Numbers 18 – Levites and priests

• Numbers 18:1-7 – God reminds them of their roles.
• Numbers 18:9-19 – The priests get the portions of the offerings and sacrifices.
• Numbers 18:20-24 – The tribe of Levi would have no land inheritance in Canaan. They would have the tithe.
• Numbers 18:25-32 – The Levites would need to give a tithe of the tithe to the Lord.

Numbers 19

• Numbers 19:1-9 – This was to be purification from sin, but seems to also have been for hygiene. See Exodus 15:26.
  • None of These Diseases by S.I. McMillen, MD and David E. Stern, MD
• Numbers 19:11-13 – Uses for the water of purification.
  • Germ theory – Dr Ignaz Semmelweis
• Numbers 19:14-22 – Rules for uncleanness. All of these are spiritual laws, but make sense as rules for hygiene as well.

Numbers 20 – Meribah

• Numbers 20:1 – Miriam dies and is buried.
• Numbers 20:2-13 – Moses sins in bringing water to the people.
  • Exodus 17:1-7
  • Psalms 106:32-33 – Moses “spoke rashly with his lips.”
• Numbers 20:14-21 – Edom refuses passage of Israel through his land.
• Numbers 20:22-29 – Aaron dies. Moses sets up Aaron’s son Eleazer as his successor.

Numbers 21

• Numbers 21:1-3 – God gives Israel victory at Hormah, the same place they had lost a battle forty years earlier.
• Numbers 21:4-9 – The bronze serpent.
  • II Kings 18:4 – The Israelites started worshipping this serpent and were still doing so 700 years later!
  • John 3:14-15
• Numbers 21:21-35 – Israel starts defeating kings of Canaan.

Introduction

• Proverbs 12:13

James 3:1-12

• James 3:1 – It’s good to teach, but be careful when you do! See II Timothy 2:2.
• James 3:2 – If you can control your tongue, you are doing great! This is a real challenge.
• James 3:3-4 – The tongue is small, but can control big things. See Proverbs 18:21.
• James 3:5 – A small uncontrolled fire can lead to great destruction.
• James 3:6 – The tongue has great potential for sin. See Matthew 15:18. The tongue can invite trouble into my life.
• James 3:7-8 – Our tongue is never completely tamed. It is a daily effort.
• James 3:9-12 – Nature is a good example of consistency. We should strive to show the same consistency with good speech.

Sometimes, just be quiet.

• Job 38:2; 40:3
• Proverbs 10:19; 12:13; 13:3
• The more you talk, the more opportunity for sin.

The key to improving your speaking is improving your thinking.

• Matthew 12:33-37 – The tongue and the heart are connected.
• I Corinthians 16:8

Be proactive: find a way to give a compliment.

• James 3:9-10
• Romans 16:1, 3, 6-7 – Paul compliments these people and shows a good example of encouraging communication.
• I Corinthians 1:1-4 – Paul found a way to speak positively about the Corinthians, despite their problems.

Introduction

• Matthew 5:1-2, 13, 14, 16 – You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
• Proverbs 11:30
• II Corinthians 5:10, 20-21
• I Timothy 6:17-19
• II Timothy 2:15, 24-26
• I Peter 3:13-15 – Be ready to make a defense.
• Ephesians 2:8-10
• Ephesians 4:11-16
• Romans 1:16-17 – Do not be ashamed of the gospel.
• Romans 10:13-15, 17
• I Corinthians 11:1
• I Corinthians 2:1-5
• I Corinthians 9:19-23

“Bob,” who we’ve known for a long time is gravely ill. How do we turn the conversation to spiritual things?

Six ways to transition a normal conversation into a spiritual conversation

1. Pray for a sensitive spirit.
2. Ask basic questions about life.
3. Inquire about a church connection.
4. Extend an invitation to attend church.
5. Transition the conversation to Jesus.
6. Share the gospel as the Spirit leads.

How to start gospel conversations

• Smile.
• Find something to comment on.
• Ask open questions about the other person
  • Philippians 2:4
• Look for open doors to plan gospel seeds.
  • Mention God, prayer, and the Bible in conversation.
  • Quote or paraphrase the Bible.
  • Use questions.
  • Share stories.
• Invite a response.

The three Cs of life: choices, chances, and changes

• You must make a choice to take a chance, or your life will never change.

How to turn a conversation to spiritual things

1. Surface talk
2. Personal talk
3. Religious talk
4. Spiritual talk

“But I will do as you say” – learning to trust Jesus over self

• Luke 5:4-5
• Many of Jesus’ miracles required a person to take a step or two themselves.
• Luke 22:24 – Do we trust that the best leadership is to serve?
• Mark 7:18-23

“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” – Understanding Jesus’ love for us

• Luke 5:8-9
• Luke 19:5
• God can take someone who is broken and change that life!
• Colossians 2:9
• No one is too broken for Jesus to fix!

“Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” – Getting to work for Jesus

• Luke 5:10-11, 27
• Luke 6:12-16 – The apostles officially named.
• I Corinthians 3:10-15 – What does your spiritual building look like? Is it a shack or a mansion.

Numbers 15

• Numbers 15:2 – These words would be a constant reminder to the people that, because of their unfaithfulness, they would not inherit the land, but their children would.
• Numbers 15:22-29 – Offerings for accidental sins.
• Numbers 15:30-31 – People who sin defiantly would be cut off!
  • Hebrews 10:26
• Numbers 15:32-36 – A man is stoned for breaking the Sabbath.
  • Exodus 16:22-26
  • Exodus 35:1-3
  • Exodus 20:8-11 – The Sabbath was based on the pattern of Creation.
  • Deuteronomy 5:12-15 – Moses connects the Sabbath to slavery in Egypt.
• Numbers 15:37-41 – Deuteronomy 22:12; Matthew 23:5 – Tassels on garments.

Numbers 16

• Numbers 16:1-3 – Korah asserted that Moses and Aaron were exalting themselves above everyone else. But it was God who exalted Moses and Aaron.
• Numbers 16:4-7 – Moses stands up to Korah.
• Numbers 16:8-11 – Korah was against God and His delegated authority.
• Numbers 16:12-15 – Dathan and Abiram refuse Moses’ summons.
• Numbers 16:16-24 – Moses again pleads for the nation.
• Numbers 16:25-35 – The earth opens up and swallows Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their families.
• Numbers 16:36-40 – Censers of the sinful were pounded into plates to be used as a covering for the altar.
  • Jude 1:11
• Numbers 16:41-50 – The people continue to rebel and God sends a plague that kills 14,700 people before Aaron makes atonement before God, stopping the plague.

Numbers 17

• Numbers 17:1-11 – God causes Aaron’s rod to bud, indicating that he is God’s choice. See Hebrews 9:3-4.
  • II Peter 3:9, 17 – God wants to bless us and save us, but will punish those that rebel.
• Numbers 17:12-13 – The people now fear they will all die.