God.

     * Why does God's severe discipline of 

        Moses and Aaron not sit well with

        many of us?

week of 2/6

Unit 6  Session 1

A REBELLIOUS PEOPLE

NUMBERS 13-14

Rebellion occurs when God's ways and authority are despised.

After the exodus, receiving the law at Mount Sinai, and con-

structing the tabernacle, the Book of Numbers moves the

narrative forward as the Israelites follow God's lead out

into the wilderness, headed to the promised land. The early

stages of this leg of their trip were again marked with strife,

however, as the people began to grumble and complain and

some of Moses' own family members began to question his

leadership. These events foreshadowed the trouble to come

in the wilderness of Paran.

Points to consider:

✞   Rebellion occurs when God's promises 

     are forsaken.

     * How have God's promises strengthened

        you to obey His commands?

✞   Rebellion occurs when God's plans

     are scorned.

     * What are some signs that we may be

      guilty of rejecting God's plan for our

        lives?

     * What role have godly leaders played

      in your life to help you obey the Lord

        and grow in your faith?

✞   Rebellion occurs when God's authority

     is rejected.

     * What are some ways we can encourage

      others to submit to God's authority?

week of 1/30

 Unit 5 Session 5

THE MEANS OF WORSHIP

LEVITICUS 1-7

The Old Testament sacrifices showed God, and others, His people's

commitment, gratitude, and confession of sin.

When the Israelites left Egypt, God spoke to Moses and gave him

instructions for His people. God set up the tabernacle so He could

dwell with His people as He reminded them of His holiness, for-

giveness, and presence. He also gave them specific instructions

for the sacrificial system with its various offerings so they

could worship Him, remaining close with Him in their covenantal

relationship. Through the sacrificial system laid out in the law,

God's people showed their commitment, gratitude, and confession

of sin through worship.

 

Points to consider:

✞   The sacrifices showed dedication to God.

     * Why would God require an unblemished

        animal to atone for sin?

✞   The sacrifices showed thankfulness to God.

     * What are some ways to remember God's

        provision in our lives so we can be

        thankful?

✞   The sacrifices showed confession to God.

     * Why should confession be a part of our

      worship to God?

week of 1/23

Unit 5 Session 4

A PLACE OF MEETING

EXODUS 25 - 31 ; 35-40

God desires to be with His people and declares to the wold that He has made a

way for sinners to be forgiven and made holy.

After pleading with God to have mercy upon the people of Israel for their

sin of idolatry, God promised to be with Moses and the Israelites. Yet

restoration of the covenant would involve obedience to God's commands.

While on the mountain, the Lord had given Moses detailed instructions on

the construction of the tabernacle, its furniture, and the garments for the

priests who would serve there. The tabernacle would be the portable tent

where God would dwell in the midst of His people. After spending over half

a year building God's dwelling place, the tabernacle was set up and 

consecrated for worship.

 

Points to consider:

✞   Worship of God centers on His holiness.

     * What are some ways we celebrate and 

        remember the Lord's salvation?

     * Since God is holy and pure, how should

        this affect our worship?

✞   Worship of God centers on His forgiveness.

     * How should the Lord's choice of Aaron as

        a priest encourage us?

✞   Worship of God centers on His presence.

     * What are some ways we are hindered

        from worshiping in the presence of God?

week of 1/16

Unit 5 Session 3

FAITHLESSNESS AT THE MOUNTAIN

EXODUS 32 - 34

God judges idol-worshipers for giving the worship due Him to something

or someone else, but He also offers grace.

After the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai and had prepared themselves,

God spoke His Ten Commandments to them directly. This frightened the

people, and they requested that Moses speak to them for God. So Moses

climbed up Mount Sinai twice, entering the burning darkness of God's

glorious presence. His second ascent lasted forty days and nights as the

Lord gave him His law and the tablets containing the Ten Commandments

for the people of Israel. But in Moses' absence, the Israelites grew rest-

less and forgetful.

 

Points to consider:

✞   Idol-worshipers distort the worship of God.

     * Does the quickness of the people's rebellion

        against God surprise you? Why or why not?

     * How does the true worship of God protect us

        from distorted lives?

✞   Idol-worshipers deserve the judgment of God.

     * How have you seen prayers for God's glory 

        and the salvation of sinners be answered?

✞   Idol-worshipers depend on the grace of God.

     * How does God's self-revelation here compare 

        with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ?

week of 1/9

Unit 5 Session 2

THE WAY OF FAITHFULNESS

EXODUS 19 - 20

God's law reveals who He is and how to live faithfully with Him and one

another.

By the deliverance of the Lord, Moses led God's people out of the land

of slavery, bringing them through the Red Sea and destroying the

Egyptians who were chasing them. Then they entered the wilderness,

where God tested them and provided for them. All the while, He was

leading the to Mount Sinai, or Horeb, the mountain where God first

appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Their arrival was a fulfillment

of the Lord's promise to be with Moses (Ex 3:12). At this holy mountain,

the Israelites would worship the Lord Who had saved them. 

 

Points to consider:

✞   God gave the law to show His love.

     * Why should God's love for us motivate our

        obedience?

✞   God gave the law to show how to love Him.

     * What are ways we might be guilty of making

        and worshiping idols?

     * What are some reasons we struggle to rest in

        honor of God?

✞   God gave the law to show how to love one another.

     * What are some ways obeying the Ten 

        Commandments displays God's character

        to the world?

week of 1/2

 Unit 5 Session 1

FAILURE IN THE WILDERNESS

EXODUS 15:22 - 17:16

The Lord provides for His people even when they are undeserving.

God brought His people out of the slavery of Egypt and through the Red 

Sea by His mighty hand, simultaneously crushing the Egyptian army.

This omnipotent God displayed His goodness by saving Israel in keeping

with His covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Now on the other side

of the Red Sea, they were in the wilderness, and they quickly found them-

selves in need of resources. Israel was tested as their water and food

supplies ran low. Israel would need to trust in the God Who saved them,

but they were also tempted to grumble against that same God.

 

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord's provision tests His people's obedience.

     * Why is the root of all grumbling ultimately a

        complaint about God?

     * Why does obedience to God matter so much?

✞   The Lord's provision continues despite His people's

     failings.

     * How have you experienced God's undeserved

        faithfulness?

✞   The Lord's provision is gracious in response to His

      people's demands.

     * What do we reveal about our hearts in our

        complaints?