Preparing for Sunday – Numbers (part 2)

Preparing for Sunday – Numbers (part 2)

Carefully Think Think back through what we discussed last week in Numbers 1-25 and the illustrations of Israel”™s mere external obedience (1-10) and their growing internal unfaithfulness (11-25). What glimpses of God”™s mercy and faithfulness to them were evident, even in their judgment and discipline? Read through Numbers 26-36 and summarize the major ideas that you see here. Which generation of Israelites are they being given to? Why would they need to hear these things again? Prayerfully Meditate The New Testament mentions a number of sections found in the book of Numbers.  Read each passage below and see if you can discover where in Numbers the New Testament author is referring and what is the corresponding lesson for a Christian. John 3:1-15 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Hebrews 3:7-4:16 How has God demonstrated specific acts of grace and mercy to you this past week? How has he treated you in regard to specific acts of sin you have committed against Him? How is God”™s faithfulness affecting you, especially in light of the times of unfaithfulness you have seen in your heart and life this past week? How should this affect your worship as we gather this Sunday? Intentionally Act Confess any sin you have been made aware of, reminding yourself of what Christ did on the cross to satisfy God”™s righteousness and what God has done to give you Christ”™s righteousness. Pray that you will be sensitive not only to any unfaithfulness in your heart, but especially to the faithful acts of God displayed in your life in unique and specific ways this past week. List them. Use these in an...
Preparing for Sunday – Numbers

Preparing for Sunday – Numbers

Carefully Think The biblical book of Numbers has several of the most memorable scenes from Israel”™s early days after the Exodus. Read through the following sections and see if you can summarize the main idea and list any principles that you think would apply to God”™s people in general: Numbers 11 Numbers 12 Numbers 13-14 Numbers 16 Numbers 20 Numbers 21-25 Prayerfully Meditate The New Testament mentions a number of sections found in the book of Numbers. Read each passage and see if you can find where in Numbers the New Testament author is referring to and what the corresponding lesson for Christians is. John 3:1-15 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Hebrews 3:7-4:16 Intentionally Act From what you have read in the passages above, what sin needs to be acknowledged before God? What elements of praise should you express to Him? For what can you be specifically grateful in light of what you have been meditating upon from Numbers? Pray for those who will attend this Sunday and do not personally know the saving work of Christ. Pray their hearts will be opened to His mercy and changed through the Spirit”™s conviction. Pray that God”™s people will be appropriately challenged and encouraged, equipped to serve Christ well. Pray for those leading the service on Sunday (Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching). Pray that they will assist the congregation in acceptable praise to Christ. Pray for the others who will also be assisting to ensure our worship honors Christ (instrumentalists, visual and audio techs, ushers, etc.). Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday and...
Preparing for Sunday: Exodus 1-19

Preparing for Sunday: Exodus 1-19

Carefully Think Read through Exodus 1-19. As you read begin underlining and make a list of the actions you see from the following:  God (what does the text say he does), Moses (how does he respond to God, Israel, and Pharaoh), Pharaoh (how does he respond to Moses and God), and Israel (how do they respond to Moses and God). If you are limited for time, concentrate on the plague accounts of chapters 7-12.  What is the chief purpose behind God”™s bringing the plagues (pay attention to the “so that” phrases)? How would you summarize the theme of Exodus 1-19? Prayerfully Meditate What do you learn about how God works within the actions of people from reading Exodus 1-19?  What does this suggest is true about how God is presently working in our world and in your life? What do you learn from Israel”™s responses to Moses and God throughout these chapters? In what ways do we respond similarly or differently? What was God revealing to Moses, Israel, and Egypt about Himself? How should that impact you? Intentionally Act Pray in response to what you have learned from Exodus 1-19. What sin should you confess? How could you respond in unique praise for who God is? How would any of these lessons impact the way you are currently praying for others? Consider how what you have learned about God should impact the way you worship Him with God”™s people this Sunday. Write out a few responses. Pray for those in our gathering this Sunday who do not know Christ. Pray that they will see God”™s greatness and their need...