PREACH
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THE BIBLE
Sermon & Teaching Series on Numbers
This site provides several resources to help you preach or teach through Numbers. These include brief sermon outlines on every chapter, examples of sermons by other preachers, and a listing of chapter by chapter themes so that those wanting to develop their own series can quickly identify which chapters they want to focus on.
This page provides a further resource: nine possible sermon/teaching series on Numbers. They range anywhere from twenty weeks in length to 4 weeks. (Naturally, you might want to adjust any of the series’ length or focus to meet the needs of your local context.) For each week, I identify the page numbers in my Numbers commentary that fill out the relevant points for that particular sermon.
The nine series are as follows (click on any series for further detail):
The Lord's Faithfulness in the Wilderness:
An Overview of Numbers
Week 1 - The Lord of Faithfulness, Holiness, and Mission (Numbers 1)
See “Why Does It Matter?” (p. 54), “How Should We Respond?” (p. 57), and “What Does the Almighty King Do?” (p. 55).
Week 2 - Living with the Lord and His Mission at the Center (Numbers 2)
See Live The Story, pp. 64–66.
Week 3 - The Nature of Biblical Authority and the Good News of Substitution (Numbers 3–4)
See Live the Story, pp. 84–90.
Week 4 - Sexual Faithfulness (Numbers 5:11–30)
See Live the Story, pp. 107–11.
Week 5 - The Lord of Blessing (Numbers 6:22–27)
See p. 124 (“What is Blessing?), p. 125 (“How Do We Find True Blessing [Part 1]?”), and p. 126 (“How Do We Hope?”).
Week 6 - Leadership Requirements and Transitions (Numbers 8:5–26)
See Live the Story, pp. 148–52.
Week 7 - Lamenting Versus Complaining (Numbers 11)
See p. 179 (“What Leads To?”), p. 180 (“How Does God View?”), p. 181 (“What’s the Difference?”).
Week 8 - The Importance of Obedience and Our Hope after Disobedience (Numbers 13–14)
See Live the Story, pp. 204–208.
Week 9 - The Lord Who Pours Forth Grace (Numbers 15)
See Live the Story, pp. 216–19.
Week 10 - Leadership: Rebuking and Interceding (Number 16)
See p. 232 (“What is the Problem?”), p. 235 (“How Does Moses Respond?”), p. 235 (“How Do the People Respond?”), p. 236 (“How Does the Story End?”).
Week 11 - Giving Back to the One Who Meets Our Deepest Needs (Numbers 18:8–32)
See Live the Story, pp. 253–56.
Week 12 - The Lord Who Disciplines Leaders (Or: The Lord’s Discipline of Leaders) (Numbers 20)
See Live the Story, pp. 271–73.
Week 13 - The Lord Who Fights our Battles and Delivers Us From Evil (Or: Judgment and Deliverance) (Numbers 21:1–22:1)
See Live the Story, pp. 281–84.
Week 14 - The Lord Who Blesses and His King of Blessing (Numbers 22:41–24:25).
See Live the Story, pp. 311–314.
Week 15 - Sin: A Betrayal Against the Lord and His World (Or: How Sin Disrupts Our Calling) (Num 25)
See Live the Story, pp. 319–21.
Week 16 - The Lord Who Is Faithful to Judge and to Bless (Numbers 26)
See Live the Story, pp. 331–33.
Week 17 - Celebrating the Lord’s Character and Deeds (Numbers 28–29)
See Live the Story, pp. 353–58.
Week 18 - United in Mission (Numbers 32)
See Live the Story, pp. 385–87.
Week 19 - The Lord’s Word Versus Cultural Values (Numbers 27:1–11)
See p. 339 (“What Do We Learn from Zelophehad’s Daughters?”). (Also possible to do this together with Num 36 below.)
Week 20 - Costly Obedience and Rich Inheritance (Numbers 36)
See Live the Story, pp. 420–23. (Also possible to do Numbers 27:1–11 and Numbers 36 together.)
The Book of Numbers:
Stories of Warning and Hope
Week 1 - The Lord Who Leads His People to a Land of Rest (Numbers 10:11–36)
See Live the Story, pp. 169–71.
Week 2 - Lamenting Versus Complaining (Numbers 11)
See p. 179 (“What Leads To?”), p. 180 (“How Does God View?”), p. 181 (“What’s the Difference?”).
Week 3 - Bad Leaders, Good Leaders, Good Servants (Numbers 12)
See Live the Story, pp. 188–89.
Week 4 - The Importance of Obedience and Our Hope after Disobedience (Numbers 13–14)
See Live the Story, pp. 204–208.
Week 5 - The Lord Who Pours Forth Grace (Numbers 15)
See Live the Story, pp. 216–19.
Week 6 - Leadership: Rebuking and Interceding (Numbers 16)
See p. 232 (“What is the Problem?”), p. 235 (“How Does Moses Respond?”), p. 235 (“How Do the People Respond?”), p. 236 (“How Does the Story End?”).
Week 7 - The Weighty Role of Spiritual Leadership (Numbers 17:1–18:7)
See Live the Story, pp. 243–46.
Week 8 - The Lord Who Disciplines Leaders (Or: The Lord’s Discipline of Leaders) (Numbers 20)
See Live the Story, pp. 271–73.
Week 9 - The Lord Who Fights our Battles and Delivers Us From Evil (Or: Judgment and Deliverance) (Numbers 21:1–22:1)
See Live the Story, pp. 281–84.
Week 10 - The Lord Who Blesses and His King of Blessing (Numbers 22:41–24:25)
See Live the Story, pp. 311–314.
Week 11 - Sin: A Betrayal Against the Lord and His World (Or: How Sin Disrupts Our Calling) (Numbers 25)
See Live the Story, pp. 319–21.
Week 12 - The Lord Who Is Faithful to Judge and to Bless (Numbers 26)
See Live the Story, pp. 331–33.
Week 13 - United in Mission (Numbers 32)
See Live the Story, pp. 385–87.
Week 14 - Costly Obedience and Rich Inheritance (Numbers 36)
See Live the Story, pp. 420–23. (Also possible to do Numbers 27:1–11 and Numbers 36 together.)
Who is the Lord?
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - The Lord of Faithfulness, Holiness and Mission (Numbers 1)
See “Why Does It Matter?” (p. 54), “How Should We Respond?” (p. 57), and “What Does the Almighty King Do?” (p. 55).
Week 2 - The Lord of Blessing (Numbers 6:22–27)
See p. 124 (“What is Blessing?), p. 125 (“How Do We Find True Blessing [Part 1]?”), and p. 126 (“How Do We Hope?”).
Week 3 - The Lord Who Shines His Favor on Us (Numbers 8:1–4)
See p. 143 (“Are We Trying?”).
Week 4 - The Lord Whose Presence Empowers Obedience (Numbers 9:15–10:10)
See p. 161 (“What is the Proper Response?”), p. 163 (“What Does a Trumpet Sound Do [Part 2]?”).
Week 5 - The Lord Who Leads His People to a Land of Rest (Numbers 10:11–36)
See p. 169 (“What Keeps Us?”) and p. 170 (“Where Does the Lord Lead?”).
Week 6 - The Lord Who Forgives and Disciplines (Numbers 13–14)
See p. 207 (“What Hope?”).
Week 7 - The Lord Who Pours Forth Grace (Numbers 15)
See Live the Story, pp. 216–19.
Week 8 - The Lord Who Judges and Vindicates (Numbers 16)
See p. 232 (“What is the Problem?”) and p. 233 (“How Does the Lord Respond?”).
Week 9 - The Lord Who Disciplines Leaders (Numbers 20)
See Live the Story, pp. 271–73.
Week 10 - The Lord Who Fights our Battles and Delivers Us From Evil (Numbers 21:1–22:1)
See Live the Story, pp. 281–84.
Week 11 - The Lord Who Blesses is the Sovereign Lord (Numbers 22:2–40)
See p. 293 (“What is God’s Posture?”) and p. 295 (“Who Has the Final Say?”).
Week 12 - The Lord Who Blesses and His King of Blessing (Numbers 22:41–24:25)
See Live the Story, pp. 311–314.
Week 13 - The Lord Who Is Faithful to Judge and to Bless (Numbers 26)*
See Live the Story, pp. 331–33.
Week 14 - The Lord Who Judges and Forgives (Numbers 33:1–49)
See Live the Story, pp. 393–95.
Week 15 - The Lord Who Values Life and Redeems Lives (Numbers 35:9–34)
See p. 414 (“What Do the Laws?”) and p. 415 (“How Does the Death?”).
Mission:
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - Living with the Lord and His Mission at the Center (Numbers 2)
See Live The Story, pp. 64–66.
Week 2 - Complete Dedication to the Lord (Numbers 6:1–21)
See Live the Story, pp. 118–20.
Week 3 - When the Nations Join in Worship (Numbers 9:1–14)
See Live the Story, pp. 156–57.
Week 4 - When the Nations Enter the Lord’s Land of Rest (Numbers 10:11–36)
See p. 170 (“Who Is This Rest For?”).
Week 5 - The Lord’s People: Priests to the Nations (Numbers 15:37–41)
See p. 219 (“What Has the Lord?”).
Week 6 - How Sin Disrupts Our Calling (Numbers 25)
See Live the Story, pp. 319–21.
Week 7 - United in Mission (Numbers 32)
See Live the Story, pp. 385–87.
The Gospel:
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - The Good News of Substitution (Numbers 3–4)
See p. 87 (“What is the Proper Posture”) and p. 88 (“What Does a Substitute Do?”).
Week 2 - Complete Dedication to the Lord (Numbers 6:1–21)
See Live the Story, pp. 118–20.
Week 3 - The Source of Blessing (Numbers 6:22–27)
See p. 124 (“What is Blessing?), p. 125 (“How Do We Find True Blessing [Part 1]?”), and p. 126 (“How Do We Hope?”).
Week 4 - Our Need of Favor (Numbers 8:1–4)
See p. 143 (“Are We Trying?”).
Week 5 - Biblical Faith Versus Religion (Numbers 14:39–45)
See p. 208 (“How Does the Story End?”).
Week 6 - The Gospel: An Open Invitation (Numbers 17:1–18:7)
See p. 243 (“Does God Want Us to Know Him?”).
Week 7 - Being Cleansed (Numbers 19)
See Live the Story, pp. 263–64.
Week 8 - Judgment and Deliverance (Numbers 21:1–22:1)
See Live the Story, pp. 281–84.
Week 9 - Blessing and Submission (Numbers 22:2–40).
See p. 293 (“What is God’s Posture?”) and p. 295 (“Who Has the Final Say?”).
Week 10 - Sin: A Betrayal Against the Lord and His World (Numbers 25)
See Live the Story, pp. 319–21.
Week 11 - Being Ready for Judgment (Numbers 31:1–24)
See p. 375 (“How Is This Story a Warning?”) and p. 376 (“What Does Ritual Impurity?”).
Worship:
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - The Importance of Worship and Supporting It (Numbers 7)
See p. 137 (“Why Focus So Much?”) and p. 138 (“Who’s Going to Pay?”).
Week 2 - Celebrating Redemption (Numbers 9:1–14)
See Live the Story, pp. 156–57.
Week 3 - The Need for Skilled Musicians (Numbers 10:1–10)
See p. 162 (“What Does a Trumpet Sound Do [Part 1]?”).
Week 4 - Celebrating the Lord’s Character and Deeds (Numbers 28–29)
See Live the Story, pp. 353–58.
Stewardship:
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - Supporting the Lord’s Work (Numbers 5:8–10)
See p. 99 (“What Do the Israelites?”).
Week 2 - Who’s Going to Pay the Electricity Bill? (Numbers 7)
See p. 138 (“Who’s Going to Pay?”).
Week 3 - Giving Back to the One Who Meets Our Deepest Needs (Numbers 18:8–32)
See Live the Story, pp. 253–56.
Week 4 - The Love of Money and Its Dangers (Numbers 22:2–40; 22:41–24:25)
See p. 294 (“What Is at the Root?”) and p. 311 (“How Is This Story a Warning?”).
Week 5 - How and Why to Give (Numbers 31:25–54)
See p. 378 (“How Does the Division?”).
Week 6 - Providing for the Levites (Numbers 35:1–8)
See p. 413 (“What Might It Look Like?”).
Leadership:
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - The Nature of Biblical Authority (Numbers 3–4)
See p. 85 (“What is the Goal?” and “What is the Proper Response?”).
Week 2 - A Leader’s Call to Pray (Numbers 6:22–27)
See p. 125 (“How Do We Find True Blessing [Part 2]?”).
Week 3 - Leadership Requirements and Transitions (Numbers 8:5–26)
See Live the Story, pp. 148–52.
Week 4 - Complaining: A Burden to Leadership (Numbers 11)
See Live the Story, pp. 179–82.
Week 5 - Bad Leaders, Good Leaders, Good Servants (Numbers 12)
See Live the Story, pp. 188–89.
Week 6 - Leadership: Rebuking and Interceding (Numbers 16)
See p. 232 (“What is the Problem?”), p. 235 (“How Does Moses Respond?”), p. 235 (“How Do the People Respond?”), p. 236 (“How Does the Story End?”).
Week 7 - The Weighty Role of Spiritual Leadership (Numbers 17:1–18:7)
See Live the Story, pp. 243–46.
Week 8 - The Lord’s Discipline of Leaders (Numbers 20)
See Live the Story, pp. 271–73.
Week 9 - The Leader as Shepherd (Numbers 27:12–23)
See p. 340 (“What Do We Learn From Moses?”), p. 341 (“What is the Key?”).
The Life of Discipleship:
Lessons from the Book of Numbers
Week 1 - Seeking Holiness, Receiving Cleansing (Numbers 5:1–4)
See Live the Story, pp. 93–95.
Week 2 - Proper Repentance (Numbers 5:5–7)
See p. 98 (“What Does True Repentance?”).
Week 3 - Supporting the Lord’s Work (Numbers 5:8–10)
See p. 99 (“What Do the Israelites?”).
Week 4 - Sexual Faithfulness (Numbers 5:11–30)
See Live the Story, pp. 107–11.
Week 5 - Complete Dedication to the Lord (Numbers 6:1–21)
See Live the Story, pp. 118–20.
Week 6 - The Importance of Unity (Numbers 7)
See p. 139 (“Which Tribe Matters Most?”).
Week 7 - Lamenting Versus Complaining (Numbers 11)
See p. 179 (“What Leads To?”), p. 180 (“How Does God View?”), p. 181 (“What’s the Difference?”)
Week 8 - The Importance of Obedience and Our Hope after Disobedience (Numbers 13–14)
See Live the Story, pp. 204–208.
Week 9 - The Gift of Grace and the Dangers of Sin (Numbers 15)
See Live the Story, pp. 216–19.
Week 10 - Giving Back to the One Who Meets Our Deepest Needs (Numbers 18:8–32)
See Live the Story, pp. 253–56.
Week 11 - Sin: A Betrayal Against the Lord and His World (Numbers 25)
See Live the Story, pp. 319–21.
Week 12 - The Lord’s Word Versus Cultural Values (Numbers 27:1–11)
See p. 339 (“What Do We Learn from Zelophehad’s Daughters?”).
Week 13 - Celebrating the Lord’s Character and Deeds (Numbers 28–29)
See Live the Story, pp. 353–58.
Week 14 - Costly Obedience (Numbers 30)
See Live the Story, pp. 363–66.
Week 15 - How and Why to Give (Numbers 31:25–54)
See p. 378 (“How Does the Division?”).
Week 16 - Costly Love for One Another (Numbers 32)
See Live the Story, pp. 385–87.
Week 17 - Turning from Idols to Enjoy Life with God (Numbers 33:50–34:29)
See Live the Story, pp. 401–405.
Week 18 - Costly Obedience and Rich Inheritance (Numbers 36)
See Live the Story, pp. 420–23.