Wilderness Survival Belong & GroWilderness Survival Belong & Grow Guide . 2 February 7 “Place of Birth” Call to Worship (based on Psalm 51:1-17) L: O God, have mercy on us, we

Wilderness Survival Belong & Grow Guide

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February 7 “Place of Birth”

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 51:1-17)

L: O God, have mercy on us, we pray. P: In your mercy, make us clean from our sins. L: Wipe away every failing and make us new in your sight. P: Restore us, deliver us, and re-create us, O Lord.

Prayer of Confession (inspired by 1 Cor 5:20b-6:10)

Wondrous God, we confess that we have not listened for your Word as we should. We confess that we have placed obstacles in the way of our neighbors. We are guilty of being proud and arrogant. Forgive us for our foolish and hateful ways. Forgive us for taking your amazing gift of grace for granted. Redirect us, by your Spirit, that we may be your faithful people once again.

Numbers 1:1; 2:1-34

1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert in the meeting tent on the first day of the second month,[a] in the second year after they left the land of Egypt:

2 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2 The Israelites will camp each under the banner with the symbol of their

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household. They will camp around the meeting tent some distance from it.

3 On the east side toward the sunrise will be the banner of Judah’s camp with its military units. The chief of the people of Judah is Nahshon, Amminadab’s son. 4 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 74,600. 5 Those camping on one side of him are the tribe of Issachar. The chief of the people of Issachar is Nethanel, Zuar’s son. 6 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 54,400. 7 On the other side, the tribe of Zebulun: the chief of the people of Zebulun is Eliab, Helon’s son. 8 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 57,400. 9 All those enlisted in Judah’s camp with their military units are 186,400. They will march first.

10 On the south side will be the banner of Reuben’s camp with its military units. The chief of the people of Reuben is Elizur, Shedeur’s son. 11 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 46,500. 12 Those camping on one side of him are the tribe of Simeon. The chief of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel, Zurishaddai’s son. 13 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 59,300. 14 On the other side, the tribe of Gad: the chief of the people of Gad is Eliasaph, Reuel’s son. 15 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 45,650. 16 All those enlisted in Reuben’s camp with their military units are 151,450. They will march second.

17 The meeting tent and the Levites’ camp will march in the center of the camps. They will march in the same order as they camp: each in position under his banner.





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18 On the west will be the banner of Ephraim’s camp with its military units. The chief of the people of Ephraim is Elishama, Ammihud’s son. 19 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 40,500. 20 On one side of him is the tribe of Manasseh. The chief of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, Pedahzur’s son. 21 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 32,200. 22 On the other side, the tribe of Benjamin: the chief of the people of Benjamin is Abidan, Gideoni’s son. 23 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 35,400. 24 All those enlisted in Ephraim’s camp with their military units are 108,100. They will march third.

25 On the north will be the banner of Dan’s camp with its military units. The chief of the people of Dan is Ahiezer, Ammishaddai’s son. 26 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 62,700. 27 Those camping on one side of him are the tribe of Asher. The chief of the people of Asher is Pagiel, Ochran’s son. 28 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 41,500. 29 On the other side, the tribe of Naphtali: the chief of the people of Naphtali is Ahira, Enan’s son. 30 His military unit and those enlisted in it are 53,400. 31 All those enlisted in the camp of Dan are 157,600. They will march last under their banners. 32 These are the enlisted Israelites by their households. The total enlisted in the camps with their military units is 603,550. 33 But the Levites weren’t enlisted among the Israelites, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 34 The Israelites did everything exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses: they camped under their banners and they marched by their clans and by their households.

Hymns





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524 Beams of Heaven as I Go 733 Marching to Zion

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February 14 “Priestly Blessing”

Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 121)

L: Look up! Scan the horizon! From where will we find our salvation? P: Our source of all help and all hope is the Holy One. L: The Lord keeps our feet secure; the Lord keeps a watchful eye. P: The Savior is our Guardian and Protector, now and always.

Prayer of Confession (inspired by Romans 4:1-5, 13-17)

God of the Ages, forgive us for depending more on our own actions than we do on you. Teach us to rely on your grace instead of ourselves, that we





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may demonstrate our faith through our words, thoughts, and deeds.

Numbers 6:24-27

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Hymns

524 Beams of Heaven as I Go 555 Forward Through the Ages 664 Sent Forth By God’s Blessing

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February 21 “Place of Testing”

Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 95)

L: Let us raise our voices in song to the Almighty. P: Songs of joy and words of praise will ring out from our hearts!





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L: Let us rejoice and celebrate all that God has done. P: Let us worship and honor the Creator of All!

Prayer of Confession (inspired by Exodus 17:1-7)

Providing God, we confess that we are demanding when we ought to be gracious. We confess that we make accusations when we ought to seek reconciliation. Forgive us for being so impatient and so ungrateful, Lord. Teach us to trust you, and show us how to love one another.

Numbers 11:1-23

11 When the people complained intensely in the Lord’s hearing, the Lord heard and became angry. Then the Lord’s fire burned them and consumed the edges of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire subsided. 3 The name of that place was called Taberah, because the Lord’s fire burned against them.

4 The riffraff among them had a strong craving. Even the Israelites cried again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 Now our lives are wasting away. There is nothing but manna in front of us.” 7 The manna was like coriander seed and its color was like resin. 8 The people would roam around and collect it and grind it with millstones or pound it in a mortar. Then they would boil it in pots and make it into cakes. It tasted





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like cakes baked in olive oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp during the night, the manna would fall with it. Moses’ complaint about leadership 10 Moses heard the people crying throughout their clans, each at his tent’s entrance. The Lord was outraged, and Moses was upset. 11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? And why haven’t I found favor in your eyes, for you have placed the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give birth to them, that you would say to me, ‘Carry them at the breast, as a nurse carries an unweaned child,’ to the fertile land that you promised their ancestors? 13 Where am I to get meat for all these people? They are crying before me and saying, ‘Give us meat, so we can eat.’ 14 I can’t bear this people on my own. They’re too heavy for me. 15 If you’re going to treat me like this, please kill me. If I’ve found favor in your eyes, then don’t let me endure this wretched situation.”

16 The Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men from Israel’s elders, whom you know as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the meeting tent, and let them stand there with you. 17 Then I’ll descend and speak with you there. I’ll take some of the spirit that is on you and place it on them. Then they will carry the burden of the people with you so that you won’t bear it alone. 18 To the people you will say, ‘Make yourselves holy for tomorrow; then you will eat meat, for you’ve cried in the Lord’s hearing, “Who will give us meat to eat? It was better for us in Egypt.” The Lord will give you meat, and you will eat. 19 You won’t eat for just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month until it comes out of your





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nostrils and nauseates you. You’ve rejected the Lord who’s been with you and you have cried before him, saying, “Why did we leave Egypt?” ’” 21 Moses said, “The people I’m with are six hundred thousand on foot and you’re saying, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 22 Can flocks and herds be found and slaughtered for them? Or can all the fish in the sea be found and caught for them?” 23 The Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power too weak? Now you will see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Hymns

524 Beams of Heaven as I Go 519 Lift Every Voice and Sing 393 Spirit of the Living God

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February 28 “Homeless Place”

Call to Worship (inspired by Ephesians 5:8-14)

L: In Christ, we are people of light. P: We will shine, reflecting the light of our Maker. L: Get up, children of God!





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P: We are alive, and the light of Christ shines through us!

Prayer of Confession (inspired by Ephesians 5:8-14)

Radiant God, your Light has illuminated our lives. Yet, we confess that we often close our eyes and live in the dark. Expose the secrets that we try to keep, O Lord. Wake us up to live in Light of Christ.

Numbers 13:1-3; 17-24

13 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, which I’m giving to the Israelites. Send one man from each ancestral tribe, each a chief among them. 3 So Moses sent them out from the Paran desert according to the Lord’s command. All the men were leaders among the Israelites.

17 When Moses sent them out to explore the land of Canaan, he said to them, “Go up there into the arid southern plain and into the mountains. 18 You must inspect the land. What is it like? Are the people who live in it strong or weak, few or many? 19 Is the land in which they live good or bad? Are the towns in which they live camps or fortresses? 20 Is the land rich or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous and bring back the land’s fruit.” It was the season of the first ripe grapes. 21 They went up and explored the land from the Zin desert to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up into the arid southern plain and entered Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of the Anakites, lived. (Hebron was built seven years before





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Tanis[a] in Egypt.) 23 Then they entered the Cluster ravine, cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and carried it on a pole between them. They also took pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Cluster ravine because of the cluster of grapes that the Israelites cut down from there.

Hymns

524 Beams of Heaven as I Go 110 A Mighty Fortress is our God 575 Onward Christian Soldiers

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March 6 “A Place Outside of Civilization”

Call to Worship (inspired by Ezekiel 37:1-14)

L: Can your people live, O God? P: Yes! The Lord gifts us with the Spirit and raises us to new life. L: Do we have reason to hope, O God? P: Yes! The Lord lifts us up and restores us and makes us secure.

Prayer of Confession (inspired by Ezekiel 37:1-14)





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Spirit of God, we confess that we have cut ourselves off from you. Gather us together once again, O Lord. Reconnect us and resurrect us to be filled with the breath of new life, that we may dance and sing your praises with joy.

Numbers 14:1-10

14 The entire community raised their voice and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites criticized Moses and Aaron. The entire community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or if only we had died in this desert! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our children will be taken by force. Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to each other, “Let’s pick a leader and let’s go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the assembled Israelite community. 6 But Joshua, Nun’s son, and Caleb, Jephunneh’s son, from those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite community, “The land we crossed through to explore is an exceptionally good land. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he’ll bring us into this land and give it to us. It’s a land that’s full of milk and honey. 9 Only don’t rebel against the Lord and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are our prey. Their defense has deserted them, but the Lord is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.” 10 But the entire community intended to stone them.





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Then the Lord’s glory appeared in the meeting tent to all the Israelites.

Hymns

524 Beams of Heaven as I Go 630 Become to Us the Living Bread

March 13 “New Creation”

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29)

L: Praise the Lord, for Christ is our salvation! P: Christ provides the foundation for our hope! L: God has created this moment – let us give thanks and rejoice! P: The steadfast love of God is never-ending! Together, let us worship the Lord!

Prayer of Confession (inspired by Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29)

Blessed One, you invite us to enter a new life with joy, but we are slow to let go of our old ways. We confess that we reject you by our actions. We confess that we hoard your gift of love, and we fail to offer that gift to others. Save us from ourselves, O Lord. Forgive us and guide us to follow your Way.





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Numbers 34:1-15

34 The Lord said to Moses: 2 Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that will fall to you as an inheritance. The land of Canaan according to its boundaries: 3 Your southern boundary extends from the Zin desert alongside Edom. Your southern border extends from the edge of the Dead Sea on the east. 4 Your border will turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim and cross toward Zin. Its limit will be south of Kadesh-barnea. It will go out to Hazar-addar and cross toward Azmon. 5 The border will then turn from Azmon to the Egypt ravine. Its limit will be at the Mediterranean Sea. 6 Your western border will be the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your western border. 7 This will be your northern border: From the Mediterranean Sea you will mark out your boundary to Mount Hor. 8 From Mount Hor you will mark out your boundary to Lebo-hamath. The limit of the border will be Zedad. 9 The border will go out to Ziphron. Its limit will be Hazar-enan. This will be your northern border. 10 You will mark out your eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 The border will descend from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. The border will go down and meet the eastern slope of the Galilee Sea. 12 The border will descend to the Jordan. Its limit will be the Dead Sea. This will be your land with its borders all around. 13 Moses commanded the Israelites: This is the land that you will inherit by lot, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes, 14 because the tribe of Reuben by their households and the tribe of Gad by their households, and half the tribe of Manasseh have taken





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their inheritance. 15 The two and a half tribes have taken their inheritance across the Jordan at Jericho toward the east.

Hymns

524 Beams of Heaven as I Go 57 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing163 Ask Me What Great Thing I Know

——————————————————————— *Prayers and Calls to Worship are used with permission from The Worship Closet

Belong & Grow Questions

Guidelines

On your own or with one or two others. Read Scripture from this book.

Meet 1x a week: in person, by phone, online or journal answers privately

1. What does this passage say about God?

2. What does this passage say about human nature?

3. What does this passage say about you personally?





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4. How has this passage encouraged you?

5. How have you experienced God in your life this week?

6. How have your actions and words shown others that you love Jesus?

7. What known sins have you committed in thought, word, action or inaction?

8. What worries or issues are you facing?

9. Did the Bible live in me today?

10. How have you Shared Life or talked about Christ to others this week?

——————————————————————- Statistics and Goals for 2016

How Often Did We Read the Bible in 2015?

Reading Frequency 2015 2016 Goal

Daily 33.33% 43.33%

1 X Per Week not counting Worship or Sunday School

25.64% 31.67%

Occasionally but not Regularly 25.64% 15.64%

Only When I’m Looking up Something or Curious

15.38% 9.36%





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Documents

Wilderness Survival Belong & GroWilderness Survival Belong & Grow Guide . 2 February 7 “Place of Birth” Call to Worship (based on Psalm 51:1-17) L: O God, have mercy on us, we